2016-2017 University Catalog
Psychology
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Phone: 703-993-1342
Web: psychology.gmu.edu
Faculty
Professors: Ascoli, Boehm-Davis, Cortina, Denham, Kashdan, Klimoski, Mandes, Pasnak, Riskind, Tangney, Tetrick, Winsler (associate chair for graduate studies), Zaccaro
Research professors: Butler, Olds
Associate professors: Baldwin (associate chair for undergraduate studies), Bitler, Blackwell, Buffardi, Cattaneo (director, Clinical Program), Curby (director, Applied Developmental Program), Dalal (chair), Esposito-Smythers, Flinn (director, Neuroscience undergraduate studies), Kaplan (director, Industrial/Organizational Program), King, McDonald, McKnight, Peterson (director, Human Factors Program), Renshaw, Rowe, Short, J. Thompson (director, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Program)
Research associate professors: Greenwood, Stuewig
Assistant professors: Chaplin, Fisher, Shaw, Wiese, Kuykendall
Term associate professors: Chrosniak, Hurley, Mehlenbeck (director, Center for Psychological Services), Murdoch
Research assistant professors: Bassett
Term assistant professors: Beadles, Sontag
Affiliates: Eby, Hunt, Bachus
Courses
The Psychology Department offers all courses designated PSYC in the Courses section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
The department offers a bachelor of arts degree and a bachelor of science degree in psychology. All psychology majors complete a broad range of courses from social and abnormal psychology to cognitive and biopsychology. Students can also choose from special topics courses such as forensic psychology and romantic relationships.
In addition to the general degree in psychology, students can choose a concentration in forensic psychology, human factors and applied cognition, work and organizational psychology, developmental psychology, education psychology, or health psychology. These concentrations may be of interest to students who are planning to attend graduate school.
Students in psychology may have the opportunity to do research with a faculty member or do a service learning course, which allows them to put into practice what they’ve learned in the classroom.
Students interested in graduate study should be aware that undergraduate research experience and letters of recommendation are major factors for admission to graduate study. Such students should distribute courses across a number of areas in psychology and work closely with one or more professors on individual projects during their junior and senior years.
Honors in the Major - Psychology
Highly qualified students may apply to graduate with honors in the major. To be eligible for admission, psychology majors must have completed at least 50 credits and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses.
If accepted, students must take a sequence of three courses (PSYC 490 , 491 , and 492 ), which culminates in the successful completion and presentation of an independent honors thesis. To graduate with honors, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in their honors courses and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.40 in psychology courses.
Honors in the Major - Neuroscience
Highly qualified students may apply to graduate with honors in the major. To be eligible for admission, neuroscience majors must have completed at least 60 credits and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.25 in neuroscience courses.
If accepted, students must take a sequence of three courses (NEUR 410 or 411 , 450 , and 451 ), which culminates in the successful completion and presentation of an independent honors thesis. To graduate with honors, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in their honors courses, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, and complete an honors thesis.
Minors
The department offers minors in psychology , developmental psychology , forensic psychology , health psychology , industrial/organizational psychology , and neuroscience . These minors are available to students in any major in the university.
Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program
The department offers highly qualified undergraduate majors the opportunity to apply to an accelerated master’s degree program in psychology with a concentration in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. If accepted, students will be able to earn both an undergraduate degree and the master’s degree with a concentration in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience after satisfactory completion of 146 credits, sometimes within five years.
Graduate Programs
The graduate programs in psychology are distinguished by an emphasis on basic research and the application of research to solving practical problems in families, schools, industry, government, and health care settings.
The department offers master’s and doctoral degrees with concentrations in applied developmental psychology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, human factors/applied cognition, and industrial/organizational psychology. It offers a doctoral degree with a concentration in clinical psychology.
Funding
The department offers teaching and research assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Other sources of funding such as grants, loans, and employment on campus are also available. Students awarded assistantships must register for a minimum of six credits a semester and show satisfactory progress toward their degree.
Certificates
The department offers graduate certificates in transportation human factors, usability, and cognitive neuroscience. These have been designed to meet the needs of students who desire to upgrade their skills and earn a certificate as evidence of their skill attainment. Students may take these as stand-alone certificates or pursue them concurrently with a graduate degree program. Part of the certificate course work may be able to be applied to the degree. Students must apply and be accepted to a graduate certificate program.
The certificate programs are open to all students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and meet the admissions requirements for the master’s degree in psychology with a concentration in human factors and applied cognition.
Nondegree Status
Applicants who have not been admitted to a graduate degree program or a certificate program may apply for nondegree status. Nondegree students must meet the same admission requirements as degree-seeking students. Nondegree status is not intended as a way to qualify for admission as a degree-seeking student.
While it may be possible to transfer the credits earned in nondegree status to a degree program, such transfers are not automatic. They require the approval of the graduate director and the dean. If approved, a maximum of 12 credits earned in nondegree status may be applied to a degree program. Nondegree students who intend to transfer their credits to a degree program should discuss this with the appropriate program director.
ProgramsUndergraduate Degree(s)Undergraduate Minor(s)Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program(s)Master’s Degree(s)Master’s Level Certificate(s)Doctoral Degree(s)
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