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2016-2017 University Catalog
Psychology, BS
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Banner Code: LA-BS-PSYC
Web: psychology.gmu.edu
College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department: 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 psychology (CBNR concentration) . See listing for specific requirements.
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Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees , including Mason Core requirements. 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 developmental psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, human factors and applied cognition, or work and organizational psychology. Courses required for a concentration may simultaneously satisfy other degree requirements. The concentrations in forensic psychology, human factors and applied cognition, and work and organizational psychology meet the applied psychology requirement.
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
Students pursuing a BS in psychology complete 2 applied psychology courses chosen from the list below.
Alternatively, students may earn an approved concentration to satisfy the applied psychology requirement.
Two courses in applied psychology (6-7 credits)
Students pursuing the BS without concentration take 6-7 credits chosen from the list below.
Alternatively, students may earn an approved concentration to satisfy the applied psychology requirement.
Concentrations Meeting Applied Psychology Requirement (12-18 credits)
Students may satisfy the applied psychology requirement by completing a concentration in forensic psychology, human factors and applied cognition, or work and organizational psychology.
▲ Concentration in Forensic Psychology (FPSY)
Students pursuing the concentration in forensic psychology take 18 credits. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all course work applied to the concentration.
Specific requirements for the concentration are listed below.
Four required courses (12 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.
Two required courses (6 credits)
Two courses (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 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 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:
Other concentrations
Students may choose to complete a concentration in development psychology, educational psychology, or health psychology.
▲ Concentration in Developmental Psychology (DVLP)
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 may also find this concentration advantageous.
Students pursuing the BS with this concentration 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 Educational Psychology (EPSY)
Students pursuing the BS with concentration in educational psychology take 12 credits. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all course work applied to the concentration.
Two required educational psychology courses (6 credits)
Two courses (6 credits) chosen from:
▲ Concentration in Health Psychology (HPSY)
Students pursuing the BS with concentration in health 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 health or well-being 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 well-being course (3 credits)
Three courses (9 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.
- 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). Note
Students who have limited technology skills are encouraged to take IT 104 .
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 , or PSYC 309 . Students who receive transfer credit for a research methods course must take PSYC 304 , or PSYC 309 unless the transfer course has been approved as writing intensive.
Mason Core (40 credits)
Note: some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Expand each item below for a link to specific course lists for each category.
Foundation Requirements (15-19 credits)
Core Requirements (22 credits)
Synthesis/Capstone Requirement (minimum 3 credits)
Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits
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