Information Session for Psychology The Psychology Curriculum A. Brief Outline of Requirements B. The Importance of Planning Ahead 1. Choosing 2000s to Get 4000s 2. When You Can Start Taking 4000s Advising—Where to Go for Help III. Considering the Next Step—What You Could/Should Be Doing Outside of Class IV. Breakout for Individual Advising

Today’s Meeting… is an info session is what you need to do to get into the major [after you get all needed signatures on your form] is not a set-in-stone commitment to enter the major [you can change your mind later; just please let Cindy know by emailing her at ckoziol@vt.edu]

Psychology major is fairly straightforward… (see your Student Success Guide, or http://www.psyc.vt.edu/undergrad for more info.) Requirements: -PSC 1004 -PSC 1094 -12 hours of Psyc electives -* 10 hours of 4000-LEVEL Psyc courses senior seminar advanced 4000 level course, with accompanying one-credit lab one other advanced 4000 level course -CLE -3 hours STAT (2004, 3604, or 3615) -6 additional hours in a science (BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS) -6 additional hours in any combination of CS, PHIL, or STAT

Many 2000-level courses ‘match up’ with 4000-levels; they are prerequisites… Developmental Adv. Developmental, and Lab Learning Adv. Learning, and Lab Cognitive, and Lab Nervous Systems and Beh. Physiological Psych, and Lab Social Adv. Social, and Lab etc. Some courses (e.g. Animal Behavior, Health Psych., Abnormal) are NOT prerequisites for 4000-levels; they are purely electives.

Thinking ahead to your 4000-levels courses Look at courses NOW to know what prereqs. you’ll need Each 4000-level course is offered only about once/year 4000-level courses restricted to Juniors (2nd sem.) and Seniors 4000-level courses in high demand * requests to ‘force add’ courses, at any level, are almost never granted Summer school, if possible, makes scheduling much easier It’s when you’ll feel the big major

Thinking ahead to your 4000-levels courses: Senior Seminars 4364 (4354 in summer) Special topics, 5-6 options each semester Smaller, often discussion-based It’s when you’ll feel the big major

Advising: Multiple Tiers Faculty Advisor listed on your student handbook (primary majors)—should be able to answer any of your questions Cindy Koziol, 109 Williams—great for course advising; also look for emails from Cindy about internships , work opportunities, course announcements, etc. Kurt Hoffman, 123 Williams—great for course advising, and career advising.

Job Outlook: Options Depend on Degree Level Look at http://www.apa.org/careers and http://www.apa.org/workforce and http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm (from http://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/careers.pdf) “In 1999, fewer than 5% of 1997 and 1998 psychology BA recipients were employed in psychology or a field related to psychology. …Two thirds were in forprofit business settings, usually the sales/service sector.” “The 2001 Doctorate Employment Survey from APA’s Research Office found that …75% [of 1,754 respondents] were employed within 3 months of receiving the doctorate.” Now, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects growth in specific areas, such as: health care (e.g. outpatient mental health and substance abuse clinics) schools social service agencies management consulting services “Psychologists with extensive training in quantitative research methods and computer science may have a competitive edge over applicants without this background.” Developing and showing off SKILLS is important.

Job Outlook: Start Preparing Now Pay Attention to Resources and Events on Campus, and ways to get involved in research, volunteer work http://www.career.vt.edu , and http://career.vt.edu/events.html http://www.psyc.vt.edu/labs emails from Cindy Koziol [and maybe keep in a separate ‘to do’ folder]

Job Outlook: Start Preparing Now Some inexpensive spring break reading? Good disc. of careers, some are unusual From APA -- a plan/guide Very good overview