psychology major undergraduate coursework

Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs

The undergraduate psychology program rankings were based solely on peer assessment surveys. To appear on these surveys, undergraduate psychology programs must have awarded a medium to large number of bachelor's degrees in psychology. Read the methodology »

To unlock full rankings, SAT/ACT scores and more, sign up for the U.S. News College Compass !

• Clear Filters

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

• #1 in Psychology Programs  (tie)
• #1 in Psychology  (tie)

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

The University of California, Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, Calif. Students at this public school have more than 1,000 groups to get involved in, including more than 60 fraternity and sorority chapters.

(out-of-state)

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

• #3 in Psychology Programs  (tie)
• #3 in Psychology  (tie)

Harvard University is a private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. This Ivy League school is the oldest higher education institution in the country and has the largest endowment of any school in the world.

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

The University of California, Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers 5,000 courses, 140 bachelor's degree programs and 97 minors.

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

The university boasts of Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from Detroit, as one of the best college towns in the U.S. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but not required to live on campus. Students can join one of the school’s more than 1,500 student organizations or 62 Greek chapters. Athletics play a central role at Michigan, including the football team’s fierce rivalry with Ohio State. Michigan also offers highly ranked graduate programs, including the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, College of Engineering, Law School and Medical School, in addition to the well-regarded School of Dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and Urban Planning. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is ranked among the top hospitals in the country.

Yale University

New Haven, CT

Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers a small college life with the resources of a major research institution. Yale students are divided into 14 residential colleges that foster a supportive environment for living, learning and socializing.

Columbia University

New York, NY

• #7 in Psychology Programs  (tie)
• #7 in Psychology  (tie)

Columbia University has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies. This Ivy League, private school guarantees students housing for all four years on campus in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York City.

Cornell University

Cornell University, a private school in Ithaca, New York, has 14 colleges and schools. Each admits its own students, though every graduate receives a degree from Cornell University. The university has more than 1,000 student organizations on campus.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

The University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in east-central Illinois, only a few hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. The school's Fighting Illini participate in more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. The university boasts one of the largest Greek systems in the country, and almost a quarter of the student body is involved. It’s not hard to find something to do on campus with more than 1,600 student organizations, including professional, political and philanthropic clubs. All freshmen are required to live on campus.

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania is a private institution in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students can study in one of four schools that grant undergraduate degrees: Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Wharton.

See all 542 Ranked Schools

Sign up for U.S. News College Compass today to find the school that's right for you. You'll gain access to more than 1,800 expanded school profiles, all entering class stats, including starting salary by major, SAT scores, GPAs and financial aid packages given to students by schools.

More Schools in this List (Alphabetical)

Abilene Christian University

Abilene, TX

• in Psychology Programs
• in Psychology

Abilene Christian University is a Texas institution affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Students are required to attend daily chapel sessions and take Bible courses.

Adelphi University

Garden City, NY

Alabama A&M University

Founded in 1875, Alabama A&M University is a public institution.

American University

Washington, DC

Students at American University benefit from the school's location in the political hub of the nation. Washington, D.C., is a playground for the politically and socially oriented with its countless museums, restaurants, clubs and year-round events. The university, located in a suburban pocket of northwest Washington, is close to a stop on the D.C.-area Metrorail transit system. Rides downtown take about 15 minutes. Students at American have been rated among the most politically active in the nation, and there are more than 270 student clubs and organizations on campus. The school also has a sizable Greek system, with more than 25 fraternities and sororities.

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University is a public school tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Students at Appalachian have many programs, sports, and clubs to choose from, including the Appalachian Popular Programming Society, which plans campus events. 

Arizona State University

Arizona State University’s Tempe campus offers more than 200 research-based programs in the arts, business, engineering and more. The campus is located just outside of Phoenix, in the suburb of Tempe, Arizona.

Arkansas State University

State University, AR

Arkansas State University offers more than 160 degree programs. At Arkansas State, students can get help with difficult classes through the Structured Learning Assistance program.

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR

Founded in 1909, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution.

Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama, has been ranked one of the best places to live, and life at Auburn University can be similarly enjoyable for students. Football is a particularly big attraction in the fall, as fans support the Auburn Tigers with the help of school mascot Aubie the Tiger. The Tiger sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, and the influx of football fans makes Auburn the fifth-largest city in the state on game days. Pep rallies are held in the downtown Toomer's Corner, and the area is covered in toilet paper by fans after every big victory. There are more than 500 student organizations on campus, and about 6,000 students are involved in the school's Greek system. Auburn freshmen ease into the college transition through Camp War Eagle, a two-day, overnight summer orientation program. Transition help continues on Hey Day, an annual effort to get students to wear name tags and say hello to one another. Freshmen do not have to live on campus; in fact, a dorm room isn't even guaranteed. Because of space restraints, first-year students are awarded on-campus living assignments on a first-come, first-served basis.

