The Bachelor of Science in Psychology curriculum reflects the discipline’s major functions — scientific research, teaching, acting as a healing profession and raising philosophical questions about the assumptions, values and ideals of human beings and their societies, which reflects psychology’s origin in philosophy. Through a core set of requirements the student systematically develops understanding and skill in scientific methods of inquiry, focusing on the human mind and behavior. To fulfill the degree requirements, students may pursue the standard curriculum by selecting courses from four content areas that introduce students to the healing and philosophical sides of psychology and provide a broad understanding of the field as a whole; or the student may apply to one of several more focused concentrations that draw upon the special strengths of the VCU Department of Psychology.
Program outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Understanding of content domain
The curriculum of the B.S. in Psychology is designed to provide students with an accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of psychological concepts, principles and findings in the key domains of the field, including developmental processes, social processes, physiological and behavioral processes, and mental health and well-being. - Development of intellectual domain
The curriculum of the B.S. in Psychology fosters the development of the intellectual skills required to generate theories, do research, communicate ideas and information to others, evaluate conclusions statistically and locate the information needed for these intellectual pursuits. Students will learn to think scientifically, understand the relationships between theories, observations and conclusions, and skillfully evaluate the empirical support for various theories and findings. - Development of affective and interpersonal domain
Students seeking the B.S. in Psychology learn a number of practical, applied life skills pertaining to personal adjustment, relations with others and cross-cultural awareness.
Student learning outcomes
I. Communication and professional development
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Effective communication skills: Students will be able to communicate psychological theory and research to a range of audiences in oral and written formats in the capstone course.
II. Development of intellectual domain
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Critical evaluation skills: Students will be proficient in evaluating psychological theory and research methods; thinking scientifically about behavior and mental processes; and basing judgments on psychological theory and research.
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Empirical research skills: Students will demonstrate proficiency in applying methodological knowledge in measurement, experimental design and analysis of psychological data.
III. Ethical responsibility in a diverse world
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Ethical practices: Students will demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues in psychological research and practice.
Special requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology curriculum requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 30 credits in psychology courses. A maximum of 40 credits in psychology (this limit does not apply to PSYC courses numbered 490 and above) can be presented for the degree. At least 15 of the 30 minimum-required credits must be completed at VCU. All students must complete the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology standard requirements | ||
PSYC 101  Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 214 | Applications of Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| BIOL 101 & BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts and Biological Concepts Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Global Environmental Biology | ||
| Human Biology | ||
Or an approved biology course | ||
| STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
For the standard curriculum, students must complete the psychology standard requirements, PSYC 451, at least one course from each of the following four domains or content areas, and at least three psychology electives.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental | ||
| PSYC 301 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 302 | Psychology of Adolescence | 3 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology (cannot take both for credit toward a degree) | 3 |
| PSYC 306 | Psychology of Adult Development | 3 |
| PSYC 307 | Community Solutions: Multiple Perspectives | 3 |
| GRTY 510 | Aging | 3 |
| Social/personality | ||
| PSYC 309 | Personality | 3 |
| PSYC 321 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC/AFAM 322 | Personality and Behavior of the African American | 3 |
| PSYC 323 | Interpersonal Relations | 3 |
| PSYC/RELS 333 | Psychology and Religious Experience | 3 |
| PSYC/GSWS 335 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| PSYC/SOCY 341 | Group Dynamics | 3 |
| Physiological/learning | ||
| PSYC 401 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 406 | Perception | 3 |
| PSYC 410 | Principles of Learning and Cognition | 3 |
| Self-development/applied psychology | ||
| PSYC 303 | Personal Adjustment | 3 |
| PSYC 308 | Stress and its Management | 3 |
| PSYC 310 | Industrial Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 318 | Principles of Psychological Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| PSYC 340 | Introduction to the Helping Relationship | 3 |
| PSYC 407 | Psychology of the Abnormal | 3 |
| PSYC 412 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 415 | Psychological Theories of Addiction | 3 |
| PSYC 416 | Psychological Treatment of Addiction | 3 |
| PSYC 426 | Child Psychopathology | 3 |
Standard psychology courses must be taken sequentially and ideally should be completed by the end of the junior year. These courses are PSYC 101 with a minimum grade of C; PSYC 214 with a minimum grade of C (PSYC 214 also has the prerequisite requirement of STAT 210 or its equivalent with a minimum grade of C); and PSYC 317 with a minimum grade of C (PSYC 317 also has the prerequisite requirement of PSYC 214 or its equivalent with a minimum grade of C).
PSYC 451 is the capstone course and must be taken in the senior year.
Students must achieve a minimum cumulative VCU GPA of 2.0 and also achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major in order to graduate.
