PSYCHOLOGY
STUDY THE
WONDERS OF
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY (B.A.)
Study how people think, feel, and behave—that is the core of the psychology major at Georgian Court University. If you’re empathetic and driven to help others cope with challenges and stress in their lives, you might be interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can pursue a career in counseling, therapy, health care, social work, and more.
At Georgian Court, the psychology program builds a strong liberal arts foundation and offers five distinct areas of focus: mental health and human services, human development, business and industry, applied behavior analysis, and addictions counseling. Regardless of the concentration, students in the psychology program will enjoy the opportunity to conduct hands-on research alongside expert faculty members. At the end of the program, all psychology students complete an internship capstone that allows them to gain real-world clinical experience ahead of graduation.
IN-PERSON
On-Campus Learning
4 YEARS
Program Length
120
Total Credits Required
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
POPULATION
STUDENTS RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID FROM GCU
FULL-TIME FACULTY WITH
DOCTORAL DEGREES
FIRST-GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENTS
OVERALL MOBILITY
INDEX
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A B.A. IN PSYCHOLOGY?
You can pursue an unlimited amount of career paths with a degree in psychology. That’s because psychology degrees provide a broad liberal arts background and build versatile skills that employers value, such as communication, critical thinking, and compassion. Graduates from the psychology program might consider working in business, education, health care, or nonprofit social work. Not to mention, about 25% of GCU psychology undergraduates pursue advanced degrees and licensures, which open doors to even more career paths, including psychologist, counselor, and therapist.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
The School of Arts & Sciences at Georgian Court University includes several disciplines with more than 40 programs, from cybercrime to studio art. We seek to foster a sense of community that allows students to engage deeply with the content and enjoy immersive, hands-on experiences that prepare them for thriving careers.
As part of the psychology program, you’ll participate in research projects as well as an internship capstone project. This opportunity is a culmination of all you’ve learned at GCU and helps to develop real-world clinical experience that you can put on your resume.
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
A bachelor’s degree in psychology can equip you to help individuals, organizations, and entire communities. The program requires 120 credits. Browse coursework and program requirements below.
PSYCHOLOGY MINOR
Discover how a minor in psychology is a powerful addition to many degrees. Gain a deeper understanding of human behavior and develop skills in counseling, intervention, and critical thinking.
PSYCHOLOGY FACULTY
The GCU faculty are psychology professionals—in the classroom and in private practice—who deliver their expertise to students through engaging and meaningful coursework.
Program Information
To earn this degree, you must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including your General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Major Sequence
At a minimum, all psychology majors are required to complete 36 semester hours of credit in psychology. As part of these 36 hours, students must take a series of 30 or 31 credits of core courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | 30-31 | |
PS111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
or PS113 | Foundations of Psychology | |
PS214 | Intermediate Issues in Psychology | 3 |
PS223 | Psychopathology | 3 |
or PS245 | Psychology of the Exceptional Child | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development | |
PS224 | Adult Development | |
PS227 | Lifespan Development | |
PS232 | Intro to Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3 |
PS332 | Psychology of Learning | 3 |
or PS360 | Cognitive Psychology | |
PS334 | Social Psychology | 3 |
PS341 | Biological Psychology | 3 |
PS430 | Rsrch Mthds & Stats for the Beh Sciences | 3 |
Select one of the following capstone courses: | 3-4 | |
PS431 | Experimental Psychology | |
PS450 | Internship in Psychology | |
PS456 | Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment | |
PS455 | Senior Seminar | |
Psychology Electives | 5-6 |
As preparation for employment, graduate studies, or pursuing areas of interest, Georgian Court psychology majors have the option of selecting one of five areas:
- Mental Health and Human Services
- Human Development
- Business and Industry
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Addictions Counseling
Selection of these course sequences does not affect the courses required for graduation; the four areas have different recommended courses, as described below.
