Psychology Major

Major Requirements

The major in psychology consists of eleven courses. The distribution of courses presented for a major should conform to the following pattern:

PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology
Note: Students can earn credit for PSYC 100 by scoring a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in Psychology or by scoring a 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate higher level Psychology exam.
PSYC 201 - Research in Psychology I and PSYC 202 - Research in Psychology II
Note: Students may substitute MATH 253 - Applied Mulitivariate Stats , for PSYC 201 . Students who plan to follow this path should consult with a member of the psychology department as soon as possible to ensure adequate preparation for PSYC 202 - Research in Psychology II .
Three other courses at the intermediate level, at least one of which must be from Group A and at least one of which must be from Group B.

PSYC 300 - Directed Research in Psych
Three upper level courses (courses numbered 301 or above). At least one of these courses must have a substantial student-led component. A list of such courses will be available on the department website each semester. A 4-credit independent study, internship, or preceptorship may also fulfill one of the upper level course requirements with prior departmental permission.
One course from the Underrepresented Populations, Paradigms, and Perspectives (UP³⁾requirement. UP³ courses have as their central theme one or more of the following: a focus on historically underrepresented perspectives, paradigms, or populations in psychology; a critical lens on issues of power and privilege in the field; an analysis of the implications of exclusion or marginalization in the field of psychology or on psychological experience.
- UP³ Courses:
  PSYC 264 - The Psychology of Gender
  PSYC 266 - History of Psychology
  PSYC 268 - The Psychology of Multiculturalism: Identity in Diverse Societies
  PSYC 370 - Understanding and Confronting Racism
  PSYC 379 - Cultural Psychology
  PSYC 380 - Community Psychology and Public Health
  PSYC 488 —African American Psychology
  PSYC 488 —Lives in Context
  This requirement may be met at any level of the curriculum, and courses that fulfill this requirement may also satisfy other requirements for the major (e.g., Cultural Psychology fulfills both the Culture and Context requirement as well as the upper level course requirement).

One other psychology course.

No more than one independent project, internship or preceptorship can count towards the major. The capstone requirement in psychology is satisfied by PSYC 300 - Directed Research in Psych .

Due to the high degree of potential overlap between major plans in Psychology and Neuroscience Studies, students seeking to complete both majors must list, on each plan, at least four courses that do not appear on the other plan.