Bachelor of Science: Psychology
VCU
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.
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.
- 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
- Attorney
- Higher Education Administrator
- Psychologist, Counselor, or Therapist
- Researcher
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.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- STAT 210
- 1-2 additional science courses
- Yes
- No
- 2.0 overall and in GPA
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Social Sciences)
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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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend New Student Orientation.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources 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.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and 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.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources 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.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Psychology Department and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
- Join a professional organization related to psychology: American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science.
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
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL.
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.
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Science: Social Sciences)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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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 |
MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
PSY 200 | Principles of Psychology | PSYC 101 | 3 | Major |
SOC 200 | Principles of Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | General education |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
History elective | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
Psychology elective | PSY 230 Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
Science with Lab | BIO 101 General Biology I or BIO 106 Life Science | BIOL/Z 151 or BIOL/Z 101 | 4 | Major |
Sociology elective | SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology | ANTH 103 | 3 | Elective |
Approved elective | MTH 245 Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major |
Humanities elective | Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Science with Lab | BIO 102 General Biology II | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Major |
Social Science elective | PSY 215 Abnormal Psychology | PSYC 407 | 3 | Major |
Approved elective | Select from list of Approved Electives | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
History elective | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
Humanities elective | ENG 200-level literature (ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252) | ENGL | 3 | General education |
Social Science elective | Select 1: GEO 210, ECO 120, ECO 201, ECO 202, PLS 135 or 211 | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
Approved elective | Select from list of Approved Electives | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
Tidewater credits transferred to VCU | 60 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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Foreign language through the 102 level (if not completed at TCC). (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 PSYC upper-level elective(300- or 400-level courses): see VCU advisor for course options | 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 | 18 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |