Psychology, B.S.

1. Three Foundational Courses

• PSY 100 - Introduction to Psychology
• PSY 200 - Statistical Methods in Psychology *
• PSY 300 - Research Methods in Psychology
• Note: It is important that, if at all possible, students complete PSY 300  by the junior year.
• *The PSY200 requirement may be waived for students who earned a 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics exam, or a B+ or better in ECO-243, STA-104, or STA-164.  Students who elect to waive the PSY200 requirement should understand that they may be at a deficit for PSY-300, depending on the extent to which they learned analysis of variance.

2. Area Course Requirement

At least one Area Course from each of the following four content areas. Additional courses from each Area may serve as Free Electives:

3. Laboratory Course Requirement:

One Laboratory Course from the following. Additional Laboratory Courses may serve as Upper-Level Electives or as Free Electives.

• PSY 310 - Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSY 313 - Sensation and Perception
• PSY 330 - Advanced Personality and Social Psychology
• PSY 351 - Clinical Psychology 2: Interventions

4. Seminar Requirement

One Seminar Course from the following. Additional Seminar Courses may serve as Upper-Level Electives or as Free Electives.

• PSY 410 - Seminar in Brain and Behavior
• PSY 411 - Seminar in Clinical Neuropsychology
• PSY 420 - Seminar in Cognitive Psychology
• PSY 430 - Seminar in Social Psychology
• PSY 431 - Seminar in Psychology of Religion
• PSY 432 - Seminar in Love and Death
• PSY 433 - Seminar in Psychology of Sports
• PSY 440 - Seminar in Human Development
• PSY 441 - Seminar in Adolescence
• PSY 450 - Seminar in Clinical Psychology

5. Upper-Level Elective

One additional course numbered PSY 310 through PSY 451. This requirement may be satisfied by completing an additional Lab Course, an additional Seminar Course, or any course with an appropriate course number.

Note that this requirement applies to the Classes of 2024, 2025, 2026 and later. It does not apply to the Classes of 2023; these students will complete three free electives from any level.

6. Two Free Electives

Any two additional psychology courses.

Note that majors in the classes of 2024, 2025, 2026, and beyond may not use cognate courses to satisfy psychology requirements as specified in previous catalogs.

7. Senior Writing Requirement:

Psychology majors typically fulfill the College’s “WS” Writing requirement by completing a Psychology Seminar.  Although the requirement is called a “Senior Writing” requirement, it need not be taken in the senior year.

Senior theses or senior projects, which are not required of Psychology majors, may also be used to satisfy the College’s WS Requirement. 

Please note that although a Seminar is required, (See Requirement #4) a Thesis or Senior Project is optional.  Completing a thesis does not satisfy the Seminar requirement.