Declaring the Major | Progressing in the Major
Description of the Major
Psychology is the major to consider if you want to study the area of science that explores how people and animals think, feel and act. Psychology majors complete coursework that explores behavior, emotions, cognitive processes and the factors that influence them from a variety of perspectives. Psychologists study behavior at both a cellular (e.g. examining the role of the brain and the nervous system) and at a more global level (e.g. examining the influences of culture). As a psychology major you will enhance your problem-solving, critical thinking, writing and oral expression skills as you learn to use the tools available to behavioral scientists.
Students choose to major in psychology for many reasons. Psychology can be your primary area of interest within a liberal arts education that will lead to many professional opportunities that require a bachelor’s degree, or it can be a pre-professional program leading to advanced study in graduate school. The most popular types of graduate programs pursued by graduates of our program during the past three years have been counseling, school psychology, education, psychological science, social work, forensic psychology or criminal justice, behavior analysis, school counseling, law school, and clinical psychology.
Each year hundreds of psychology majors participate in research and service learning projects. Each year approximately 50 complete field placements and 16 complete honors thesis projects. Many of our students take their scholarship to a high level, participating as co-authors with faculty on professional conference presentations. See http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug/visitors/index.html for examples of the accomplishments of psychology majors and faculty.
The Department of Psychology moved to newly renovated and well-equipped facilities in January 2008. See http://psyc.jmu.edu/ug for additional information about the JMU psychology major.
Degrees Offered
B.A.
B.S.
Concentrations
Behavior Analysis
Minors
None
Declaring the Major
New Freshmen and Transfer Students
Declare the psychology major when you register for orientation.
New transfer students who have received JMU credit for GPSYC 101 and Math 205, 220, 231 or 235 are automatically admitted to the major.
Currently Enrolled Major Changers
If you wish to change your major to psychology you should attend an information session conducted by the Psychology Peer Advisers. All paperwork required to change your major is completed at the conclusion of the session. Sessions are typically scheduled throughout the fall and spring semesters. For dates and additional information see http://www.psyc.jmu.edu/ug/declaring.html
Progressing in the Major
All students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for full admission to the major:
- Earn at least a grade of "C-" in GPSYC 101 and Math 205, 220, 231 or 235
- Have a minimum cum GPA of 2.6 based upon at least 15 hours of course work at JMU
Before admission to the major students can take GPSYC 101, GPSYC 160, GPSYC 122 and PSYC 275. Other courses are sometimes available, but the list is limited and varies across semesters. All other courses are restricted to admitted majors only.
A psychology course completed with a "D" grade may be credited towards graduation requirements but not major requirements.
