Best Psychology Programs in Virginia for 2027

UVA's psychology BA is a declare-or-defer major: before you can join, you complete Research Methods and Data Analysis I, a data science or R-applications course, and one survey course in cognition, neural basis of behavior, abnormal, social or child psychology, each above a C-, then submit a checklist and transcript. The department pushes lab experience, with over 35 research labs on grounds, and strong students can write a fourth-year thesis in the Distinguished Majors Program, presenting at the L. Starling Reid conference. Concentration tracks let you follow a career interest, and an accelerated MA in psychology research methods is open to UVA majors. A separate BS in Behavioral Neuroscience exists for the lab-science route.

Declaring the Major

Three prerequisite courses above a C-, a course checklist and an unofficial transcript.

Distinguished Majors

Fourth-year thesis with a seminar, presented at the annual undergraduate research conference.

Research Labs

Over 35 research labs offer undergraduate opportunities.

Accelerated MA

4+1 or 3+1 MA in Psychology Research Methods for UVA majors.

Program Sources: BA-Psychology | Department of PsychologyUndergraduate Program | Department of Psychology

Mason lets you add up to two concentrations to either degree: behavioral and mental health, clinical, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, developmental, educational, forensic, health, human factors and applied cognition, or work and organizational psychology. The forensic, human factors and work and organizational options also satisfy the applied psychology requirement. The BA takes 37 psychology credits and leans on liberal arts and a foreign language, while the BS needs at least 39 psychology credits plus 35 in supporting math and science courses. Basic courses must be passed at C- or above in both. Honors in the major opens at a 3.25 GPA through a three-course thesis sequence, and an accelerated master's is available.

Concentrations

Up to two of nine, from clinical and forensic to human factors and work and organizational.

BA Credits

37 within the major, 24 at the 300 and 400 level, plus a foreign language.

BS Credits

At least 39 in psychology and 35 in supporting courses, focused on math and science.

Honors

3.25 GPA, 3.40 in psychology and a three-course independent honors thesis.

Program Sources: Psychology, BA | George Mason University CatalogPsychology, BS | George Mason University Catalog

JMU treats the psychology major as a sequence you plan ahead. Start with the first psychology course and a 200-level math class, passing both at C level or above (MATH 220 is strongly recommended), then enroll in PSYC 210 or 212 and show mastery with a B. Declarations are reviewed in two windows, closing October 1 and March 1. Once admitted, the major runs at least 44 hours with no psychology grade below C-, and you choose a BA or a BS. The BS adds a science cognate, and the department says to decide by your interests and strengths. PSYC 160 and MATH 220 are graduation requirements for all majors.

Declaration Windows

Fall window runs through October 1 and spring through March 1.

Gateway Steps

C or higher in PSYC 101 and 200-level math, enrollment in PSYC 210 or 212, then mastery shown with a B.

Major Credits

At least 44 hours, with C- or better in each psychology course.

BA or BS

The BS also completes a science cognate.

Program Sources: Curriculum Overview - Psychology - CHBS - JMUAdmission - Psychology - CHBS - JMU

Virginia Tech keeps the required core short and lets you build the rest: Introductory Psychology, Principles of Psychology Research, 10 credits at the 4000 level and 12 credits of lower-level electives. Within that freedom you can lean toward clinical and counseling, physiology and neuroscience, or child development, or take course options in industrial/organizational psychology, cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology. Almost half of psychology majors double major, and a minor is easy to add. The department strongly encourages joining a research lab, where many students stay several semesters and earn course credit. The degree sits in the College of Science, so research methods get plenty of emphasis.

Required Core

Introductory Psychology and Principles of Psychology Research.

Credit Structure

10 credits at the 4000 level and 12 credits of lower-level electives.

Specialization Courses

Industrial/organizational psychology, cognitive neuroscience or developmental psychology options.

Research Labs

Lab experience for course credit, often over multiple semesters.

Program Sources: Undergraduate Program | Department of Psychology | Virginia TechPsychology | Virginia Tech

Virginia admits psychology doctoral students to a specific specialization and does not permit transfers between those programs. Seven areas include community psychology, quantitative psychology, and systems and behavioral neuroscience alongside clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. Research fit with a primary mentor is a central part of admission. In social psychology, you combine quantitative methods and ethics with teaching preparation, research presentations, regular laboratory meetings, and coursework outside the area. Requirements and research milestones differ by specialization.

Program Entry

Admission to a specific specialization; transfers between specializations are not permitted.

Social Psychology Study

Methods, ethics, teaching preparation, presentations, and outside-area coursework.

Program Sources: Psychology PhDSocial Psychology Doctoral Curriculum

George Mason’s psychology PhD offers five concentrations: applied developmental psychology, clinical psychology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, human factors and applied cognition, and industrial-organizational psychology. The degree requires 72–79 credits, depending on the concentration, and combines core study, specialty courses, supervised training, and a dissertation. In applied developmental psychology, for example, you take general linear modeling and can study longitudinal analysis or psychological social networks. Comprehensive examinations and research communication are part of the evaluation of doctoral progress.

Degree Structure

72–79 credits, depending on concentration.

Applied Developmental Methods

General linear modeling with options such as longitudinal or social network analysis.

Program Sources: Psychology PhD

Old Dominion's psychology PhD is organized by concentration, and the concentration decides your daily work. Clinical is a five-year program with four years on campus, first-year practicum, a master's thesis and a full-time off-site internship at the end, and it follows a scientist-practitioner model. Health Psychology covers areas such as substance misuse, family and adolescent health, injury prevention and stress. Human Factors Psychology prepares scientist-practitioners for military and medical simulation, transportation, cybersecurity and team processes. Students work in faculty labs or with partner labs, and a related master's degree gives extra research experience if you aren't ready to apply for the doctorate.

Concentrations

Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology and Human Factors Psychology.

Clinical Timeline

Five years: four in residence, then a full-time predoctoral internship off site.

Health Focus Areas

Alcohol and substance misuse, family and adolescent health, injury prevention, stress and health.

Human Factors Applications

Military and medical simulation, transportation, cybersecurity and team processes.

Program Sources: Clinical Psychology (Psychology, Ph.D.) | Old Dominion UniversityHealth Psychology (Psychology, Ph.D.) | Old Dominion University

NOVA's psychology AS is a 62-credit transfer plan with a sturdier quantitative spine than most associate degrees: Statistics I, Statistics for Behavioral Sciences, and Research Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences, a four-credit course in the last semester. It also includes Principles of Psychology, three 200-level psychology electives, two semesters of general biology, calculus-level math and a literature elective. The program lines up with APA guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major and is meant for students heading into a BS or BA in psychology. Because transfer schools differ in course and GPA requirements, choose electives with your advisor. It's offered at the Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas and Woodbridge campuses.

Research Courses

PSY 210 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences and PSY 211 Research Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences, four credits each.

Sciences

General Biology I and II plus MTH 245 Statistics I and a calculus-level math course.

Psychology Electives

Three 200-level psychology electives beyond Principles of Psychology.

Campuses

Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas and Woodbridge.

Program Sources: Psychology, A.S. | Northern Virginia Community College Academic CatalogPsychology | Northern Virginia Community College

Liberty's psychology associate degree is 60 credits taught entirely online in eight-week courses, with eight start dates a year and no set login times outside practicums or field experiences. You can transfer in as much as 75 percent of the degree. The coursework covers development from childhood to adulthood, personality types, disorders and intervention techniques, plus counseling and psychology theories from a biblical worldview, which runs through every psychology class. That makes it a fit if you want faith integrated into your study, and the school also offers a Christian counseling version and a bachelor's degree in psychology to continue into. Career options listed include administration, advocacy and case management.

Format

100% online in 8-week courses with 8 start dates a year.

Credits

60 credit hours, with transfer of up to 75 percent of the degree.

Topics

Lifespan development, personality and disorders, intervention techniques, counseling theories.

Continuing Study

Related Christian counseling associate degree and a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Program Sources: Associate of Arts in Psychology Online | Liberty UniversityAssociate of Arts in Psychology Online | Liberty University

One sequencing rule matters here: pass Principles of Psychology before Developmental Psychology, because skipping that order could invalidate transfer agreements at some four-year schools. The 61-credit AS also asks for two statistics courses, Statistics I and Statistics for Behavioral Sciences, plus Theories of Personality, two semesters of general biology, ethics and a two-semester world language, Spanish or French by default. Students who took three years of one language in high school replace it with electives. Brightpoint recommends finishing English, math and student success requirements first and meeting a faculty advisor, since transfer requirements vary by destination college.

Psychology Courses

Principles of Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Statistics for Behavioral Sciences and Theories of Personality.

Statistics

MTH 245 Statistics I and PSY 210 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (4 credits).

Course Order

Complete PSY 200 before PSY 230 to protect transfer agreements.

Language Requirement

Two semesters of Spanish or French, or electives if three years were completed in high school.

Program Sources: Major: Psychology, AS - Brightpoint Community College