2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: General Studies (Piedmont Virginia Community College)
Associate degree
Program description
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.
Career opportunities
Some students may choose to study psychology because they enjoy the subject and wish to pursue careers requiring "any major." In this scenario, it is critical to develop desirable skills through internships, part-time or summer jobs, or volunteer experiences. Some skills valued most by employers include: communication, interpersonal, leadership, teamwork, and computer skills. Other students may major in psychology because they want to work in a related field. Many entry-level helping positions are available, however the amount of direct client contact is limited for those who only have a bachelor's degree. Students may wish to pursue graduate education in psychology, social work, counseling, college student personnel, or other related fields to increase opportunities and earning potential.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Adult Learning and Instruction
- Human Resources Specialist
- Market Research Analyst or Marketing Specialist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Public relations specialist
- Recruiter
- Sales Representative
- Social and Human Services Assistant
- Social Science Research Assistant
- Training and Development Specialist
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Attorney
- Higher Education Administrator
- Psychologist, Counselor, or Therapist
- Researcher
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- STAT 210
Science required
- 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
- Yes
Additional tuition/fees
- No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.0 overall and in GPA
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: General Studies)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Review PVCC Steps to Enrollment information.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Schedule an advising appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Psychology Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Psychology through the Virginia Wizard.
- Review the resources of the Student Financial Resource Center to look into building a financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Schedule an advising appointment every semester.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the VCU Psychology department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to psychology: American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Psychology department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Psychology department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
2020-2021
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: General Studies)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| ENG | Select 1: ENG 200-level literature | ENGL | 3 | General education |
| HIS | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| HIS | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major |
| CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| ITE 119 | Information Literacy | INFO 160, 161, 168 | 3 | Elective |
| Humanities | Select 1: ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 250; PHI 100, 200 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Humanities | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Science w/ Laboratory | BIO 101 General Biology I or BIO 106 Life Science | BIOL/Z 151 or BIOL/Z 101 | 4 | Major |
| Science w/ Laboratory | Second biology; select 1: BIO 101, 102, 106, 107 | BIOL/Z | 4 | Major |
| Social Science | PSY 200 Principles of Psychology | PSYC 101 | 3 | Major |
| Social Science | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Social Science | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 101 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 102 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| Transfer elective | PSY 230 Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
| Transfer elective | PSY 215 Abnormal Psychology | PSYC 407 | 3 | Major |
| PVCC credits transferred to VCU | 63 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign language through the 102 level. (if not completed at PVCC) (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
| PSYC 214 | Applications of Statistics | 3 | Major |
| PSYC 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 | Major |
| PSYC | Social/personality psychology requirement (select 1): see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
| PSYC | Physiological/learning psychology requirement (select 1): see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
| PSYC 451 | History of Psychology | 3 | Major |
| PSYC | Select three Psychology upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) | 9 | Major |
| Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 18 | Elective | |
| Open electives | 15 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 57 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||