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2014-2015 University Catalog
Psychology, BA
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Banner Code: LA-BA-PSYC
Web: psychology.gmu.edu
This program of study is offered by the Department of Psychology .
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 . Students pursuing a BA in psychology must complete additional college requirements for BA degrees in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students pursuing this degree must complete 36 credits in psychology with 24 credits at the 300 and 400 level. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 in these 36 credits and a minimum grade of 1.67 (C-) in each of the courses.
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 (22-28 credits)
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 or two courses in biopsychology (3 or 6 credits)
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. Notes
Students are strongly encouraged to complete PSYC 300 and PSYC 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.
It is strongly recommended that students fulfill the Mason Core natural science requirement by completing BIOL 103 and BIOL 104 because these courses are prerequisites to the requirement of PSYC 372 or PSYC 375 and PSYC 376 . Applied psychology courses or optional concentration (6-13 credits)
Students pursuing a BA in psychology complete two 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 BA without concentration take 6-7 credits chosen from: ▲Concentration in Work and Organizational Psychology (WKOP)
Students pursuing the BA 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 their 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)
Students pursuing the BA with concentration in developmental psychology take 12 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 , 491 , and 492 ) with an honors thesis/project focused on developmental psychology 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 developmental psychology by completing the following: Two required courses (6 credits)
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
▲ Concentration in Human Factors and Applied Cognition (HF)
Students pursuing the BA 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 , 491 , and 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 additional elective courses. Two required courses (6 credits)
Two courses (6-7 credits) chosen from:
Elective courses in psychology (1-8)
Students complete the 36 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.
PSYC 465 is strongly recommended for all students who plan to attend graduate school in psychology. 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. Note:
Students who have limited technology skills are encouraged to take IT 103 . Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits
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