Becoming a Psychology Major

The Psychology Department is implementing an application process for internal transfers and changing the 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 they successfully complete PSY 101 (C+ or better) and PSY 121 (C+ or better) and have 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 will follow an application process as follows:

Completion of Psychology Department Application (see FAQs)

Students must complete PSY 101 with a minimum grade of C+ prior to applying to the Department as an internal transfer.
Essay
Unofficial transcript (available on TESS)
Minimum overall GPA of 2.0
Expected Timeline for completion of the major
Submit application between September 15th and October 1st for Spring Registration and between February 15th and March 1st for Fall registration
Accepted students enter as pre-majors and become full majors upon successful completion of criteria listed above.

Students already admitted as pre-majors or majors will be held to the entrance and conversion (from pre-major to major) criteria that were in place at the time of their admittance.

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 grades 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 approval PRIOR to taking the course). If the course is not required in the major, it may be able to count as an elective.