Mental Health & Human Services
This area is recommended for students pursuing employment in a mental health or human services setting. It is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in fields such as counseling and clinical psychology. In addition to the core courses listed above, this course sequence recommends:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Recommended Course Sequence | ||
PS235 | Dynamics of the Group I | 3 |
PS270 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
PS331 | Basic Counseling | 3 |
PS425 | Clinical Methods | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged for the Mental Health & Human Services Area | ||
PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
PS450 | Internship in Psychology | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged If Intending to Enter Doctoral Programs in Psychology | ||
PS440 | Supervised Research in Psychology | 3 |
or PS460/461 | Research in Psychology I |
Human Development
This area is recommended for students pursuing certification in education or employment involving human growth and development. It is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in fields such as developmental psychology and child psychology. In addition to the core courses listed above, this course sequence recommends:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Recommended Course Sequence | ||
PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development | 3 |
PS225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
PS270 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged for the Human Development Area | ||
PS245 | Psychology of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged If Intending to Enter Doctoral Programs in Psychology | ||
PS440 | Supervised Research in Psychology | 3 |
or PS460/461 | Research in Psychology I |
Business & Industry
This area is recommended for students interested in applying psychological principles to the workplace, such as in human resource development. It is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in industrial/organizational psychology. In addition to the core courses listed above, this course sequence recommends:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Recommended Course Sequence | ||
PS315 | Intro to Career Psychology | 3 |
PS330 | Industrial Organizational Psychology | 3 |
BU213 | Mgmt Theory & Org. Behavior | 3 |
BU411 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged for the Business & Industry | ||
PS450 | Internship in Psychology | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged If Intending to Enter Doctoral Programs in Psychology | ||
PS440 | Supervised Research in Psychology | 3 |
or PS460/461 | Research in Psychology I |
Applied Behavior Analysis
This area is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in applied behavior analysis. In addition to the core courses listed above, this course sequence recommends:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Recommended Course Sequence | ||
PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development | 3 |
PS332 | Psychology of Learning | 3 |
PS333 | Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Addictions Counseling
This area is recommended for students pursuing employment in addictions counseling. It is also recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in fields such as counseling and clinical psychology. In addition to the core courses listed above, this course sequence recommends:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Recommended Course Sequence | ||
PS270 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
PS281 | Introduction to Addictions & Recovery | 3 |
PS282 | Foundations of Addictions Treatment | 3 |
PS331 | Basic Counseling | 3 |
PS380 | Prof Issues of Addiction Counseling | 3 |
PS456 | Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment | 3 |
Strongly Encouraged If Intending to Enter Doctoral Programs in Psychology | ||
PS440 | Supervised Research in Psychology | 3 |
or PS460/461 | Research in Psychology I |
Students who complete this sequence of courses are eligible to apply for the Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license once they have completed the requirements for supervised experience required by the Division of Consumer Affairs of New Jersey.
Psychology Scholars Program
In the PSP, students who enter as first-year students complete the regular requirements for the psychology major and complete the following:
- Take the four University Honors Program courses that are offered in the first two years (EN221 Honors Argument: Rhetoric & Research, EN226 HNR American Literature & Culture, and other honors-level General Education courses)
- Take honors-designated sections of the following required courses for psychology majors:
Course List Code Title Credits PS113 Foundations of Psychology 3 PS223 Psychopathology 3 PS332 Psychology of Learning 3 PS360 Cognitive Psychology 3 PS334 Social Psychology 3 PS341 Biological Psychology 3 PS430 Rsrch Mthds & Stats for the Beh Sciences 3 PS431 Experimental Psychology 4 PS455 Senior Seminar 3 - In addition, complete either
- An internship course
- PS440 Supervised Research in Psychology or
- PS460 Research in Psychology I
Students who are simultaneously enrolled in the PSP and the University Honors program must also complete three courses in the University Honors Program:
- EN221 Honors Argument: Rhetoric & Research
- GEN199 WI:Discovering Self in the Universe
- GEN400 WI:Visioning a Future
Students who transfer into the PSP or enter after the first year:
- Complete the regular requirements for the psychology major;
- Take any of the honors-designated PS courses for which they have not already taken an equivalent; if they are unable to take at least five honors-designated PS courses, they are not eligible for the program. Transfer students do not typically take PS113 Foundations of Psychology, but a student who transfers in with very few psychology credits may be advised to do so.
