Admission to the Major

Are you considering becoming a psychology major?  Start by learning about our program in psychology. Psychology is a science. The material taught in our classes is based on the findings of carefully conducted scientific research.  Psychology majors learn how to think critically and apply scientific reasoning to the analysis of behavior. As a science program, students have many opportunities to work with faculty as we conduct research within many different areas of psychology.  Advanced students may even have opportunities to conduct their own research under the supervision of a faculty member. What we study is relevant to many professions and to everyone’s personal life.  Our program provides students with the experiences they will need to continue their psychology education in graduate school or in various careers. Explore our web site to learn more about our major.  You might find our videos, curriculum and student resources pages particularly useful. The following is a general guideline of how to become a Psychology Major at James Madison University:

1. Declare the Psychology Major.
2. Apply to become a “Fully-Admitted Psychology Major. Students who want to make rapid progress through the psychology major are encouraged to apply for full admission to the major when they make the decision to pursue a psychology major.
3. After the semester ends, students will be admitted to the major if they meet the following admission requirements:

Admission Requirements

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1. Complete the prerequisite courses with a grade of C- or higher:
   1. GPSYC 101 – General Psychology
   2. MATH 220 – Math Statistics (or another acceptable math course)
2. Apply to become a “Fully-Admitted” Psychology Major.
3. Satisfy any ONE of the following conditions:
   1. Earn a grade of “B” or better in Gpsyc 101 completed at JMU
   2. Complete any Gpsyc courses at JMU (Gpsyc 101, 122, or 160) and earn an average GPA in these courses of 3.0 or better.
   3. Complete at least 15 credits at JMU and earn an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
   4. At the time of admission to JMU, be a student who is transferring at least 30 credits including the prerequisite courses (General Psychology and 200-level Math) or General Psychology and either Psychological Statistics or Research Methods in Psychology

Procedures for Admission to the Major

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Effective immediately, an online orientation has replaced our Psychology Admission Application Sessions (PAAS). To learn more, select a situation below that applies to you:

• Incoming Freshmen
• Incoming Transfer Student
• Current JMU Student