Contacts

In the Department of Psychology: PSYADVISE-U@LANGATE.GSU.EDU

Majors are given both academic advisement and career advisement from the Office of Academic Assistance in the College of Arts and Sciences and from the Department of Psychology. The Office of Academic Assistance is located in 724 general classroom building. Their phone number is (404) 651-2291.

Becoming a Major

Students wishing to major in psychology must be first advised by the Office of Academic Assistance where they will receive a PACE form for the psychology major and will receive academic advisement. The Office of Academic Assistance has primary responsibility for all curriculum areas not directly related to the major, that is, all areas other than courses appropriate to the major (Area F) and major requirements (Area G).

The Department of Psychology offers advisement through its faculty, advisors, and the undergraduate web site. The web site contains information on both academic advisement and career advisement including information regarding the problems and implications of transition to the semester system. In addition, questions may be sent to the Advisor and to the Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator via e-mail through the web site. These questions are answered promptly. Frequently the web site is the fastest way to get an answer to a question.
Appointments with an advisor may be made in person in the Psychology office (Urban Life Bldg, 11th floor) or by phone. Advisors are also available by appointment and on a walk-in basis (subject to availability). During the semester, weekly times are scheduled where students may go to the Psychology Advisement Office (Urban Life Bldg, 11th floor) and receive assistance from an advisor on accessing the career information available through the World Wide Web using the computers in the laboratory.

Faculty members are available for advisement through individual appointments and during their office hours. All faculty have at least two scheduled office hours weekly during the semester. Detailed questions on academic requirements should be answered by the Office of Academic Assistance or a Psychology advisor. Faculty members are available for advisement about career opportunities and career preparation in their area of specialization. If needed, the advisor can assist in selecting a faculty member knowledgeable in the individual student's area of interest.

PSYCHOLOGY ADVISORS DO NOT GIVE EXEMPTIONS TO ANY REQUIREMENT. All students are required to satisfy the academic requirements of the university, college and department, INCLUDING PREREQUISITES. If a student believes that an advisor has given an exemption to some rule or policy then the student should ask for clarification.

It is important for the student to realize that we offer advice. The student must fully understand the degree requirements and the implications of different career paths in order to make the best decisions. Only the student can make the best decisions for her or his life. The general catalog states, "It is the responsibility of the student to know and to satisfy the degree requirements of his or her academic program." Advisement by the departmental advisor will assist your planning. We are most knowledgeable about Area F (courses appropriate to the major), Area G (major requirements), and the minor section of Area H. The other core areas are the primary responsibility of the Arts & Sciences Office of Academic Assistance in 724 General Classroom Building.

Problems with the advisement system should be addressed to the Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator.

Missed Appointments

Students who miss their advisement appointment may not schedule another regular advisement appointment that semester. They may receive advisement by attending the walk-in advisement period.

Re-entry

Students seeking re-entry must first contact the Registrar's Office. After gaining re-entry, if the student was not a Psychology major previously, he or she will be placed in the College of Arts & Sciences as an undeclared major. If a student wishes to change his or her major to Psychology, the student must see a Psychology Department advisor before initiating a change of major with the Office of Academic Assistance. If the student was a Psychology major previously, the Registrar's Office will place the student in the College of Arts & Sciences as a Psychology Major.

Change of Major/Minor

Students should go to the Office of Academic Assistance for the college in which they are currently enrolled and fill out a "change of major" form. To declare a major or minor in psychology the student should go to the Office of Academic Assistance for Arts and Sciences, 724 General Classroom Bldg. Students should then make an appointment with the Psychology Advisement Office by calling (404) 651-2283. The student should bring both the Change of Major form, as well as a PACE form to that appointment. An advisor will then review the PACE form and approve the change.

Course Transfer Petitions

The course number assigned indicates the classification of courses: 1000 level is freshman, 2000 is sophomore, 3000 is junior, and 4000 is senior level. Upon entry to GSU the Academic Assistance office, using criteria established by the University/College/Department, evaluates all transferred courses. Occasionally, when Academic Assistance denies equivalence, the student appeals to the department. The student has the responsibility of making the case for the requested conversion. The course transferred must be equivalent to or exceed the GSU course claimed as an equivalent. Students must attach a syllabus, course description and any relevant documents with the appeals form. A catalog description alone will not be sufficient in lieu of a syllabus.

