Psychology
Web: gmu.edu/departments/psychology FacultyProfessors: Barocas, Boehm-Davis (director, Applied Experimental Programs), Denham, Klimoski, Lehman (director, Developmental/Biopsychology/School Programs), Maddux, Mandes, Naglieri (director, Center for Cognitive Development), Parasuraman, Pasnak, Riskind, Rojahn, Schiff, R. Smith (chair), Tangney, Tetrick (director, Industrial/Organizational Program), Zaccaro Term professor: Fedio Research professors: Butler, Olds Associate professors: Ascoli, Bitler, Buffardi, Cortina, Erdwins, Flinn, Gerton, Gessner, Ployhart, Sanford (associate chair for undergraduate studies), Short, Winsler Research associate professors: Bachus Assistant professors: Cattaneo, Hillstrom, Kello, McFarland, Peterson Term associate professor: Chrosniak, Wanschura, Wasserman Research assistant professors: Beck, Chong, Mashek, McDonald, Stuewig, Wochinger Term assistant professor: Hurley, Meier Affiliates: DeMulder, Eby, Hunt, Trafton, Wexley Adjunct: Anderson, Battaglia, Brooks, Curtin, Dechman, Fadden, Feuerbach, Grande, Hawley, Hirsch, Klirs, Levitas, Mayfield, McCloy, Morrison, Mutchler, Paolitto, Perez, Schumann, Shiraev, Stanhope, Steve, Toth, Werber Course WorkThe Psychology Department offers all course work designated PSYC in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog. Undergraduate ProgramsPsychology, BAIn addition to the university-wide general education requirements and the requirements for the BA degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, psychology majors must complete the following with a minimum GPA of 2.000.
Students who receive transfer credit for a research methods course must take PSYC 304, 309, or 323 unless the transfer course has been approved as writing intensive. 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, BSIn addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for a BS degree, candidates must complete the following with a minimum GPA of 2.000.
Information for All Majors in PsychologyA grade of D in any of the 9 (10 for BS 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 BA degree or the 38-credit psychology requirement for the BS 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 sequence taken over three consecutive semesters, 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. To be eligible for admission, psychology majors must have completed at last 50 credits, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses. To graduate with honors in psychology, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses. Students must earn at least 3.50 in their three honors courses culminating in the successful completion and presentation of an independent honors thesis. 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 or the Psychology Department web site for a list of suggested courses for students who are majoring in specific disciplines or areas of study that interact well with psychology. For policies governing all minors, see "minors" under "The Undergraduate Academic Program" in the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog. Teacher LicensureStudents who wish to become teachers should consult the Graduate School of Education chapter and attend an information session during their sophomore year. Information Sessions for teacher licensure are offered every month. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or consult the web site at gse.gmu.edu. Graduate ProgramsPsychology, MAThe Department of Psychology offers an MA in Psychology with concentrations in industrial/organizational psychology, human factors/applied cognition, school psychology, applied developmental psychology, and biopsychology. The department does not offer an MA in clinical or counseling psychology, but an MA concentration in clinical psychology is available for students who have been admitted to the PhD 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 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. Admission RequirementsIn 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 March 1 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 AssistanceFinancial assistance is available through graduate assistantships and various forms of grants, loans, and employment. Concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology
Concentration in Human Factors/Applied CognitionStudents must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in School Psychology: Masters Degree and Certificate of Advanced Graduate StudiesThe 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 approved by School Psychology Training Programs by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Students completing the program will be eligible for licensure in Virginia and in other states 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 684, 712, 722, 750, 790, 792. Previously earned creditWith 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. Students choose to complete a thesis or practical research project. 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 PsychologyStudents must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
Concentration in BiopsychologyStudents must complete 32 graduate credits including the following:
George Mason undergraduate students may be eligible to admission to an accelerated MA in Psychology with a concentration in biopsychology. This program makes it possible for students to complete some graduate classes during their last 30 credits of their undergraduate degrees. Interested undergraduates should contact the department. Concentration in Clinical PsychologyStudents who have been admitted to the doctoral program with a concentration in clinical psychology are awarded an MA in psychology upon completion of the following.
The MA concentration in clinical psychology is not a terminal degree to which individuals can apply independent of the PhD. It is awarded only to clinical PhD students who have met the above requirements. Nondegree StatusApplicants 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. Provisional AdmissionStudents admitted provisionally must take 12 credits in psychology and 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. Individualized study work does not count toward the 12 credits. Neuroscience, PhDThe interdisciplinary doctoral program in neuroscience is offered jointly by SCS, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study. For details see the School of Computational Sciences chapter in this catalog. Psychology, PhDThe 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: (1) to train students to teach and do research on basic and applied issues in child development for employment in such settings as universities, research institutes, and organizations; and (2) to train students to do applied work in developmental psychology (consultation, program evaluation, assessment and evaluation, developmental interventions, parent training) in such settings as schools, hospitals, courts, child care facilities, and other organizations. Applied developmental psychology doctoral students have the option of also completing course requirements for the MA concentration in school psychology. The program emphasis is on child development (infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence), and students may focus their studies on the cognitive, social, emotional, language, personality and/or physiological aspects of development. 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. AdmissionEntering 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 3.0 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. DocumentsEach applicant must provide 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. RequirementsIn addition to fulfilling the admission requirements, applicants in the program are expected to have the following: For the PhD 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 PhD 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 PhD 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 MA program. For the PhD with a concentration in biopsychology, at least 15 hours of psychology, including physiological psychology, statistics, and a lab course in experimental psychology. Financial AssistanceFinancial assistance is available through graduate assistantships, doctoral fellowships, and various forms of grants, loans, or employment. Reduction of CreditsFor students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree, 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 PhD program. Degree RequirementsThe PhD 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.) Once enrolled in 998, a student must maintain continuous registration in 998 or 999 each semester until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the university library. 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 PsychologyStudents must complete 88 graduate credits taken from the following:
Concentration in Human Factors/Applied CognitionStudents 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 PsychologyThe clinical psychology program at George Mason University is guided by the scientist-practitioner model. The necessary preparatory training requires the following:
Concentration in Applied Developmental PsychologyStudents must complete the following requirements:
* Can be taken only by students concurrently enrolled in School Psychology MA concentration. ** Required Concentration in BiopsychologyStudents must complete 88 graduate credits taken from the following:
18 credits of specialized content:
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