Auburn University at Montgomery

Montgomery, AL

Founded in 1967, Auburn University at Montgomery is a public institution. The school has 65.9% of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Auburn University at Montgomery is 15:1.

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Psychology undergraduate program offers excellent training in how to understand human behavior using scientifically rigorous methods.

A judicious selection of Psychology courses can provide an excellent background for those of you planning careers in Business, Education, Law, Medicine, and Social work as well as Psychology. The Faculty Advisors and the Student Services Office can help you select courses that will provide a strong foundation for your career goals.

The Psychology major and minor offer students a variety of opportunities for active involvement. For those of you who choose Psychology as a department, we hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities it provides for direct involvement in ongoing research, such as participating in our active undergraduate psychology association (SUPA), and designing and conducting your own studies through our Senior Honors Program.

We hope that this section of our website will stimulate your curiosity, answer many of your initial questions, and better prepare you to consider and explore the rich possibilities that a Psychology major or minor may offer.

Students with an interest in the field or undecided on pursuing a major or minor in Psychology are welcome to join our  Psych Interest mailing list  to receive updates on the latest informational and educational events happening in our department. 

For questions about the Psychology major or minor, please contact our Student Services Officer, Andrea Sims, at  asims [at] stanford.edu (asims[at]stanford[dot]edu) . The current Director of Undergraduate Studies is Professor James Gross.

• Skip to Content
• Berkeley Academic Guide Home
• Institution Home

Berkeley Berkeley Academic Guide: Academic Guide 2023-24

About the Program

Bachelor of arts (ba).

Psychology as a scientific discipline aims to describe, understand, and predict the behavior of living organisms. In doing so, psychology embraces the many factors that influence behavior — from sensory experience to complex cognition, from the role of genetics to that of social and cultural environments, from the processes that explain behavior in early childhood to those that operate in older ages, and from normal development to pathological conditions. The Psychology Department at UC Berkeley reflects the diversity of our discipline's mission covering six key areas of research: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience; Clinical Science; Cognition; Cognitive Neuroscience; Developmental, and Social-Personality Psychology. Despite the existence of these specialization areas, the program learning goals focus on fostering methodological, statistical, and critical thinking skills that are not tied to any one particular content area in psychology but are relevant for all of them.

The major serves three purposes:

• For the liberal arts student, the study of psychology provides an avenue for increased self-understanding and insight into the behavior of others. The objective study of behavior is one of the major themes of intellectual history in the last hundred-plus years.
• For students preparing for training in such professions as medicine, law, education and business, psychology provides important basic knowledge and principles.
• For students who plan on pursuing graduate work in psychology, the undergraduate major seeks to establish a sound foundation of research principles and knowledge of a variety of content areas.

Declaring the Major

Psychology is a high demand major at UC Berkeley. This means that due to high demand, the program, unfortunately, cannot accommodate every student who wishes to major in Psychology. 

For Students Admitted to UC Berkeley Fall 2023 or thereafter:

Admission into the Psychology major will be guaranteed to those who selected Psychology as their primary major on their UC Berkeley admissions application. Students are guaranteed a spot in the Psychology major, subject to completing the major prerequisites, maintaining good academic standing in L&S, and filing a declaration form.

The opportunities for being admitted into the Psychology major after enrollment at UC Berkeley will be extremely limited, and applying to the Psychology major via the comprehensive review process does not guarantee a spot in the major. If you have an interest in the Psychology major, we strongly encourage you to select Psychology as your primary major during the UC application process. If you opt to change to the Psychology major after being admitted to Berkeley, you will be required to have an alternate plan to declare a non-high demand major as a back-up.

For more information on the high-demand major policy please visit the "Admissions" page for the College of Letters and Science on the Berkeley Academic Guide.

Honors Program

Declared Psychology major students may earn Honors or Highest Honors in the department for completion of the Psychology Honors program. This requires submission of a thesis of high quality, based upon independent study under the supervision of a member of the Psychology Department's faculty, satisfactory completion of the required courses, and attaining the requisite GPAs at the time of graduation (3.5 in the Psychology major and 3.3 overall).

