Becoming a Psychology Major

Is Psychology the Major for you?

A core component of the Psychology Department’s Strategic Plan is the teaching of Psychology as a science.  Compared to other schools, our curriculum is one of the most rigorous as students are required to take three courses (PSY 121, PSY 203, and PSY 299) that involve statistics and research methodology.  Many students (42%) also choose a 400 level course with a research emphasis and also choose 300 level courses with lab/research components.  Strong quantitative skills, critical reasoning and writing are necessary for success in this major and discipline.

The Psychology Department has an application process for internal transfers and has requirements for conversion from “pre-major” to major status for all students.  All students new to the department (entering freshmen and internal transfers) will initially be termed “pre-majors.”  A student is a pre-major until he or she successfully completes PSY 101 (C+ or better) and PSY 121 (C+ or better), and maintains a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Entering Freshmen: There is no application process. Students enter as pre-majors and become full majors upon successful completion of criteria listed above.

External Transfers: Follow the TCNJ application process.

Internal Transfers: Follow the application process as follows:

Requirements to Complete a Psychology Department Application:

• Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0.
• Students must complete PSY 101 with a minimum grade of C+ prior to applying to the Department as an internal transfer.
• Accepted students enter as pre-majors and become full majors upon successful completion of the criteria listed above.

Completion of the Psychology Department Application

• Completed psychology major application form
• Download the above Word file and complete the required sections
• The form includes 4 sections which must be all be completed:
  • Applicant information
  • List of completed psychology courses
  • Essay concerning your wish to become a psychology major
  • Timeline for completing required coursework for the psychology major.
• Unofficial transcript (available on PAWS)
• Completed Records and Registration Change of Major Form
• Avoid common mistakes when completing this form by reviewing our tips for form completion, which are included in the file above.

Completed applications must include 1 COPY of:  psychology major application form, unofficial transcript (printed from PAWS), and of the Change of Major Form.

Submit applications between September 10th and September 21st for Spring Registration and between February 10th and February 20th for Fall Registration.  Deliver all materials into the Psychology Department Office, located in the Social Sciences Building room 109.

Students submitting an application before the stated deadlines will be notified before the next registration cycle.  If you have questions about the application process, direct them to the Psychology Department Admissions Committee (jhughes@tcnj.edu).

All students will be held to the entrance criteria that were in place at the time of their admittance as pre-majors.  If they declare a specialization within psychology, the course requirements they will be held to for the specialization will be those that are in place at the time of their admittance as full-fledged majors in psychology.

Students are further advised to familiarize themselves with the existing retention policies of The College and the Psychology Department.

• The psychology major requires a minimum of 5 semesters to complete as our methodological core (PSY 101, PSY 121, PSY 203, PSY 299, and PSY 4**) contains sequenced courses, with each serving as the prerequisite for the next. Students must achieve specific grade to advance to the next core course (PSY 101 and PSY 121 require a minimum of C+; while PSY 203 and PSY 299 require a minimum of C-).
• Other psychology courses require a minimum grade of C- to count in the major. If you have not met this grade, you may repeat a course only once (repeating more than once would require Chair’s or Associate Chair’s approval PRIOR to taking the course). If the course is not required in the major, it may be able to count as an elective despite a grade below C-.

Students who do not meet grade minimums in courses required for the major may be dismissed from the major.