Requirements

Psychology majors must take a minimum of 10 psychology courses. A maximum of 14 may be taken.

The first course taken by majors is Introduction to Psychology (Psychology 100).

Then, typically in their second year, students begin an in-depth examination of the process of psychological inquiry by taking a course in statistics (Statistics—Psychology 200) and a course in methodology (Research Methods—Psychology 201).

Majors are also required to explore fundamental areas of the discipline by completing one course from each of the following three categories: Biological Processes (Perception and Social Neuroscience, Physiology and Behavior, Cognitive Neuroscience, Evolution of Behavior, or Sensation & Perception), Cognitive and Behavioral Processes (Cognition and Memory, Animal Learning, Psychology of Language, Developmental Psychology, or Judgment and Decision Making), and Individual, Social, and Cultural Processes (Life-Span Development, Psychopathology, Personality and the Life Story, Social Psychology, Psychology of Adolescence, or Human Motivation)

Additionally, majors must take at least one advanced-level course in psychology and three additional electives. These courses should be chosen in accordance with a student’s own developing interests and curricular needs. An advanced course is any 300-level course, including seminars and lab classes. An elective course is any non-required course.

Academic advisors can assist students in selecting common requirement courses that help provide a coherent, well-integrated program of study.​

Advice for Students Interested in Pursuing the Major

To declare a psychology major, students must be enrolled in or have completed Psychology 100 - Introductory Psychology or the equivalent. A minimum grade of a C in Introduction to Psychology is required to continue in the major. All students who wish to major in psychology must complete Psychology 200 - Statistics and Psychology 201 – Research Methods by the end of their third year.

Required Courses

  • PSYC 100: Introduction to Psychology

  • PSYC 200: Statistics

  • PSYC 201: Research Methods

3 Fundamental Area Courses

1 course in Biological Processes

  • PSYC 220: Perception and Social Neuroscience

  • PSYC 221: Physiology and Behavior

  • PSYC 235: Cognitive Neuroscience

  • PSYC 253: Evolution of Behavior

  • PSYC 222: Sensation & Perception

1 course in Cognitive and Behavioral Processes

  • PSYC 223: Animal Learning

  • PSYC 225: Developmental Psychology

  • PSYC 236: Cognition and Memory

  • PSYC 237: Psychology of Language

  • PSYC 238: Judgment and Decision Making

1 course in Individual, Social, and Cultural Processes

  • PSYC 214: Life-Span Development

  • PSYC 226: Personality and the Life Story

  • PSYC 227: Social Psychology

  • PSYC 228: Psychology of Adolescence

  • PSYC 229: Psychopathology

  • PSYC 267: Motivation and Goal Pursuit

Developing Interests Courses

  • 4 Elective Courses, at least one of which must be an advanced (i.e., 300 level) course

Advanced Placement Credit

Students with AP credit in psychology are awarded advanced placement in the curriculum and forfeit that credit if they take PSYC100 Introduction to Psychology. AP credits count toward the minimum number of 10 of courses required in the major.