Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Psychology, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
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 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 fields to increase opportunities and earning potential. Graduates can also find work with programs such as Americorps, PeaceCorps, Fulbright Student Program, or City Year.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • 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
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Counselor
  • Higher Education Administrator
  • Psychologist
  • Researcher
  • Therapist
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

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

Highest level of math required
  • STAT 210
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Psychology, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

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
Explore Year 1
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • 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.
  • Apply to VCU.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • 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.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
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.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
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.
  • Apply to VCU.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • 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.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • 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.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • 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.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2022-2023

Psychology, Bachelor of Science (and accelerated masters)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
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
MATH 121 College Algebra MATH 141 3 General education
MATH 217 Statistics STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
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
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)
Complete general education and elective requirements for associate degree VCU equivalents 28 General education
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
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 6 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
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. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 75 undergraduate credit hours, including at least one undergraduate CLED (Counselor Education) course; minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the most recent 60 credits of course work.