BS in Psychology Curriculum
In addition to the lab-based science required by the University Curriculum, psychology majors are required to complete one additional lab-based science course outside of psychology, one additional social science outside of psychology, one course that explores issues of multiculturalism and/or diversity, and a foreign language up to the 102 level. NOTE: The department strongly encourages psychology majors to take courses in biology.
Students majoring in psychology must meet the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Modern Language Requirement | 3-6 | |
| Psychology Requirements | ||
| Psychological Science Core | ||
| PS 101 | Introduction to Psychology 2 | 3 |
| PS 206 | Introduction to Statistics in Psychology 2 | 3 |
| PS 307 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology with Lab 2 | 4 |
| PS 308 | Advanced Research Methods in Psychology with Lab 2 | 4 |
| PS 401 | Integrative Capstone for Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience Majors 3 | 3 |
| Psychology Perspectives | ||
| Biological Perspective (select one) 4 | 3 | |
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Cognitive Perspective (select one) 4 | 3 | |
| Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Communicating Effectively: A Cognitive Perspective | ||
| Developmental Perspective (select one) 4 | 3 | |
| Child and Adolescent Development | ||
| Social Perspective (select one) 4 | 3 | |
| Social Psychology | ||
| Scientist-Practitioner Perspective (select one) | 3 | |
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Psychology in the Workplace | ||
| Psychology Electives | ||
| Select one psychology course at the 200 level or higher | 3 | |
| Select one psychology course at the 300 level | 3 | |
| Additional Degree Requirements | ||
| Select one additional Natural Science course with a Lab | 4 | |
| Select one Diversity/Multicultural course | 3 | |
| Select one Social Science course outside of Psychology | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 23 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
- 1
All students must complete the 46 credits of the University Curriculum.
- 2
Students must earn a grade of C- or higher before moving on to the next course.
- 3
Senior standing required. Must be taken as a seminar during the regular academic year.
- 4
Additional courses may be designated to fulfill this requirement.
Psychology majors also have the opportunity to engage in supervised fieldwork and intensive study within one of three concentrations.
Applied Clinical Science Concentration
Students may apply to enroll in the applied clinical science (ACS) concentration within the psychology major. The program prepares students for careers related to clinical psychology and provides the basis for graduate work in fields such as social work, counseling and school psychology. A minimum 3.0 overall GPA is required to participate in the ACS concentration fieldwork courses. Space is limited in the fieldwork courses and, therefore, in some years enrollment in the concentration may be awarded on a competitive basis.
ACS students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 272 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PS 371 | Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PS 391 | Applied Clinical Science Seminar (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| PS 393 | Fieldwork in Applied Clinical Science (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| PS 394 | Fieldwork in Applied Clinical Science (SL: Service Learning) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
The ACS program emphasizes:
- Mental health fields as possible careers.
- Conceptions of mental illness, both past and present.
- Evidence-based treatment techniques in clinical psychology and related fields.
Applied Cognition Concentration
The applied cognition concentration focuses on providing students with the opportunity to gain job-relevant skills while exploring cognition. Students are exposed to major theories and methods in cognitive psychology, along with applications of cognitive psychology to the workplace (e.g., design thinking, task analysis, survey design) and careers that use insights and methods from cognitive psychology (e.g., behavioral engineering). Because cognitive psychology draws on a range of disciplines, students will also have the opportunity to explore cognition from a different field.
Applied Cognition students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 233 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PS 333 | Applied Cognition | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Skill-Building 2 | 3 | |
- 1
Elective from a related discipline (e.g. computer science, philosophy, industrial or software engineering) to be decided upon by student in consultation with a faculty member in the cognitive perspective.
- 2
Skill-building through internship, independent research, or relevant training (e.g. certification of technical skill) to be decided upon by student in consultation with a faculty member in the cognitive perspective.
The Applied Cognition program emphasizes:
1. Applying theories and methods from cognitive psychology to real-world contexts
2. Exploring and experiencing multidisciplinary careers in cognitive psychology
3. Building marketable skills that are relevant for a range of careers (e.g., public speaking, collaboration), as well as specific skills that are relevant for jobs in cognitive psychology (e.g., task analysis, survey design)
Applied Work and Organizational Psychology Concentration
Students may elect to enroll in the applied work and organizational psychology program within the psychology major. The program exposes students to career possibilities in industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology areas and provides the basis for further study related to fields such as I-O psychology and management. Applied work and organizational psychology students must take:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PS 265 | Psychology in the Workplace | 3 |
| PS 397 | Fieldwork in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Personnel Psychology | ||
| Advanced Organizational Psychology | ||
| Occupational Health Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The applied work and organizational psychology program emphasizes:
- Using psychological principles to study and improve working conditions.
- Developing and practicing marketable skills that are relevant for a range of careers (e.g., public speaking, collaboration), as well as specific skills that are relevant for jobs in industrial-organizational psychology or human resource management (e.g., job analysis, test validation, training design).
- Gaining relevant, hands-on experience in careers related to industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management.
Modern Language Requirement
All CAS students (both bachelor of science and bachelor of arts) must complete one modern language through the 102 level. Modern language courses may also count toward the UC Personal Inquiry II requirement. Students who have taken a language in high school should take the modern language placement test for that language. Students with placement scores at the 201 level or higher have demonstrated language competency and thus have passed out of the language requirement.