Academic Advising

Please email ugpsyc@gmu.edu if you have a question, or join the Psychology Online Student Advising Organization on Blackboard. 

Advisors will be available to help you via blackboard, zoom, email, or phone. 

Academic Advising General Information

Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor at least once a semester. It is extremely important to meet with an advisor the semester before you register to graduate.  When scheduling your appointment, please be aware of deadlines to drop and add courses. Also be aware of registration times, as advising tends to be busier during this time and it will be harder to get an appointment. 

You can find information regarding important university dates available on the registrar's website. 

How to make an appointment through SSC.

Please click on the Psychology Advising link in the right side bar, or click for directions on how to schedule as a Psychology major, or a non-Psychology major.

If you have questions with 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. 

When to schedule an appointment

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 Degreeworks, 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 our website, under Department Resources and Forms. 

Privacy and Advising

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 response to official GMU addresses, and we can only provide advising 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.

Expectations

Advising is a very collaborative process. It is important that both the student and the advisor work together in order to have a successful advising session. Below is a type of syllabus that can help guide you to how academic advisors can help you, and how you can best prepare for your advising session. 

What to Expect from your Advisors

• 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 towards 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 that 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.

What Advisors Expect from Students

• 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 degree works 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

Declaring a minor or concentration can add to your resume!

Ask an advisor how a major or minor can help your degree! 

• To discover our minors click here!
• To discover our concentrations click here!

Which one best suits you? 

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

Non-majors of psychology will select a minor. 

Is there a difference in credits?

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