Psychology

Majoring & Minoring

Students who major in psychology can choose to complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree; students who minor in Psychology can complement work toward other degrees (popular choices include biology/pre-med, sociology, and business).

Major in Psychology (BA): 8 - 9 courses 
  • *PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
  • Research Methods: one option from the following [Note: either 214/211 or 224/221 is required for Research Capstone]
    • PSY33-204 Survey of Research Methods (S)
    • PSY33-214 Inquiry-Based Research Methods + PSY33-211 Lab for Inquiry-Based Research Methods (F, S, course and lab must be taken concurrently with the same professor)
    • PSY33-224 Inquiry-Based Research Methods w/ Animals + PSY33-221 Lab for Inquiry-Based Research Methods w/ Animals (F, course and lab must be taken concurrently with the same professor)
  • Core courses: four courses from the following (four of the five courses must come from the following list, with at least two courses at the 500 level)
    • *PSY33-334 Personality Theory and Research (S)
    • *PSY33-344 Lifespan Development (F,S)
    • *PSY33-374 Evolutionary Psychology (F)
    • *PSY33-384 Learning and Cognition (F)
    • PSY33-524 Psychopathology and Clinical Science 
    • PSY33-534 Behavioral Neuroscience (S)
    • PSY33-544 Health Psychology (S)
    • PSY33-564 Social Psychology (S)
    • PSY33-574 Close Relationships 
  • One additional course in Psychology from either the list above or the list below: 
    • PSC32-444 Political Psychology
    • PSY33-354 Cross-Cultural Psychology
    • PSY33-364 Sexuality and Culture
    • PSY33-412 Careers in Psychology I and PSY33-422 Careers in Psychology II  
    • *PSY33-474 Forensic Psychology (May term)
    • *PSY33-484 Human Sexuality (May term)
  • Complete one of two Capstone options outlined below:
    • Eight credits of research from:
      PSY33-824 Research in Applied Psychology
      PSY33-834 Research in Behavioral Neuroscience
      PSY33-844 Research in Clinical Psychology
      PSY33-864 Research in Developmental Psychology
      PSY33-874 Research in Social Psychology
      PSY33-884 Research in Cognitive Evolutionary Psychology
      OR
    • Eight credits of internship:
      PSY33-948 Academic Internship

Required supporting course in the Psychology major (BA): 1 course

  • MAT52-114 Introduction to Statistics

* Courses that can be taken prior to completing Research Methods.

F = typically taught in Fall; S = typically taught in Spring

Required supporting courses in the Psychology major (BS): 8 courses

The above coursework for the BA path, with the addition of: 

  • MAT52-114 Introduction to Statistics
  • MAT52-164 Modern Calculus I
  • BIO50-173/171 Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Biology/lab, and
    BIO50-183/181 Evolutionary and Ecological Foundations of Biology/lab
  • CHE51-103/101 General Chemistry I/Chemical Methods and Techniques I Lab
  • PHY53-154 Fundamentals of Physics I
  • Two additional courses from:
    BIO50-314 Genetics
    BIO50-334 Evolutionary Biology
    BIO50-364 Comparative Vertebrate Morphology
    BIO50-374 Human Genetics and Evolution
    CHE51-203/201 General Chemistry II/Chemical Methods and Techniques II Lab
    CSC54-184 Computer Science I
    CSC54-284 Computer Science II
    PHY53-164 Fundamentals of Physics II
    PSY33-534 Behavioral Neuroscience
    Additional approved 4-credit upper-level electives in Biology

Note: Behavioral Neuroscience cannot count in both the major and required supporting courses.

A minimum grade of C must be earned for a psychology course to serve as a prerequisite for a subsequent psychology course.

Minor in Psychology: 5 courses 
  • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
  • Four additional upper-level courses in Psychology

Note: No academic internships can be used to satisfy requirements for the minor.