|
|
2015-2016 University Catalog
Psychology, BA
|
|
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 psychology (CBNR concentration). See 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 within the major, 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 104 .
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)
College Level Requirements for the BA degree
In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the course work below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).
Philosophy or religious studies (3 credits)
Fulfilled by any course in philosophy or religious studies (PHIL, RELI) except for PHIL 323 , 324 , 327 , 393 , 460 . PHIL 253 cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core literature requirement.
Social and behavioral science (3 credits)
3 credits in addition to the university-wide requirement in social and behavioral science for a total of 6 credits. The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and university requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing any course in ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GOVT, HIST (except 100 or 125), LING, PSYC, or SOCI and these courses in GGS: 101 , 103 , 110 , 301 , 303 , 304 , 305 , 306 , 315 , 316 , 320 , 325 , 330 , 357 , 380 .
Natural science (1 credit)
1 credit in addition to the university-wide requirement for a total of 8 credits. This requirement must be fulfilled by completing two of any approved natural science courses that include a laboratory experience. This requirement may not be fulfilled by BIOL 124 or BIOL 125 .
Foreign language
Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing a course in a foreign language numbered 202 or 210 (or higher level courses taught in the language) or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Non-Western culture (3 credits)
3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture in addition to the course used to fulfill the Mason Core requirement in global understanding. A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Electives
Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.
Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits
|
|
|
Print-Friendly Page