Psychology, B.S.
Students should be aware that psychology courses are offered in several different departments and programs.
The B.S. in Psychology incorporates more science content, as the physical and biological sciences play a critical role in deeper study of the mind and brain. Students interested in other areas of psychology are advised to consult the course listings in the School of Social Ecology and the School of Biological Sciences sections.
NOTE: Students may complete either the B.A. in Psychology, the B.S. in Psychology, or the B.S. in Cognitive Sciences. You may not double major within the majors offered by the department. For students who double major in the B.S. in Psychology and the B.S. in Biological Sciences, no more than three courses may overlap.
Requirements for the B.S. in Psychology
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
School requirements must be met and must include courses as specified below:
| A. Complete: | |
| PSYCH 10A- 10B- 10C | Exploratory Data Analysis and Probability and Inference and Statistical Models |
| PSYCH 9A- 9B- 9C | Psychology Fundamentals and Psychology Fundamentals and Psychology Fundamentals |
| B. Complete six courses across three disciplines: | |
| Background in Science | |
| The Brain and Behavior | |
| Drugs and the Brain | |
| Brain Dysfunction and Repair | |
| Mind and Memory | |
| Mood Disorders | |
| Stress | |
| Human Development | |
| From DNA to Organisms | |
| From Organisms to Ecosystems | |
| General Chemistry | |
| General Chemistry | |
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| Organic Chemistry | |
| Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| MATLAB Programming | |
| Scientific Python for Research | |
| Neurobiology of Cognition | |
| Neural Analytics | |
| Introduction to Symbolic Logic | |
| Introduction to Inductive Logic | |
| The Nature of Scientific Inquiry | |
| The Making of Modern Science | |
| Single-Variable Calculus I and Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| Calculus for Life Sciences I and Calculus for Life Sciences II | |
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| Elementary Differential Equations | |
| Basic Physics I | |
| Basic Physics II and Basic Physics Laboratory | |
| Basic Physics III and Basic Physics Laboratory | |
| Classical Physics and Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| Classical Physics and Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| Classical Physics | |
| Physics of Music | |
| Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I | |
| Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II | |
| Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III | |
| C. Select four from the following: | |
| Psychology Core Courses | |
| Abnormal Psychology | |
| Developmental Psychology | |
| History of Psychology | |
| Personality Theories | |
| Perception and Sensory Processes | |
| Cognitive Science | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | |
| Learning and Decision Making | |
| Human Memory | |
| Psychology of Language | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience | |
| Brain Disorders and Behavior | |
| D. Select three courses from the following modules: 1 | |
| Psychology Module Courses | |
| PSYCH 120 to PSYCH 129 (General) | |
| PSYCH 130 to PSYCH 139 (Perception and Sensory Processes) | |
| PSYCH 140 to PSYCH 149 (Cognition and Learning) | |
| PSYCH 160 to PSYCH 169 (Cognitive Neuroscience) | |
| E. Select three of the following: | |
| Research Methods | |
| Experimental Psychology and Experimental Psychology Laboratory | |
| Advanced Experimental Psychology and Advanced Experimental Psychology Laboratory | |
| Research in Experimental Psychology and Research in Experimental Psychology | |
| Research Methods in Psychology and Research Methods in Psychology Laboratory | |
| Introduction to fMRI Research and fMRI Research Laboratory | |
| Research in Perception and Psychophysics and Research in Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory | |
| Cognitive Robotics and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory | |
| F. Select four courses (four or more units each) with emphasis in psychology and distributed as follows: | |
| 1. No more than one may be lower-division. PSYCH 7A may not be used to fulfill this requirement. | |
| 2. No more than one of the courses may be numbered 190-199. | |
| 3. If accepted into the Honors Program, only one course is needed to fulfill this requirement. | |
- 1
Psychology core courses may be used to fulfill this requirement but cannot count for both requirements.
