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2014-2015 University Catalog
Psychology, BS
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Banner Code: LA-BS-PSYC
Web: psychology.gmu.edu
This program of study is offered by the Department of Psychology . The department also offers a BA in psychology and coordinates the BS in neuroscience .
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see Academic Policies .
This undergraduate program offers students the option of applying to the accelerated master’s degree program in education psychology (EDPA and EDPL concentrations) or psychology (CBNR concentration). See each listing for specific requirements. |
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees , including Mason Core requirements. Students pursuing a BS in psychology must complete additional college requirements for the BS degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Students pursuing this degree must complete at least 38 credits in psychology and 35 credits in supporting courses. Of the 38 credits earned through basic psychology courses, applied psychology courses and electives, 24 credits must be at the 300 and 400 level.
Students may choose to complete a concentration in work and organizational psychology, developmental psychology, or human factors and applied cognition. Courses taken to fulfill these requirements may simultaneously satisfy a concentration requirement.
Students may meet the applied psychology requirement by completing the concentration in work and organizational psychology. This concentration may be of interest to students who are planning to attend graduate school in industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology or a related field such as organizational behavior or human resources management. Students who are considering a career in business may find this concentration advantageous for careers in training and development, human resources, and management.
The concentration in developmental psychology may be of interest to students who are planning to attend graduate school in developmental psychology or a related field, such as human development and family studies, school psychology, or clinical child psychology. Students who are considering a career in school psychology or education also may find this concentration advantageous.
The concentration in human factors and applied cognition may be of interest to students who are planning to attend graduate school in human factors or applied cognition, and related fields such as ergonomics, human-computer interaction, or industrial design. Students who are considering careers in industry, business, government, or the military may find this concentration of particular value. Basic courses in psychology (23-32 credits)
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 in these courses with a minimum grade of 1.67 (C-) in each one. Courses taken to fulfill these requirements may simultaneously satisfy a concentration. One introductory course (3 credits)
Three or four foundational courses (9 or 12 credits)
Two research methods courses (7 credits)
One psychology lab course (1 or 4 credits) chosen from:
The course chosen to fulfill this requirement cannot be the same course used to fulfill the technical writing requirement below. One or two courses in biopsychology (3 or 6 credits) chosen from:
Students who have a strong interest in biopsychology or cognitive neuroscience are encouraged to take PSYC 375 /376 rather than PSYC 372 . Only students who receive transfer credit for PSYC 372 may use it in place of PSYC 375 as the prerequisite for PSYC 376 . Students taking PSYC 372 at Mason may not use it in place of PSYC 375 . Note
Students are strongly encouraged to complete PSYC 300 and 301 by their junior year. PSYC 300 is a prerequisite to several courses, and a background in research methods facilitates understanding empirical research discussed in all psychology courses. Applied psychology courses or optional concentration (6-13 credits)
Students pursuing a BS in psychology complete 2 applied psychology courses chosen from the list below.
Alternatively, students may earn a concentration in work and organizational psychology by completing additional credits of applied psychology as outlined. Two courses in applied psychology
Students pursuing the BS without concentration take 6-7 credits chosen from: ▲Concentration in Work and Organizational Psychology (WKOP)
Students pursuing the BS with concentration take 12-13 credits. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all coursework applied to the concentration.
Students who successfully complete the Psychology Department Honors Program (PSYC 490 , PSYC 491 , and PSYC 492 ) with an honors thesis/project focused on I/O psychology may, with approval of their thesis committees and the associate chair for undergraduate studies, substitute the honors work for one course in the concentration.
Specific requirements for the concentration are listed below. One required applied psychology course (3 credits)
Three courses (9-10 credits) chosen from:
▲ Concentration in Developmental Psychology (DVLP)
Two required courses (6 credits)
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
▲ Concentration in Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HF)
Students pursuing the BS with concentration in human factors and applied cognition take 12-13 credits. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all course work applied to the concentration.
Students who successfully complete the Psychology Department Honors Program (PSYC 490 , PSYC 491 , and PSYC 492 with an honors thesis/project focused on human factors or applied cognition may, with approval of their thesis committees and the associate chair for undergraduate studies, substitute their honors work for one course in the concentration.
Students can receive the concentration in human factors and applied cognition by completing the required foundational course, PSYC 317 , the required biopsychology course, PSYC 372 , and two courses chosen from the following: Two required courses (6 credits)
Two courses (6-7 credits) chosen from:
Psychology electives (0-9 credits)
Students complete the 38 required credits with electives in psychology (PSYC) with the following restrictions.
- A maximum of 6 credits of PSYC 327 and PSYC 328 may be applied to required psychology credits.
- A maximum of 6 credits of PSYC 260 , PSYC 350 , and PSYC 460 may be applied to required psychology credits.
- No more than 9 credits of PSYC 327, 328, 260, 350, and 460 can be taken without written permission of the department chair.
- PSYC 330 may not be taken for credit by psychology majors.
- No more than 6 credits of D may be applied toward this requirement.
PSYC 465 is strongly recommended for all students who plan to attend graduate school in psychology.
If an approved psychology course is used to meet the technical writing requirement, it may also be applied as a psychology elective. Supporting courses (35-40 credits)
These courses broaden the requirements to include humanities and strengthen the science, quantitative and writing components of the degree. One course (3-4 credits) in technical writing chosen from:
The psychology classes in this list may also be applied as a psychology elective. Four courses (14-16 credits) of natural science
Two required science courses (8 credits)
Two elective science courses (6-8 credits)
Students fill this requirement with any two courses in the natural sciences. Two courses (6-8 credits) of quantitative reasoning chosen from:
One course (3 credits) in humanities
Students can choose courses from PHIL (but not PHIL 173 or 376 ), RELI, ARTH, AVT, MUSI, DANC, THR. Two courses (6 credits) in social and behavioral science
Students can choose courses from ANTH, ECON, GOVT, HIST, SOCI or any non-psychology course that has been approved to meet the Mason Core requirement in social and behavioral science. Courses in psychology may not be used to fulfill this requirement. One additional course (3 credits) in humanities or social and behavioral science
Students choose an additional course from the lists under the requirements in humanities and social sciences above (and with the same restrictions). Writing-Intensive Requirement
The 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 , PSYC 304 , PSYC 309 , or PSYC 323 . Students who receive transfer credit for a research methods course must take PSYC 304 , PSYC 309 , or PSYC 323 unless the transfer course has been approved as writing intensive. Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits
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