Psychology

 

Psychology, the science of behavior and mental life, is an exciting field with many opportunities.  

Our mission is to teach our students the theories, research, and methodology used in psychology to describe, explain, predict, and change behavior and mental life.  We are committed to recognizing each student's potential and facilitating their critical thinking skills and intellectual growth.

You can take psychology classes at each MC campus—in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring.

Psychology courses lay a solid academic foundation for numerous majors and psychology coursework will prepare you for many jobs. A psychology degree prepares you with many skills employers value, such as critical and analytical thinking, research and writing skills, and interpersonal skills.

Whether you want to take a psychology class or prepare for a psychology bachelor’s degree, we are here to help. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your academic goals.  

Program Opportunities

Montgomery College does not offer a degree or certificate in psychology. Students that are interested in studying psychology pursue the General Studies degree program, specifically the Social Sciences, Administration, and Health (SSAH) Core. In addition, PSYC 100: General Psychology fulfills a behavioral and social sciences distribution requirement for the General Education Program.

Many MC students plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete their BA or BS in psychology. If you are planning to transfer to a four-year school, you will need to look at the transferability of the individual psychology classes you want to take. MC’s transfer planning will help you prepare for your next step.

Check with each school of interest to determine which MC courses are required at the lower level by visiting a school’s psychology site. Students typically take two to four courses beyond PSYC 100 General Psychology at MC; the remainder of psychology specialty courses are taken at the junior and senior level (300- and 400-level). Check requirements at each school carefully to avoid duplication – for example, at some schools, some psych courses are consider “upper-level” and an MC course may not fulfill an upper-level requirement. If undecided, choose courses in common at several schools.

Careers

There are many job opportunities for those with degrees in psychology.  Psychologists work in clinical settings, schools, research settings, community organizations, and businesses. Some of these careers require advanced degrees, such as a master's (MA or MS) or doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology, but there are also entry-level jobs available to those with a bachelor's degree (BA or BS) in psychology.

Some psychology majors work in the mental health field as psychiatric technicians, case workers, or rehabilitation advisors. Others work in research, statistical analysis, or data entry.  Yet other psychology majors go into fields outside of psychology, such as jobs in business. The American Psychological Association offers additional information on careers in psychology.

• Career Outlook for Psychologists: Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• MC Career Services: Planning and support for MC students and alumni.
• Career Coach: Explore hundreds of potential careers and job possibilities.

Psychology Courses

• All students should review the advising guide and consult an advisor.
• Find out about related programs and course in the Fields of Study section.
• Most courses have either assessment levels that must be met or prerequisites (courses that must be taken first). Part-time students and those who need to meet assessment levels or take prerequisite courses will take longer to complete a degree. An advisor will help make sure you are taking your courses in the right order.
• All degree-seeking students must take a central group of General Education courses in English, mathematics, arts, behavioral and social sciences, humanities, and science. These courses are included in the suggested course sequence below.

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