Degree requirements for Psychology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| PSYC 214 | Applications of Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 |
| PSYC 451 | History of Psychology | 3 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| Select at least one course from each of the domains listed above. | 12 | |
| • Major electives | ||
| PSYC electives (upper-level) | 9 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| BIOL 103 | Global Environmental Biology 1 | 3 |
| or BIOL 201 | Human Biology | |
| BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts Laboratory | 1 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human ) | 4 |
| STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3 |
| Electives (upper level) | 21 | |
| Experiential fine arts 2 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 23-32 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
BIOL 103 satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning. Students who chose this course will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
Course offered by the School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| BIOZ 101 | Biological Concepts Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 |
| STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course (select AOI) | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 103 or BIOL 201 | Global Environmental Biology 1 or Human Biology 1 | 3 |
| HUMS 291 | Special Topics in the Humanities and Sciences | 1 |
| PSYC 214 | Applications of Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Experiential fine arts | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14-16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PSYC 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 |
| PSYC elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| General education course (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirement) | 3 | |
| Open elective (or select general education course that satisfies AOI for scientific and logical reasoning if BIOL 103 was not selected above) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Course in developmental domain | 3 | |
| Course in social/personality domain | 3 | |
| Elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Course in physiological/learning domain | 3 | |
| Course in self-development/applied psychology domain | 3 | |
| PSYC elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| PSYC 451 | History of Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| PSYC or other electives (upper-level) | 6 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PSYC or other elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Electives (upper-level) | 6 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 120-122 | |
BIOL 103 satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning. Students who chose this course will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Accelerated B.S. and M.Ed.
The accelerated B.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Counselor Education program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. in Psychology and M.Ed. in Counselor Education in six years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.S and M.Ed. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 168 credits rather than the 180 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
Students holding the undergraduate degree in psychology will have knowledge in human behavior, learning and cognition that provides a foundation for graduate study in counselor education. The counselor education program will provide students with research-based professional and clinical experiences necessary for effective counseling, supervision, teaching, advocacy and leadership in diverse settings. Program faculty will prepare students to become licensed school counselors, couples and family counselors, or counselors and student affairs professionals in higher education institutions.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 75 undergraduate credit hours, including at least one undergraduate CLED course; minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the most recent 60 credits of course work. Additionally, students must submit three letters of recommendation addressing their potential for graduate study in education (including at least one from a psychology faculty member); a current resume; a statement of intent (consult with counselor education faculty); transcripts of all previous college work; and must complete a personal interview (to be scheduled after application is received). Note: All of the material components will need to be submitted for the official graduate school application if accelerated program students elect to continue in the VCU counselor education program (see Admission to the graduate program directions below). Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with both a psychology academic adviser and a graduate counselor education adviser before they have completed 75 credits. Successful applicants would enter the program in the fall semester of their senior year.
Undergraduate students must have psychology department approval (e.g., academic adviser, department chair) to participate in this accelerated program and also meet admission criteria of the M.Ed. in Counselor Education program prior to beginning their final year of full-time undergraduate study.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Both the undergraduate psychology adviser and the graduate counselor education faculty adviser provide guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin. Students may resubmit the same three letters of recommendation addressing their potential for graduate study in education (including at least one from a psychology faculty member and statement of intent (consult with counselor education faculty); a current resume; and updated transcripts of all previous college work.
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits may be used to satisfy major elective or open elective credits for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
The graduate counselor education (CLED) courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLED 601 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 605 | Career Information and Exploration | 3 |
| CLED 607 | Multicultural Counseling in Educational Settings | 3 |
| CLED 612 | Wellness Counseling | 3 |
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Course in developmental domain | 3 | |
| Course in social/personality domain | 3 | |
| Elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Electives (upper- or lower-level) | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Course in physiological/learning domain | 3 | |
| Course in self-development/applied psychology domain | 3 | |
| Elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Electives (upper- or lower-level) | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 601 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 605 | Career Information and Exploration | 3 |
| PSYC 451 | History of Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Psychology or other elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CLED 607 | Multicultural Counseling in Educational Settings | 3 |
| CLED 612 | Wellness Counseling | 3 |
| Psychology or other elective (upper-level) | 3 | |
| Electives (upper- or lower-level) | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| See requirements for fifth and sixth years by concentration below. | ||
School counseling concentration
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 600 | Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 640 | Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 6 | |
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 602 | Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 613 | Data-driven Comprehensive School Counseling Programs | 3 |
| CLED 650 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EDUS 660 | Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| CLED 603 | Group Procedures in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 622 | School Counseling Services | 3 |
| CLED 660 | Mental Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 615 | Lifespan Development: A Gender Perspective | 3 |
| Elective (chosen with approval of adviser) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Sixth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EDUS 673 | Democracy, Equity and Ethics in Education | 3 |
| CLED 604 | Practicum: School Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 606 | Assessment Techniques for Counselors | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CLED 672 | Internship | 6 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
College counseling and student affairs concentration
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 600 | Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 640 | Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 6 | |
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 602 | Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 620 | Student Development Services in Higher Education | 3 |
| CLED 650 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EDUS 660 | Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| CLED 603 | Group Procedures in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 660 | Mental Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 615 | Lifespan Development: A Gender Perspective | 3 |
| Elective (chosen with approval of adviser) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Sixth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 606 | Assessment Techniques for Counselors | 3 |
| CLED 608 | Practicum: College Student Development and Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 631 | American College and University | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CLED 672 | Internship | 6 |
| Elective (chosen with approval of adviser) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
Couples and family counseling concentration
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 600 | Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 640 | Marriage, Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 6 | |
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 602 | Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 650 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 641 | Advanced Family Counseling | 3 |
| Term hours: | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CLED 603 | Group Procedures in Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 645 | Couples Counseling | 3 |
| CLED 660 | Mental Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| CLED 609 | Couples and Family Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| CLED 615 | Lifespan Development: A Gender Perspective | 3 |
| CLED 644 | Sexuality Counseling | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |
| Sixth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CLED 606 | Assessment Techniques for Counselors | 3 |
| CLED 672 | Internship | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EDUS 660 | Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| CLED 672 | Internship | 3 |
| Elective (chosen with approval of advisor) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 9 | |