Undergraduate program requirements

The Department of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University stresses both graduate and undergraduate education. The department’s 30 plus faculty members teach a range of entry-level, mid-range and advanced courses in both basic areas of psychology (research design and analysis, developmental, social, psychobiology) and applied areas (abnormal processes, stress and adjustment, industrial psychology). Psychology is housed within the College of Humanities and Sciences, and graduates of the undergraduate program receive a Bachelor of Science degree with broad training in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, as well as a specialization in psychology.

Curriculum

VCU has published its official Undergraduate Bulletin online in PDF format. Visit http://www.vcu.edu/bulletins and choose “Undergraduate study.” Information about psychology is located within the section on the College of Humanities Sciences.

Summary of degree requirements – Bachelor of Science in Psychology

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 30 of those credits in psychology, excluding PSYC 201, which may, however, be counted as an elective outside the required 30 credit hours. However, no more than 40 credits in psychology may be presented for graduation for the Bachelor of Science degree. This limit does not apply to courses numbered 490 and above. At least 15 of the 30 required credits must be taken at VCU. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required in psychology courses.

The required core curriculum consists of an introduction to psychology (PSYC 101), a study of statistical applications in the psychology field (PSYC 214) and an overview of experimental methods (PSYC 317). A minimum grade of “C” is required in each. Refer to the Undergraduate Bulletin or the undergraduate psychology advising office for prerequisites to these courses.

It is important to note that students must complete these courses in a sequence: STAT 210 (or approved equivalent) must be completed with a grade of “C” or better before taking PSYC 214, which in turn must be completed with a grade of “C” or better before taking PSYC 317. Students are strongly encouraged to start this sequence early in their college careers.

Students also must complete a survey course in the history of psychology along with at least one course from each of the following four content areas:

• Developmental
• Physiological/Learning
• Self-development/Applied
• Social/Personality

Concentrations in psychology

In addition to the core and instead of the standard curriculum, after successful completion of PSYC 101 and PSYC 214 with a “C” in each, a student may apply in writing to the director of undergraduate studies to pursue one of the following specialized concentrations in psychology. The Graduate School Concentration provides a broad training in the core areas of scientific psychology intended to prepare students for the GRE and successful application to graduate school. The other concentrations represent curricula focused on special strengths of the Department of Psychology, and may prepare the student for psychological work not requiring the Ph.D. Download the Psychology chapter of the Undergraduate Bulletin for each concentration’s specific requirements:

• Life Science Concentration
• GraduateSchool Concentration
• Applied Psychology Concentration
• Urban Psychology Concentration

Minor in psychology

A minor in psychology consists of 18 credits in psychology, including PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology; one course from each of the four content areas: Developmental, Social/Personality, Physiological/Learning and Self-development/Applied Psychology; and one additional course. PSYC 201 Career Development in Psychology cannot be used to meet this requirement. At least nine of the 18 credits must be taken at VCU.