- Complete the internship or research course requirement for the PSP.
Students may substitute a 300- or 400-level psychology course as honors by contract for a regularly offered PSP course by permission of the program director.
Continuation in the program requires maintenance of honors standing in the PSP. In order to maintain membership in the PSP, students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 or obtain the permission of the program director.
Students who successfully complete the PSP are guaranteed admission to their choice of the GCU Psychology and Counseling M.A. programs, pending an application and a successful interview. In order to retain the automatic admission to the graduate program (conditional upon interview), the student must complete the following:
- Graduation overall GPA 3.5, Psychology GPA 3.6
- No semester GPA below 3.0
- No more than two course grades below B-
Transfer Regulations for all Psychology Majors
Students must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the Psychology program at Georgian Court including one of the capstone courses (PS431 Experimental Psychology or PS450 Internship in Psychology or PS456 Internship in Psych:Addictions Treatment or PS455 Senior Seminar).
For more information on program requirements, consult the Undergraduate Catalog.
Gain a deeper understanding of human behavior and develop skills in counseling, intervention, and critical thinking with a minor in psychology from GCU.
Minor Sequence
Eighteen credits must be completed in psychology, including
- either PS111 Introduction to Psychology or PS113 Foundations of Psychology and
- PS214 Intermediate Issues in Psychology
At least 9 credits must be completed at Georgian Court, and at least 6 credits must be earned in courses at the 300 or 400 level. Psychology minors can also participate in the Advanced Admission to the M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis program.
For more information on program requirements, consult the Undergraduate Catalog.
Theresa J. Brown, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (108)
goebja@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2642
Lynn M. DeCapua, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center 104
yqrpnchn@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2709
Marni Elson-Victor, M.S.
Field Placement Coordinator and Instructor
Psychology and Counseling Department
School of Arts & Sciences
Mercedes Hall (104)
zryfba-ivpgbe@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2619
Susan E.O. Field, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (112)
fsvryq@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2643
Sherritta Hughes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (306)
fuhturf@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2125
Karen J. Kelly, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology and Counseling
School of Arts & Sciences
Mercedes Hall (200)
xxryyl@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2618
Nicola A. Meade, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center
azrnqr@trbetvna.rqh
Lori Nixon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center, 110
yavkba@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2655
Stephanie Rahill, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling
School Psychology Program
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (109)
fenuvyy@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2420
Joseph M. Springer, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (115)
wfcevatre@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2640
Heather Tacovsky, Psy.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling
School of Arts & Sciences
ugnpbifxl@trbetvna.rqh
Christopher T. Trigani, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Arts & Sciences
Farley Center (111)
pgevtnav@trbetvna.rqh
732-987-2637
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APPLY
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We also require the following to consider your application complete:
- Official high school transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- A required essay
And check out the Georgian Court application timeline for a detailed overview of the application process.
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GET YOUR M.A. IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, TOO
Earn an advanced degree in applied behavior analysis. When you pursue a psychology major as an undergraduate, you can apply to add a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis as part of our 4+1 programs. Start taking master’s-level courses during your undergraduate studies, and graduate with both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis degree in just five years.
EXPLORE OUR 4+1 PROGRAMS
If you anticipate continuing your education after earning your undergraduate degree, we urge you to learn more about our rigorous 4+1 program options. With a 4+1 program, you’ll be able to complete your undergraduate degree at Georgian Court and then apply with advanced standing to a number of our master’s programs.
Applying with advanced standing means you’ll have priority consideration ahead of other applicants, and you may also be able to waive certain admission requirements. Additionally, a number of the 4+1 programs allow accepted undergraduate students to begin taking master’s-level courses while still working toward their undergraduate degrees—preparing them to graduate with two degrees in less than five years.
We have many 4+1 programs to choose from, including:
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