Prospective Students

Below are responses to common questions that students have about majoring in Psychology.  If you have additional questions, please contact the department Admissions Liaison, Dr. Dave Kolar: dkolar@umw.edu

What can I do with a degree in Psychology?

A lot of things!  Some of our majors go directly into the workforce in the field of Psychology or other related areas.  Others go directly to graduate school in Psychology, Social Work, or other areas.  Click here to see what Psychology majors can do with their degree.

What courses do you offer in Psychology?

We offer courses covering all of the major areas in Psychology including Clinical/Counseling, Developmental, Biological, Cognitive, and Social Psychology.  We also offer many specialty classes including courses in Biocognition, Health, Forensic, Sports, Psychology of Women, and Psychology of Men, among others.  Click here to see a list and brief description of the courses we offer.

Who are your faculty and what kind of research do they do?

There are 14 full-time faculty members in the department, each with a Ph.D. in Psychology.  The faculty do research in many areas including Developmental, Biological, Cognitive, Social, and Clinical Psychology.  Click here for a list of faculty and a brief description of their research.

Why major in Psychology at the University of Mary Washington?

For students interested in Psychology, the Psychology department at the University of Mary Washington provides many opportunities to learn and apply knowledge in Psychology.  In addition to the wide variety of courses we offer (Click here for a list and brief descriptions), students have the opportunity to complete internships (click here for a list and brief descriptions) as well as work in small groups on independent research projects with individual faculty members.  Combined with our strong emphasis on research methodology and statistics, these out-of-class experiences give our students a competitive advantage when applying for jobs or to graduate school.

What are the specific requirements for Psychology majors at the University of Mary Washington?

Click here for a list of the requirements for the Psychology major.

How do I declare a major in Psychology at the University of Mary Washington?

Contact the department Chair, Dr. Debra Steckler at dsteckle@umw.edu to declare Psychology as your major.

What are some courses I should try to get into to start the major?

Courses in Developmental, Social, Personality, and Clinical Psychology are good courses for students who are just beginning the major.  If you are certain that you are going to major in Psychology, then you should also take PSYC 261: Introduction to Statistics for Psychology sometime in your sophomore year or by the first semester of your Junior year.

Can I get credit for AP Psychology?

The Psychology Department requires a minimum AP exam score of 4 for a student to receive credit for General Psychology (Psyc 100) and credit for the Human Experience and Society category of the General Education Requirements.   Students with a score of 3 will receive 3 UMW credits, but to take other psychology courses they must first take Psyc 100.