2023-24 Edition

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
LPS 31 Introduction to Inductive Logic
B. Select three of the following. At least two of these courses must come from a single discipline:
Background in Science
The Brain and Behavior
Drugs and the Brain
Brain Dysfunction and Repair
Mind, Memory, Amnesia, and the Brain
Aspects of Mood Disorder
Stress
Human Development: Conception to Birth
From DNA to Organisms
From Organisms to Ecosystems
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory
General Chemistry
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Laboratory
Neural Analytics
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
C. Complete three additional courses that can be selected from the above list or from the following list:
Additional Science Background
Scientific Python for Research
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
Introduction to Symbolic Logic
The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
The Making of Modern Science
Physics of Music
Statistical Methods for Data Analysis I
and Statistical Methods for Data Analysis II
and Statistical Methods for Data Analysis III
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
D. 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
Principles of Learning Theory
Human Memory
Psychology of Language
Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
Brain Disorders and Behavior
History of Cognitive Neuroscience
E. 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 150 to PSYCH 159 (Language)
PSYCH 160 to PSYCH 169 (Cognitive Neuroscience)
F. 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
Research in Perception and Psychophysics
and Research in Perception and Psychophysics Laboratory
Cognitive Robotics
and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory
G. 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. PSYC 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 two courses are needed to fulfill this requirement.
Sample Program - General
Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 9APSYCH 9BPSYCH 9C
PSYCH 10APSYCH 10BPSYCH 10C
General EducationGeneral EducationGeneral Education
 Computer Tech Requirement 
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
Psych. Core coursePsych. Core courseResearch Methods
LPS 31General EducationResearch Methods Lab
General EducationScience Course 1General Education
General EducationPsych. ModuleScience Course 2
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
Research MethodsResearch MethodsPsych. Module
Research Methods LabResearch Methods LabPsych. Module
Psych. Core coursePsych. Core courseAdditional science course
Science courseAdditional science courseAdditional science course
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
Additional Psych. courseAdditional Psych. courseElective
Additional Psych. courseElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective

Sample Program - Transfer

Junior
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 9BComputer Tech RequirementLPS 31
PSYCH 10APSYCH 10BPSYCH 10C
Psych. Core coursePsych. Core coursePsych. Core course
ElectiveElectiveUpper-division writing
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
Research MethodsResearch MethodsResearch Methods
Research Methods LabResearch Methods LabResearch Methods Lab
Psych. ModulePsych. ModulePsych. Module
Psych. Core courseAdditional Psych. courseAdditional 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.

Students who participate in the program are expected to enroll in the Honor Seminar series (COGS H101A-COGS H101B-COGS H101C/PSYCH H101A-PSYCH H101B-PSYCH H101C). Honors students must successfully complete a senior honors thesis and present their research as part of the course work.
 
The honors seminar series may be used to satisfy three of the courses required under requirement E (seven additional courses with an emphasis in psychology) of the B.A. in Psychology major, requirement G (four courses with an emphasis in psychology) of the B.S. in Psychology major, and under requirement E (upper-division core electives) of the B.S. in Cognitive Sciences major.
Sample Program - Honors in Cognitive Sciences
Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 9APSYCH 9BPSYCH 9C
MATH 2AMATH 2BScience course (C)
Science course (C)Science course (C)General Education
General EducationGeneral EducationElective
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 10APSYCH 10BPSYCH 10C
COGS 14PScience course (C)COGS 109
Science course (C)General EducationScience course (C)
General EducationCore 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 107COGS 106COGS 108
Research Methods (B)ElectiveElective
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
COGS H101ACOGS H101BCOGS H101C
Research Methods (B)ElectiveElective
Core elective (E)ElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
Sample Program - Honors in Psychology, B.S.
Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 9APSYCH 9BPSYCH 9C
LPS 31Science courseScience course
Science courseGeneral EducationGeneral Education
General EducationElectiveElective
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 10APSYCH 10BPSYCH 10C
Computer Tech RequirementAdditional Science coursePsych Module
Additional Science courseGeneral EducationAdditional Science course
General EducationCore courseGeneral Education
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
Core courseResearch MethodsCore course
ElectiveCore coursePsych Module
Research MethodsPsych ModuleElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH H101APSYCH H101BPSYCH H101C
Research MethodsElectiveAdditional Psych Course
ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
Sample Program - Honors in Psychology, B.A.
Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH 9APSYCH 9BPSYCH 9C
General EducationGeneral EducationGeneral Education
General EducationGeneral EducationGeneral Education
 SOC SCI 3AIntro. Soc. Sci. course
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
Intro. StatisticsIntro. StatisticsIntro. Statistics
Psych. Core coursePsych. Core coursePsych. Core course
Intro. Soc. Sci. courseGeneral EducationGeneral Education
General EducationGeneral EducationGeneral Education
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
Psych. Core courseGeneral EducationU-D Psych. course
Psych. ModulePsych. ModulePsych. Module
Research MethodsElectiveElective
ElectiveU-D Psych. courseElective
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
PSYCH H101APSYCH H101BPSYCH H101C
U-D Psych. courseU-D Psych. courseElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective