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)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral 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 RBC Orientation.
- Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
- Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
- Use tutoring to get ahead.
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 RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Explore possible career opportunities for Psychology majors.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Use tutoring to get ahead.
- Explore the VCU Psychology department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges by meeting with your Learner Mentor and understanding RBC Student Support available.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MEd in Counselor Education program.
- Review the different concentrations of the psychology degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Psychology Department.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
- 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
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
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)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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ENGL 101 | Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Research II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
COMM 101 | Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
Fine Arts | Core course in The Language and History of the Fine Arts (select 1): ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, 123, THEA 201 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
PSY 201-202 | General Psychology I-II (both courses must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) | PSYC 101 + PSYC 1XX | 6 | Major |
PSY 250 | Developmental Psychology (fulfills developmental psychology requirement for major) | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
PSY 217 | Research Methods Note: the VCU equivalent for PSY 217 is subject to review by the Department of Psychology. Please provide syllabus information upon transfer to VCU. | PSYC 2XX | 3 | Elective |
PHIL 203 | Introduction to Ethics | PHIL 201 | 3 | General education |
SOC 253 | Marriage & Family | SOCS 303 | 3 | Elective |
SOC 201 | General Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | General education |
U.S. & World Cultures | Core courses The U.S. and World Cultures (select two; one must be History): ECO 201, 202, GEO 103, GOVT 201, 202, 203, 253, HIST 101, 102, 192, 201, 202, 221, 222, 240, 242, 250, 276, PHIL 270, REL 210, 219, 220, 254, 272 | VCU equivalent | 6 | General education |
MATH 121 | College Algebra | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
MATH 217 | Statistics | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
BIO 101 + Lab | General Biology I + Lab | BIOL/Z 101 | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
BIO 102 + Lab | General Biology II + lab | BIOL/Z 1XX | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
CSCI | Computer proficiency test or CSCI 121 or 202 | VCU equivalent | 0 to 3 | Elective |
Electives | No more than 2 credits of PE may be chosen | VCU equivalent | 4 to 7 | Elective |
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU | 60 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement). (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 | Application of Statistics (see comment above for PSY 217) | 0 to 3 | Major |
PSYC 317 | Experimental Methods | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Physiological/learning psychology requirement (select 1): PSYC 401, PSYC 406, or PSYC 410 | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Self-development/applied psychology requirement (select 1): PSYC 303, PSYC 308, PSYC 310, PSYC 318, PSYC 340, PSYC 407, PSYC 412, PSYC 426 | 3 | Major |
PSYC | Social/personality (select 1): PSYC 309, 321, 322, 323, 333, 335, 341 | 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. | 15 | Elective | |
Open electives | 18 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |