Welcome from Department Chair

Bernice Carson, Ph.D., Chairperson, Department of Psychology

On behalf of the Psychology Department it is my pleasure to welcome you to, not just the Department here at The Virginia State University, but to the Psychology Family. We pride ourselves on being a collective group of well-prepared academicians who make every attempt to educate you in the most empathetic and supportive manner possible to enhance your scholastic journey. Specifically our mission is to teach a diverse student population to adopt a scientific approach to the acquisition of knowledge in the major areas of psychology and to prepare them for global leadership, graduate study, and service in culturally diverse communities.

The Psychology Family consists of a diverse group of faculty, administrators, researchers, and caregivers who possess the wherewithal to cater to student needs and desires to help them meet long term goals in a spirit of excellence. We have set up an open environment to assist you. Our eyes are open to look for the student who needs our help. Our ears are open to listen to your needs. Our hands are open to support you when you stumble and catch you when you fall. Our mouths are open to encourage you in periods of indecisiveness and uncertainty. Our hearts are open to share in your triumphs as well as challenges!

Our Psychology Family, located in the College of Natural and Health Sciences, offers a program of general psychology at the undergraduate level. Our curriculum is tailored to the student’s individual needs and consists of basic foundational courses, well-defined areas of specialization, research-based options and electives which allow the student to explore self-awareness and evolve into agents of social change. We also offer a Master’s degree in Psychology. Students working toward the Master of Science (MS) degree may choose a concentration in either General Psychology or Clinical Psychology. Our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Psychology has two concentrations, Clinical Health Psychology or Behavioral and Community Health Sciences (BCHS).

Our Psychology Family not only provides formal instruction and learning in the classroom but also provides opportunities for grooming social skills. Our students enjoy being a part of the Psychology Club which accepts students from various majors and provides members with social events, service opportunities, informative speakers on the subject of psychology and information on further study in Psychology. The VSU Chapter of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, is open to Psychology majors who have excelled in the area of Psychology and possess a GPA of 3.0. The purpose of this organization is to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. These elite scholars hosts a cadre of educational forums and activities which support the mission and the student who has selected Psychology as a career. Membership is based on invitation solely.

Whether graduate or undergraduate, we guarantee an education second to none resulting in personal fulfilment, personal competency, and personal commitment to enhancing humanity exponentially!