Graduation Audit

Students must apply for graduation THREE (3) semesters prior to the planned completion of their degree requirements. An application can be obtained through the Office of Academic Assistance, 724 General Classroom Building or from the Graduation Office in 231 Sparks Hall. A graduation audit will be sent to the student indicating the remaining requirements. The student will then need to set up an appointment with the psychology advisor by calling (404) 651-2283. The advisor reviews and signs the PACE form during the advisement session. The student has the responsibility for returning it to the Office of Academic Assistance promptly. The student must meet with the advisor and CANNOT simply leave the audit to be signed. The advisor IS NOT responsible for sending the audit to Academic Assistance.

Pace Forms

The pace form is used to determine both what classes the student has taken as well as the classes that are remaining to be taken. Both academic assistance as well as the psychology advisement office can review pace forms for students.

Students need 120 hours overall to graduate. To determine how many hours you currently have, look at the bottom right of the PACE form at HRS APPLIED TO PROGRAM. This number will not include credits you are currently taking.

Students must have 39 hours at the 3000-4000 level course work at GSU in order to meet the residency requirement and graduate. Generally, this means students must take an additional 3 classes at the upper level in addition to the required psychology classes. The PACE form contains a section which indicates how many courses a student has or will need to fulfill the residency requirement.

Though a minor is not required to complete a degree, getting a minor generally fulfills the requirements to meet residency.

The asterisk (*) symbol on the PACE indicates that the requirements for that area are partially completed.

The attached time line will assist you in determining which courses to take and when.

Core requirements

Area A: Essential Skills (9 hours)

English: English 1101 and 1102 (See 2001-2002 Catalog Page 60 for additional information)
Math: Select 1 of the following math courses: Math 1101,1111,1220,1113,2211,2212,2215,2420
(NOTE: Math is a prerequisite for Psyc 3010) (See 2001-2002 Catalog, Page 60 for additional
information.)

Area B: Institutional Options (4 hours)

Select 2 of the following: Phil 2410, Spch 1000, Pers 2001, Pers 2002 (See 2001-2002 Catalog Page 61 for additional information)
Additional information is also available at www.gsu.edu/areab.

Area C: Humanities (6 hours)

In this area there are 3 groups of classes. You are required to take a total of 2 classes that must be from different groups.
The three groups are: Humanities, Fine Arts and Foreign Language (See 2001-2002 Catalog Page 60 for additional information)

Area D: Science Mathematics and Technology (11 hours)

You must take a science sequence consisting of 2 courses from one of the listed science Departments. (See 2001-2002 Catalog, Page 62 for a listing of courses.)
Take an additional science from the courses listed.

Area E: Social Sciences (12 hours)

You must take Hist 2110 and Pols 1101 in Section 1 or Area E (6)
Select a total of 2 additional courses, 1 from Section 2 of Area E (World History and Politics) and Section 3 of Area E (Social Science Foundations) (6) (Psyc 1101 will not count in Area E for Psychology majors.)

Area F: Preparation for a Major (18) This Section is addressed under Part III-Psychology Program Requirements

Specific Requirements for BA and BS degrees

B.A. Degree: Students must take FL 1002 (students beginning a new language must also take FL 101) and two additional courses from courses in Core Curriculum Area E, Social Sciences.
B.S. Degree: Students must take three courses from the courses listed below. We strongly recommend a two course lab sequence in one of the following: Principles of Biology, Introduction to Chemistry or Introduction to Physics.
Anth 2020, Biol 1110, 1120, 1410, 1420, 2240, 2250, Chem 1210, 1220
Math 1111, 1113, 1220, 2211, 2212, 2215, 2420, Phil 1010 Phys 1111, 1112, 2211, 2212, Soci 1101

*Note: requirements are significantly different for pre-medicine majors. If you have any questions please contact your psychology advisor.


Department of Psychology	� 1999-2007 Georgia State University	last updated July 24, 2007