The lack of a prerequisite course

[baohouse08]

---

Members don't see this ad.

How much will it hurt me if I have not taken a general psychology course? I know some schools require it, but is it more of a soft requirement or a hard requirement?

I have taken 2 different upper division psychology courses including abnormal psychology and neuropsychology. But other than AP psych in high school, I have not taken an intro or general psych class.

I also realize that I have time to take a general psychology class at community college in the fall, but I am already working full-time in order to pay off loans (thank you costly UC education).

I have emailed certain schools and am awaiting responses, but I thought I would ask here first.


Other relevant info:
My GPA is a 3.6
GRE scores are a 158 verbal, 162 quantitative, and 4.0 writing.
200 observation hours split between an outpatient and skilled nursing facility.

 

[jamesmr8138]

The easy solution would be to call your programs you wish to apply to, and see if your upper division courses will satisfy the general psyc requirement. I was in the same boat as you last year, so I ended up taking a psyc class at a local CC after I graduated. If that's the only class you need, it shouldn't be a problem even if you're working full time. I found that a 100 level psyc class at a CC was much easier than all the classes I previously too at the University.

 

[NewTestament]

It depends on what the programs want. Some specifically want applicants to take an introductory course in psychology, while others don't. Contact the schools individually. If you have to take introductory psychology, it won't be be a big deal. That class requires far less work than any of the science classes, and it doesn't have a lab component.

How did you take two upper-division psychology courses without introductory psychology, BTW?

Kevin

 

[baohouse08]

I believe passing AP psychology in high school counted as me completing Intro to Psych, which allowed me to take those upper divs.

 

[schnell8]

Yeah, what everyone else has been saying. Contact each school. While your at it, see each school if you would get penalized for taking an online course. Since your working full time, an online course at a CC would be very easy to do. Most schools that I know of, won't penalize you but I have heard of other schools not accepting online courses. But just something to think about!

 

[IndianaDPT]

@baohouse08:

I would also check with the programs (online first, naturally) about whether the programs allow Advanced Placement to count as a prerequisite. Indiana University allows this for a certain number of prerequisites in the DPT program.

Good luck to you,

Josh Morrison
Director, Student Enrollment Services
IU School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, IUPUI
www.shrs.iupui.edu
[email protected]