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Psychology
FacultyProfessors: Barocas, Boehm-Davis, Denham, Klimoski (director, Applied Experimental Program and the Center for Behavioral and Cognitive Studies), Lehman (director, Developmental/ Biopsychology /School Programs), Maddux (associate chair for graduate studies), Mandes, Naglieri (director, Center for Cognitive Development), Pasnak, Riskind, Schiff, R. Smith (chair), Tangney, Wahl (director, Clinical Training) Visiting professor: Fedio Research professors: Butler, Olds Associate professors: Allen, Bitler, Blaha, Buffardi, Cortina, Erdwins, Flinn, Gerton, Gessner, Gray, Holt, Merydith (coordinator, School Psychology Program), Rugel, Sanford (associate chair for undergraduate studies), Short, Winsler, Zaccaro Research associate professors: Mahach Assistant professors: McFarland, Schunn Visiting associate professors: Chrosniak, Wanschura Research assistant professor: Chong, Wochinger Visiting assistant professors: Ascoli, Hurley, Sleigh-Ritzer, Affiliates: DeMulder, Eby, Hunt, Kurke, Malabonga, Trafton, Vekker, Weisman, Wexley, Wiggs Adjuncts: Bogner, D. Brown, Farrell, Giroux, Hassig, Hawley, Hunt, Kanitz, Karro, Klirs, Levitas, McCloy, Nadal, Mutchler, V. Smith, Smith-Marchese, Stanhope, Tsa coumis, Weisman, Werber, Wiggs More information about the department, its faculty, and its programs can be found at its web site through the university's main page at www.gmu.edu. Course WorkThe Psychology Department offers all course work designated PSYC in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog. Undergraduate ProgramsPsychology, B.A.In addition to the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, psychology majors must complete the following:
Some of these courses may simultaneously fulfill university or college general education requirements, and students should consult with an advisor in planning their programs. Psychology, B.S.In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for a B.S. degree, candidates must complete the following:
Information for All Majors in PsychologyA grade of D in any of the 9 (10 for B.S. students) required psychology courses may not be used toward graduation. All psychology courses may be used to satisfy either the 36-credit psychology requirement for the B.A. degree or the 38-credit psychology requirement for the B.S. degree with the following restrictions:
In addition to course work, undergraduate research experience and letters of recommendation are major factors for admission to graduate study. Therefore, students interested in graduate study should distribute courses across a number of areas in psychology and work closely with one or more professors on an individual project during the junior and senior years. Writing-Intensive RequirementThe university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in psychology may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing PSYC 301, 304, 309, or 323. Honors Program in PsychologyStudents majoring in psychology may apply to the Honors Program in Psychology. The Honors Program consists of a three-course sequence, PSYC 490, 491, and 492 (see "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog), to be taken during the spring semester of the student's junior year and fall and spring semesters of the senior year. For more information, please contact the Undergraduate Psychology Office or the director of the Honors Program in Psychology. Minor in PsychologyThe Psychology Department offers a minor to students who major in any other discipline at the university. Students in the minor complete 18 credits of course work in psychology distributed as follows.
Related coursework in psychology can enhance many different majors. Please contact the Undergraduate Psychology Office for a list of suggested courses for students who are majoring in specific disciplines or areas of study that interact well with psychology. Teacher LicensureStudents who wish to become teachers should consult the section, "Professional Licensure" in the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. Call (703) 993-2892/4648, email gseinfo@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu for more information. Graduate ProgramsPsychology, M.A.The Department of Psychology offers an M.A. in Psychology with concentrations in industrial/organizational psychology, human factors/applied cognition, school psychology, applied developmental psychology, and experimental neuropsychology. The department does not offer an M.A. in clinical or counseling psychology, but an M.A. concentration in clinical psychology is available for students who have been admitted to the Ph.D. program. The industrial/organizational concentration trains students in the conduct and application of psychological research in work settings. Expertise can be developed in a variety of areas including personnel selection, training, leadership, motivation, and human performance assessment. The human factors/applied cognition concentration trains students in the application of cognitive science to real-world problems. Students gain expertise in such areas as human-computer interaction, cognitive system engineering, cognitive ergonomics, and documentation. Faculty members help place students who do not have real-world experience in a part- or full-time practicum before completing the degree. The school psychology concentration prepares students for endorsement as fully certified school psychologists in Virginia and in most other states. It is approved by the Virginia Department of Education and meets the standards of the National Association of School Psychologists. The applied developmental psychology concentration focuses on child development. It provides basic knowledge about normal development, skills for assessing developmental level, and techniques for planning and evaluating programs that foster optimal development. The biopsychology concentration emphasizes training in the neurobiological bases of behavior. Students are prepared for doctoral work or employment in government or industry research laboratories. The clinical psychology concentration seeks to develop clinical psychologists with a strong capacity to create and integrate new knowledge and procedures into practice. In addition to fulfilling admission requirements for graduate study, applicants must have 15 credits in psychology, including a course in statistics and a laboratory course in psychology. In addition, school psychology requires courses in personality or abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and tests and measurements. All applicants are required to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years (applicants should plan to take the GRE at least two months before the deadline); three letters of reference from professors or supervisors; and a departmental application. In addition, applicants are asked to submit a biographical statement outlining their background and experience and describing their future goals in psychology. An overall GPA of 3.000 for the last 60 undergraduate credits is required and, generally, a minimum of 3.250 in undergraduate psychology courses, and combined GRE scores of 1,000 or above are also required. Work experience, publications, or special recommendations may compensate for deficiencies in other qualifications. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 1 for the clinical psychology concentration; February 1 for the school psychology, applied developmental and biopsychology concentrations; and April 15 for the industrial/organizational and human factors/applied cognition concentrations. Because the number of students admitted to each program is limited, meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Financial assistance is available through graduate assistantships and various forms of grants, loans, and employment. Concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology Students must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in Human Factors/Applied Cognition Students must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in School Psychology: Masters Degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies The master's degree concentration and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in School Psychology make up a two-level degree program to prepare graduates for professional certification in school psychology. The program is designed to meet the approval for School Psychology Training Programs by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); students completing the program will be eligible for licensure to work in Virginia public schools as a school psychologist. (Students seeking licensure for independent practice as a school psychologist must meet the educational, residency, and examination requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Psychology.) Students who have not already earned a master's degree in a related field must apply for admission to both the master's program and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies. All students entering the master's program are expected to complete the Certificate. Students who wish to apply directly to the Certificate program must have earned a master's degree in an allied field such as counseling, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, or special education, in which at least 15 graduate credits correspond to required courses in the master's curriculum below. They must complete all the requirements of the master's in school psychology that they have not previously taken. Students must receive a B or better in the course work below. Coursework must be completed before the internship. School psychology students are required to enroll full time. To receive the master's degree with a concentration in school psychology, students must complete 47 credits:
To receive the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, students must complete 25 credits: PSYC 712, 722, 684, 792, 750, 790 Previously earned credit With the approval of the school psychology faculty, the graduate coordinator, and the dean, the number of credits required for the concentration in school psychology may be reduced by a maximum of 18 credits on the basis of graduate course work before admission. With the approval of the graduate coordinator and the dean, students admitted directly to the certificate program may transfer up to 3 graduate credits from another institution. A special policy applies to students admitted directly to the certificate program who received a master's degree in psychology with a concentration in school psychology from George Mason. If the degree was received within five years of admission to the Certificate program and if they took at least 13 credits of course work in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies as part of the master's, they may earn the certificate with as few as 7 additional graduate credits. Such students should consult with an advisor. At the conclusion of course work, students may choose to complete a thesis or practical research project concurrent with the internship. All students must complete a full year of internship. An unsatisfactory evaluation at any time by the School Psychology Committee may result in separation from the school psychology program. Concentration in Applied Developmental Psychology Students must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in Biopsychology Students must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in Clinical Psychology Students who have been admitted to the doctoral program with a concentration in clinical psychology are awarded an M.A. in psychology upon completion of the following.
The M.A. concentration in clinical psychology is not a terminal degree to which individuals can apply independent of the Ph.D. It is awarded only to clinical Ph.D. students who have met the above requirements. Applicants who qualify for degree status but who are not applicants for a degree at the university may be admitted to nondegree status. Nondegree status is not intended as a qualifying program for degree status. While consideration may later be given to the application of credits earned toward a degree program while in nondegree status, applicants are not assured that such requests will be granted. If granted, however, no more than 12 credits earned in nondegree status may be applied to a degree program. All students seeking to pursue this option should make their interests known to the appropriate program coordinator. Students admitted provisionally must take 12 credits in psychology and must earn a minimum GPA of 3.250 in those courses to qualify for removal of provisional qualifier. Programs may add other conditions to provisional admission. Psychology, Ph.D.The goal of the doctoral program is to train students in the principles and applications of psychology. To accomplish this, the program provides students with both knowledge of the basic content areas in psychology and practical experience in applying this knowledge to solving human problems in life, work, and school. The program offers the following concentrations: industrial/organizational psychology, human factors/applied cognition, clinical psychology, applied developmental psychology, and biopsychology. The concentrations in industrial/organizational psychology and human factors/applied cognition, grouped under the applied experimental program, are focused on educating psychologists in the use of psychological knowledge and methods employed in settings such as industry, government, consulting organizations, and research and development organizations. Students develop skills in such areas as human-computer interaction design, cognitive ergonomics, training, personnel selection, and organizational psychology. The clinical psychology concentration focuses on educating clinical psychologists to deal with the unique demands of mental health systems and private practice. The applied developmental concentration has two goals: The biopsychology concentration offers a broad program with faculty expertise in comparative neuroanatomy, cognition, substance abuse, and learning and memory. The department has facilities for animal research, access to the Shared Research Instrumentation Facility (SRIF), and links to the Krasnow Institute for Cognitive Study. The program prepares students for careers in a university, college, or research setting. Entering students are accepted only for fall semesters. