Psychology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
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 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 fields to increase opportunities and earning potential. Graduates can also find work with programs such as Americorps, PeaceCorps, Fulbright Student Program, or City Year.
- Adult Learning and Instruction
- Human Resources Specialist
- Market Research Analyst
- Marketing Specialist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Recruiter
- Sales Representative
- Social and Human Services Assistant
- Social Science Research Assistant
- Training and Development Specialist
- Attorney
- Counselor
- Higher Education Administrator
- Psychologist
- Researcher
- Therapist
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
- Natural Sciences requirement only
- Yes
- No
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Psychology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Paul D. Camp Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: 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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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Review steps for signing up for classes.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Schedule an appointment with your advisor every semester.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use brainfuse online tutoring or Success Coaches 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 Psychology department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers and for information about department talks and clubs.
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.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
- Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use brainfuse online tutoring or Success Coaches to get ahead.
- Meet with your academic advisor every semester.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MEd in Counselor Education program.
- Explore the different concentrations of the BS degree.
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.
- 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.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- 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 your advisor for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
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.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Psychology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Paul D. Camp Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: General Studies)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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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 |
History | Select from HIS 121 or HIS 111 | HIST | 3 | General education |
MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
ITE 115 | Introduction to Computer Applications | INFO 160, 161, 162 | 3 | Elective |
Health/PE elective | Health/PE elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective |
SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
History | Select from HIS 122 or HIS 112 | HIST | 3 | General education |
MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
Humanities | Select from ART, MUS, PHI, REL, English Literature | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Health/PE elective | Health/PE elective | VCU equivalent | 1 | Elective |
Transfer elective | PSY 230 Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
Science | BIO 101 General Biology I | BIOL/Z 151 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
Social Science | PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology I (both PSY 201 and 202 must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) | PSYC 2XX | 3 | Elective |
CST 100 | Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 101 recommended; see note below) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | Elective |
Transfer elective | Transfer elective | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
Science | BIO 102 General Biology II | BIOL/Z 152 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
Social Science | PSY 202 Introduction to Psychology II (both PSY 201 and 202 must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) | PSYC 101 | 3 | Major |
Humanities | Select from ART, MUS, PHI, REL, English Literature | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 102 recommended; see note below) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | Elective |
Transfer elective | Transfer elective | VCU equivalent | 2 | Elective |
Camp credits transferred to VCU | 61 to 63 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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Foreign language through the 102 level (if not completed at Camp CC) (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 | |
PSY 214 | Applications of Statistics | 3 | Major |
PSY 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Social/personality psychology requirement (select 1 from approved list): see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Physiological/learning psychology requirement (select 1 from approved list): see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Self-development/applied psychology requirement (select 1 from approved list): see VCU advisor for course options | 3 | Major |
PSYC 451 | History of Psychology | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Select three Psychology upper-level elective(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 | 12 to 14 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 57 to 59 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |