WELCOME PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
From the Directors of Undergraduate Studies
Welcome Prospective Psychology Majors & Minors!
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind—in humans, non-human animals, and social groups. Psychologists study a wide variety of topics, including things like communication, aggression, and factors that impact mental health. For example, in our department, we have researchers working to try to understand things like what happens to brains following brain injuries, how social interaction impacts our memories, and how using gestures impacts a child’s ability to learn language—and these are just a few examples from our faculty labs. Psychology is a wide and varied field, and the faculty in our department are doing research that spans the areas of clinical psychology, community psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Almost all of our labs offer chances for undergraduate students to get involved in the research process. Our students can get a BA or BS, which can prepare them for a variety of different careers and graduate school options. We also offer a psychology minor for students who are already pursuing a complementary career path.
There are so many ways for students to get involved in the department. If you’re looking for experience working in a research lab or with a community organization, you may want to consider registering for our practicum program. The psychology honors society, Psi Chi, is a student-run organization that holds informational and social events for all students across the department each semester. From self-care and movie nights to grad school panels and science journal meetings, Psi Chi offers something for nearly every student. You can learn about our major and how you can best use your degree in psychology via the Careers in Psychology course (PSYC 2030).
It’s important to know that when you initially declare a major in psychology, you’ll be considered a pre-psychology student. To move into the major, you’ll need to meet the Major Eligibility Requirements (MER). The MER requires students to complete PSYC 1101 (Introduction to General Psychology) with a C or better on their first attempt. In addition, you need to earn a 2.3+ GPA in the combination of PSYC 1101 and your first two 2000-level psychology courses. You can talk to your advisor about your progress in these areas, but as soon as you’ve met these criteria, you’ll automatically become a psychology major and many upper-division courses will become available.
The Psychology department at Georgia State is a diverse and engaging community, including more than 40 core faculty and almost 2000 undergraduate majors and minors. We would love for you to explore our website to learn more about how you can make the most of your psychology degree.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ashlyn Swartout, Director of Undergraduate Studies &
Dr. Min Lee, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
Contact Us
Department of Psychology
Office Hours (Available Remotely):
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Office Hours (In Person):
By appointment
11th Floor, Front Desk:
7th Floor, Front Desk:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Office/Delivery Address
Department of Psychology
Georgia State University
Urban Life Building
11th Floor
140 Decatur Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083