Psychology, B.S.
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The 4+1 B.S./M.S. Psychology program option offers a unique opportunity to qualified undergraduates in Psychology who wish to pursue their master’s degree at an accelerated pace. The 4+1 program will permit students to complete 12 credits of study at the graduate level in their senior year that will count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Please see the academic sequence map on how students will complete the program.
Students will need to be advised and follow the sequence map to ensure the completion of all requirements for this track. During the fall of their Junior year, students must apply to the 4+1 BS/MS Psychology program through the Office of Admissions. Once the application is complete, the Program Director of MS Psychology will review applicant qualifications for admission into the program. Those students that meet admission criteria will be interviewed by the Program Director for acceptance into the program. Students who meet the following admission requirements will be permitted to progress to the graduate portion of the 4+1 program:
1. Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in major courses
2. A B or better in course Statistics for the Social & Behavioral Sciences
3. A personal statement describing the reason they are pursuing a master’s degree, why they are choosing Mercy, and their future career goals.
4. 2 Letters of Recommendation
5. Resume
6. Interview
If accepted into the program, students will take six graduate credits in each semester of their senior year (for a total of 12 graduate credits), which will apply as open electives for their undergraduate degree and will count as required courses for their graduate degree.
Completion of the undergraduate portion of the 4+1, BS in Psychology does not guarantee progression into the graduate portion of the 4+1, MS in Psychology. Students must earn a GPA of 3.0 and a grade of B or better in each of their graduate courses.
Students admitted to the 4+1 program take 12 prescribed credits in the MS Psychology program at the undergraduate level which will fulfill their undergraduate degree requirements and will also apply towards their graduate degree requirements.
Each student pursuing the BS in Psychology who expresses an interest to apply to the 4+1 BS/MS Psychology Program is appropriately counseled by advisors at Mercy University regarding all required undergraduate pre-requisite courses, graduate admission criteria, and timeline for completion.
The BS in Psychology degree will be awarded by Mercy University upon successful completion of the undergraduate coursework and program requirements.
The MS in Psychology degree will be awarded by Mercy University upon successful completion of the graduate coursework and program requirements.
Students should speak with their financial aid counselor regarding the cost of the courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Capstone Requirement (completed at the graduate level)
Students may choose twelve (12) elective credits and a comprehensive exam OR six (6) elective credits and course Master Thesis Supervision.
After completing 27 credits, including all of the program’s required courses, students may make arrangements to complete their capstone requirement.
Students electing to conduct the thesis project must register for course Master Thesis Supervision and select a faculty member to serve as their thesis mentor. Students electing to take the comprehensive examination should notify the Program Director of their intention to take the comprehensive exam at the beginning of their final semester.
B.S. Psychology / M.S. Education
The 4+1 Bachelor of Science/Master of Science program is an academic program that allows students interested in the teaching profession as a career choice to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated format. Through this special program, qualified students who major in Psychology can receive teacher certification in Early Childhood or Childhood Education. A key feature of this program allows students to take up to 15 graduate education credits during their senior year. These can be used toward satisfying their bachelor’s as well as their master’s degree requirements.
Requirements:
Psychology students planning to complete the 4+1 program and receive the teaching certification in Early Childhood and Childhood Education must complete the 36 credits required for the undergraduate psychology major as described above, including course Child Psychology. They may take 3 graduate education credits in their upper junior semester and an additional 12 credits in their senior year. In addition, they must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Students may apply in their senior year for admissions to the M.S. Graduate Education Program. Please see the School of Education for program and course details.
Suggested Courses for B.S./M.S. Students
It is further suggested that students complete several elective courses from the following list:
Bachelor of Science: Psychology
General Education Requirements* | 42 credits |
Major Concentration | 36 credits |
Open Electives | 42 credits |
Total Credits | 120 credits |
*Per New York State Education Department requirements, all students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program must successfully complete 60 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences coursework. If needed, students should use Open Elective credits to fulfill these requirements, beyond their General Education courses, and look for courses with the “LA” attribute when registering.
All students majoring in Psychology must complete the following four (4) Required Courses:
(12 credits)
course - Psychobiology
course - Stats Socl/Behv Sciences
course - Experimental Psych I: Methodology
course - Experimental Psych II: Applications
Students must select one (1) course from each of the 5 categories below.
(15 credits)
Historical Perspective
Developmental Perspective
course - Dvlpmntl Psych Across Lifespan OR course - Child Psychology OR course - Psychology of Adolescence
Cognitive/Behavioral Perspective
Social Perspective
Clinical Perspective
Students must complete nine (9) Psychology elective credits.
(9 credits)
These credits may be an additional course in any of the five categories above or any other Psychology elective course offered. course Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Psychology, is a prerequisite for all major courses in Psychology and fulfills part of the General Education Requirements and Curriculum. Psychology majors may complete the Mathematics General Education requirement by taking course, course, or course.