Program Requirements
Major in Psychology
School of Arts and Sciences
(Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree)
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior. While most psychologists are interested primarily in human behavior, many focus much of their research on the behavior of animals. All, however, use carefully controlled methods of observation, such as the survey or the experiment, in their effort to understand behavior. Psychology, like other sciences, seeks to describe, explain, predict and control the events it studies. Thus, psychology attempts to answer questions about the underlying processes that determine the complexity of behavior.
The major in psychology offers a variety of career opportunities in at least three different areas, (1) teaching: university, community college, elementary school; (2) research: social psychologists, psychometrics, industrial/organizational, educational, and experimental psychologists; and (3) public service/professional: clinical, child clinical, counseling, school, and mental health assistant.
Most of the careers require training in addition to a major in psychology, and this curriculum provides a broad background in psychology for those students intending to pursue advanced studies in graduate or professional institutions and to seek employment as psychologists in research, industry, college teaching, clinical applications, and as school psychologists and guidance counselors. Students interested in advanced training should investigate the specific requirements for entrance into their professions or professional schools and carefully plan their pre-professional curricula in consultation with their advisers.
The major in psychology also provides a general liberal education with a diversity of career opportunities for students wishing to seek more immediate employment. Students planning participation in ancillary professions such as social, human, or community services (with no plans for graduate study) should plan their curricula in accordance with their advisers’ recommendations and their own particular needs.
Students considering public school teaching as a career should refer to the programs in education - see academic programs or download our current catalog.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
(See also General Education Core)
| Course | Credit Hours | Year Taken | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 34-55 | 1,2,3,4 | |
| Major Course Requirements | |||
| Psychology 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | 1 |
| Psychology 211 | Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences | 3 | 2 |
| Psychology 213 | Reading and Writing in Psychology | 1 | 2 |
| Psychology 312 | Introduction to Experimental Methods in Psychology | 4 | 2,3 |
| Psychology 406 | History of Psychology | 3 | 4 |
| One course from each category | 19 | 3,4 | |
| At least one of these courses must include a psychology laboratory. | |||
| Clinical | |||
| Psychology 311 | Psychological Testing and Assessment | ||
| Psychology 311L | Laboratory in Psychological Testing | ||
| Psychology 361 | Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Psychology 462 | Theories of Personality | ||
| Developmental | |||
| Psychology 223 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | ||
| Psychology 321 | Infancy and Childhood | ||
| Psychology 322 | Adolescence | ||
| Psychology 327 | Adulthood and Aging | ||
| Social/Cognitive | |||
| Psychology 331 | Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology 331L | Laboratory in Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology 337 | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | ||
| Psychology 354 | Cognitive Psychology (includes laboratory) | ||
| Neuroscience | |||
| Psychology 343 | Sensation and Reception (includes laboratory) | ||
| Psychology 347 | Psychobiology | ||
| Learning | |||
| Psychology 256 | Principles of Behavior Change | ||
| Psychology 351 | Learning and Behavior (includes laboratory) | ||
| Psychology 352 | Motivation and Emotion | ||
| Psychology 453 | Theories of Learning | ||
| Senior Experience* | |||
| Psychology 411 | Senior Seminar | ||
| Psychology 412 | Research Seminar | ||
| Psychology 470 | Practicum in Psychology | ||
* Students considering graduate study in psychology are encouraged to take two. Students enrolled in the Major Honors in Psychology program must complete the Honors Tutorial, Psychology 489-499, in lieu of the Psychology 411, 412, or 470 requirement. Consult your adviser and the catalog for other requirements. | |||
| Psychology Electives | |||
| (May include ANT 375, PCL 323, PCL 373, PCL 374, PCL 375, PCL 377, PCL 423) | 6 | 3,4 | |
| Elective Sequence | |||
| Nine hours of related coursework approved by the student’s adviser. Courses used in this sequence may not be used to fulfill the student’s core requirements. Completion of a double major or a minor fulfills this requirement. | 9 | 3,4 | |
| Additional Course Requirements | |||
| Students desiring to earn the B.S. degree in Psychology must take two additional courses in the major at the 300- or 400-level | 6 | 3,4 | |
| 48-54 | |||
Video: Intro to UC
Facilities
UC's psychology department offers excellent facilities for research and discovery. [Click here for full list]
~
Miriam Carrillo
'95Assistant Coordinator
New Horizons