Sample Program - General
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 9A | PSYCH 9B | PSYCH 9C |
| PSYCH 10A | PSYCH 10B | PSYCH 10C |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
| Computer Tech Requirement | ||
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course | Research Methods |
| LPS 31 | General Education | Research Methods Lab |
| General Education | Science Course 1 | General Education |
| General Education | Psych. Module | Science Course 2 |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Research Methods | Research Methods | Psych. Module |
| Research Methods Lab | Research Methods Lab | Psych. Module |
| Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course | Additional science course |
| Science course | Additional science course | Additional science course |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Additional Psych. course | Additional Psych. course | Elective |
| Additional Psych. course | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
Sample Program - Transfer
| Junior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 9B | Computer Tech Requirement | LPS 31 |
| PSYCH 10A | PSYCH 10B | PSYCH 10C |
| Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course |
| Elective | Elective | Upper-division writing |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Research Methods | Research Methods | Research Methods |
| Research Methods Lab | Research Methods Lab | Research Methods Lab |
| Psych. Module | Psych. Module | Psych. Module |
| Psych. Core course | Additional Psych. course | Additional Psych. course |
Honors Program in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
The Honors Program in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences is an advanced educational and research program for outstanding undergraduate students in these majors.
The program emphasizes advanced competence in scientific research, and allows participants the opportunity to pursue advanced work in independent research, in addition to earning honors upon graduation. While the program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate study or seeking challenging research experiences as a capstone to their undergraduate experience, all Psychology and Cognitive Sciences majors who meet the minimum eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.
The program has a limited number of openings and seeks to attract outstanding students who plan to undertake postgraduate education in some field of cognitive/psychological sciences. Students with junior standing are required to identify a faculty advisor and a research project, and submit a formal application in spring quarter prior to the start of the senior year. To qualify for the honors program, the students must meet the GPA requirement (3.2 within their major), provide an analytical writing sample, and submit a one-page research plan. In addition, a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor who agrees to oversee the proposed research must be provided.
Sample Program - Honors in Cognitive Sciences
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 9A | PSYCH 9B | PSYCH 9C |
| MATH 2A | MATH 2B | Science course (C) |
| Science course (C) | Science course (C) | General Education |
| General Education | General Education | Elective |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 10A | PSYCH 10B | PSYCH 10C |
| COGS 14P | Science course (C) | COGS 109 |
| Science course (C) | General Education | Science course (C) |
| General Education | Core course (D) | General Education |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Core course (D) | Research Methods (B) | Core course (D) |
| Core elective (E) | Core elective (E) | Core elective (E) |
| COGS 107 | COGS 106 | COGS 108 |
| Research Methods (B) | Elective | Elective |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| COGS H101A | COGS H101B | COGS H101C |
| Research Methods (B) | Elective | Elective |
| Core elective (E) | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
Sample Program - Honors in Psychology, B.S.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 9A | PSYCH 9B | PSYCH 9C |
| LPS 31 | Science course | Science course |
| Science course | General Education | General Education |
| General Education | Elective | Elective |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 10A | PSYCH 10B | PSYCH 10C |
| Computer Tech Requirement | Additional Science course | Psych Module |
| Additional Science course | General Education | Additional Science course |
| General Education | Core course | General Education |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Core course | Research Methods | Core course |
| Elective | Core course | Psych Module |
| Research Methods | Psych Module | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH H101A | PSYCH H101B | PSYCH H101C |
| Research Methods | Elective | Additional Psych Course |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
Sample Program - Honors in Psychology, B.A.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH 9A | PSYCH 9B | PSYCH 9C |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
| SOC SCI 3A | Intro. Soc. Sci. course | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Intro. Statistics | Intro. Statistics | Intro. Statistics |
| Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course | Psych. Core course |
| Intro. Soc. Sci. course | General Education | General Education |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| Psych. Core course | General Education | U-D Psych. course |
| Psych. Module | Psych. Module | Psych. Module |
| Research Methods | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | U-D Psych. course | Elective |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| PSYCH H101A | PSYCH H101B | PSYCH H101C |
| U-D Psych. course | U-D Psych. course | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective | Elective |