Academic Advising

Please click on the Psychology Advising link in the right sidebar, and use the linked page's resources to get started with Patriot Connect.

If you have questions about this, email us at ugpsyc@gmu.edu, or call us at 703-993-1384. We will be more than happy to assist with this if you need us. 

1. Log into Patriot Connect
2. Select your advisor's name under the "Success Team" heading on the home page
3. Click "Schedule Appointment"
4. Select the appropriate topic and click "Next"
5. Choose your preferred modality (in-person or virtual) and click "Next"
6. Choose your preferred day
7. Click on the dropdown menu next to your advisor's name to view available slots
8. Select the appointment you wish to reserve and click "Next"
9. Provide a brief explanation of what you wish to discuss, as well as any additional information you want your advisor to know
10. Confirm how you want to receive appointment notifications. Email is the default option, and you can enable text messaging by checking the "SMS" box.
11. Click "Confirm" to reserve the appointment
12. Both you and your advisor will receive an appointment confirmation. Review this information for important details about the session.

1. Log into Patriot Connect
2. Click the "Schedule Appointment" button on the home page
3. For the "What do you need assistance with?" prompt, select "Undergraduate Academic Advising" and click "Next"
4. For "College/School", select "College of Humanities and Social Sciences"
5. For "Department/Division", select "Department of Criminology, Law and Society"
6. Select the advising service you wish to receive and click "Next"
7. Select "Advising outside of my program" and click "Next"
8. Choose your preferred modality (in-person or virtual) and click "Next"
9. Choose your preferred day
10. Click on the dropdown menu next to the advisor's name to view available slots
11. Select the appointment you wish to reserve and click "Next"
12. Provide a brief explanation of what you wish to discuss, as well as any additional information you want the advisor to know
13. Confirm how you want to receive appointment notifications. Email is the default option, and you can enable text messaging by checking the "SMS" box.
14. Click "Confirm" to reserve the appointment
15. Both you and your advisor will receive an appointment confirmation. Review this information for important details about the session.

We always recommend that you double-check your Degree Evaluation before making any changes to your degree. However, if you have done this and you just need a signature, you may not need an appointment.  Please email ugpsyc@gmu.edu and we will be more than happy to review it.

Further advising may be required after review. But if you want to add a major, add a minor, or change your concentration and you've already reviewed your Mason Degree Audit, this may be your best option.

This email address is also good if you just have a quick question about dates, schedule changes, or upcoming events. 

Important forms are available on our website, under Department Resources and Forms. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) was put in place to protect your privacy, and the psychology department takes this very seriously. We can only respond to official GMU addresses, and we can only provide advice directly to you. If you would like a third party present, they will need to fill out the online consent form, available through the registrar's website.

• They will provide guidance on what classes to take, but will not direct you towards non-required courses.
• They will keep your future goals in mind, whether it be graduate school or going right into a job
• They will assist you in selecting required courses, and confirm that those courses will fulfill requirements.
• Advisors will help you work through picking a concentration that will align with your goals during your time with George Mason University.
• Advisors will assist with grievance processes, communicating policies, and directing you toward faculty members who can assist you with grade change processes or disagreements with faculty.
• They will keep accurate and detailed online records of all advising contacts with students.
• Advisors will maintain your confidentiality, making sure the only people viewing your academic records are either you or those who have your authorization.
• You may be sent to appropriate university resources that can assist you should an advisor not be able to help.
• Advisors will respond in a timely fashion. Please use ugpsyc@gmu.edu for advising inquiries. This is the fastest way to get a response.

• Activate and check your official GMU email. This is the only way advisors and other university resources can communicate with you to protect your privacy.
• Respond to advisors if they reach out to you – you may be missing something in order to graduate.
• Schedule an appointment with your advisor prior to the last day to add in the semester you are going to register to graduate.
• Please review your Mason Degree Audit to prepare for each advising session. We can help you understand it, but you should be aware of it.
• Be aware of the requirements for the Psychology Degree, and have a general understanding of what you need to complete.
• Be prepared for registration. Advisors will help guide you with class selection, but it is ultimately your responsibility to have classes picked out before your registration date.
• Schedule advising appointments if you feel your question will take longer than the time allotted for a walk-in.
• Always have a backup schedule in case a class is full. We cannot force-add you into any course.
• Keep scheduled appointments and give ample notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, although we do understand that schedules can change.
• Please report any grievances in a timely fashion so we can try to help.
• Always be courteous to advisors and front desk staff, even when dealing with sensitive material.
• Be aware of important dates and deadlines as noted on the Registrar’s website. registrar.gmu.edu

The difference between the two is only if you are a current psychology major or not. Psychology majors who want to add a focus on psychology to their degree will select a concentration. 

Non-majors of psychology will select a minor. 

Only by about 6 credits. Minors have to have the basic concepts of psychology and the minors require an introduction course. Whereas, concentrations will not often have those because the Psychology major will have, most likely, taken those courses already.