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 1. The department does not normally consider applications that fail to meet the minimum criteria of 3.000 undergraduate GPA, 3.250 in psychology course work, and combined GRE scores of 1100. Applicants who meet this minimum receive continued consideration for the final candidate pool on the basis of experience, letters of recommendation, objective test scores, and (in some programs) an interview. No specific set of qualifications guarantees admission. Documents Each applicant must provide the graduate program with the following materials by January 1 to be considered for admission:
All materials should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Processing Center, College of Arts and Sciences, George Mason University, MS 2D2 Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all materials arrive before the January 1 deadline. In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements, applicants in the program are expected to have the following: For the Ph.D. with a concentration in industrial/organizational psychology or in human factors/applied cognition, at least 15 credits in psychology, including a statistics course and a laboratory course in psychology, are required. A tests and measurements course is recommended. For the Ph.D. with a concentration in clinical psychology, at least 15 credits in psychology, including a statistics course, a laboratory science course, and abnormal psychology, are required. Courses in developmental psychology, personality, physiological psychology, and tests and measurements are desirable. For the Ph.D. with a concentration in applied developmental psychology, at least 15 credits in psychology, including statistics and a laboratory course in experimental psychology, are required. Courses in personality, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and tests and measurements are also required for applicants to the school psychology concentration within the M.A. program. For the Ph.D. in biopsychology, at least 15 hours of psychology, including physiological psychology, statistics, and a lab course in experimental psychology. Financial assistance is available through graduate assistantships, doctoral fellowships, and various forms of grants, loans, or employment. For students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree or other graduate course work, the number of credits required may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits subject to the approval of the program faculty and the dean. Requests for reduction of credit are reviewed by a committee only after acceptance to the Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. program has four educational components: core courses, upper-level specialty courses, supervised practica, and dissertation. Core Courses Core course requirements cover the basic subject matter identified by the profession as essential to doctoral training: biological bases of behavior, social bases of behavior, cognitive bases of behavior, individual behavior, and history of psychology. Specialty Courses The 700-, 800-, and 900-level courses provide doctoral candidates with greater depth of study in specific content areas. Practica The purpose of the practica is to provide a broad range of experiences in settings related to the students' concentrations. Dissertation The dissertation requirement is designed to demonstrate the student's ability to apply psychological principles to research problems. Students must take at least 3 credits of proposal (998) and 3 of research (999) and must have at least 12 credits of 998 and 999 combined. (No more than 12 credits of 998 and 999 may be applied toward the degree.) Student Evaluation A student in the doctoral program is evaluated on the basis of grades, comprehensive examinations, research, and communication skills. In doctoral courses, A and B are the only acceptable grades. Students in the doctoral program must successfully complete comprehensive examinations administered each year in August. A student who successfully completes the comprehensive examinations is admitted to doctoral degree candidacy. Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Students must complete 88 graduate credits taken from the following:
Concentration in Human Factors/Applied Cognition Students must complete 88 graduate credits to include the following requirements:
Students are to take credits in PSYC 897 Directed Reading and Research each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to develop competence in programming and computer science by course work or independent study. Students are encouraged to identify and take relevant courses within or outside the department (with advisor's approval). Concentration in Clinical Psychology The clinical psychology program at George Mason University is guided by the scientist-practitioner model. The necessary preparatory training requires the following:
The clinical faculty are strongly committed to the support of cultural diversity within its programs. This includes both Students must complete 88 graduate credits (36 in general core courses, 25 in required clinical core courses, 12_14 credits of advanced clinical courses, and 15 credits of electives organized around a theme).
Emphasis in Clinical Neuropsychology Students may elect to pursue an emphasis in clinical neuropsychology within the clinical program. This course of study trains students in both clinical and research methods that focus on altered brain-behavior relations in individuals with neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders. Students complete the core courses within clinical psychology, including intellectual and personality assessment. Students also select courses dedicated to advancing their knowledge and skills in neuropsychological theory and assessment, and cognitive neurosciences. Clinical training is provided through placements in local hospitals and clinical/research programs serving adults and children with neurological disorders. Research training employs various clinical and experimental methodologies to study the neural basis of behavior and the effects of brain injury on cognition and emotion. Concentration in Applied Developmental Psychology Students must complete the following requirements:
* Can be taken only by students concurrently enrolled in School Psychology M.A. concentration. Concentration in Biopsychology
George Mason University: 2001-2002 University Catalog: Catalog Index: Psychology | |