Students are required to complete the following courses, none of which count toward major requirements, with a letter grade:

• UGIS 192B   or  PSYCH 199   Students applying to the honors program must have experience as a research apprentice in a Psychology lab or in a related field. To demonstrate this preparation, students must have a minimum of 2 units of UGIS 192 or Psych 199 on their transcript prior to applying for the honors program. It is recommended that students begin as a research assistant in their sophomore or junior year.
• PSYCH 102  Statistics for Psychological Research is a 3 unit upper division course that is designed to introduce students to the data analysis techniques researchers use in the field of psychology. This course is only offered in fall and may be taken as early as the junior year. 
•   PSYCH H194A  /  PSYCH H194B  Honors students are required to concurrently enroll in Psychology H194A-B (2 units per semester), the honors seminar, in their senior year. This course provides excellent supplemental background and support for preparing the thesis. 
•   PSYCH H195A  /  PSYCH H195B  Psychology H195A-B is offered for 1-3 units per semester and is mandatory in order to receive honors in the major. The course is sequential with a grade of In Progress or “IP” for the "A" portion and the final grade assigned for both semesters at the end of the "B" portion. 

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The UC Berkeley, Department of Psychology’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program is a comprehensive retraining and immersion program for students interested in applying to graduate school in psychology. The program features intensive coursework to complete a psychology undergraduate major in three or four semesters, research opportunities with our world-class faculty, in-depth advising and a supportive community. If you are inspired to enter the field of psychology, switching focus from a previous major, or changing careers, the UC Berkeley Post Bac program may be your path to success.

Minor Programs

There are two Summer Minor programs offered through Psychology. The Clinical & Counseling Psychology summer minor allows students to explore the diverse career paths of clinical and counseling psychology. The Developing Child summer minor is offered in partnership with Early Development & Learning Science (ED&LS) at the Institute of Human Development .

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

• All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit. Please refer to our Major Requirements website for more information on our COVID-19 Pass/No Pass grading policies for classes taken during the remote learning period.
• No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's minor program.
• No more than two upper division courses may be used to simultaneously fulfill the double major requirements or simultaneous degree programs. 
• A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements for the college and university requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

**Please contact the Student Services offices or make an appointment with your Student Services advisor for any questions related to these requirements.** 

Lower Division/Tier I Prerequisites

Students must complete prerequisite courses in the following areas: General Psychology, Biological Science, Social Science, and Quantitative Reasoning including the required PSYCH 101 course.  ALL courses taken for the major (both lower division prerequisites and upper division requirements) must be taken for a letter grade .

*We require a minimum of four letter-graded courses to satisfy prerequisites.  If you take more than one AP exam you may choose which one to use for the major prerequisites. The other requirements must be satisfied with letter-graded courses. 

Transfer students and UC Berkeley students who wish to complete prerequisites at community colleges should consult  assist.org  for further information about the appropriate transferable coursework. Like the AP exams, the Psychology and Biology IBHL scores of 5, 6 or 7 can be used to fulfill one of the prerequisites. 

Upper Division/Tier II Requirements

Students must take at least 8 upper division courses according to the guidelines below.

Upper Division Electives/Tier III

• Select three courses from upper-division PSYCH courses numbered 104-182. Each course must be at least 3.0 units.
• Any excess Tier II survey courses will count towards Tier III.
• Psych 149, Psych 149A, Psych 149B, Psych 149C, and Psych 149D DO NOT COUNT for the major requirements.

Additional information regarding upper division Psychology course requirements: 

PSYCH 102, H194A/B, H195A/B, 197, 198, and 199 do not count toward the coursework requirement although students are encouraged to become involved in research.

Students may use up to two upper division courses outside the department to satisfy these requirements. The following is a list of previously approved courses:

Summer Minor Requirements

There are two Summer Minor programs offered through the Department of Psychology: the " Clinical & Counseling " and " The Developing Child " minors.

Minor Requirements

• Summer minors must be declared prior to the first day of classes of your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If your EGT is a summer term, a minor must be declared before the first day of classes of Summer Session A. 
• The minor degree or certificate consists of a minimum of 15 units (five 3-unit courses).

All courses taken to fulfill the Developing Child minor requirements must be taken for graded credit and must be taken in one or two summers.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.

The minor is open to enrollment for all Berkeley students; the certificate is available to visiting students.

No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.

Clinical & Counseling Psychology

The Clinical & Counseling minor (or certificate) consists of 5 courses, and a total of 15 upper division units, including two core courses and three electives. While not explicitly required as part of the minor, our expectation is that students will have taken a General Psychology or Introduction to Psychology course before enrolling in the minor. Please email [email protected] with any questions or visit the program website for more information and to apply.

Required Coursework

Learning outcomes.

The Clinical & Counseling Psychology minor allows students to explore the diverse career paths of clinical and counseling psychology. The curriculum focuses on basic psycho-biological and sociocultural mechanisms (e.g., neurobiology, social relationships, culture/race/ethnicity) that underlie common mental health problems across the life span. It also provides an overview of major theories and issues/debates in applied mental health professions across different practice settings (e.g., schools, independent practice, hospitals, and industry).

The Developing Child

The Developing Child minor is offered through the Department of Psychology in partnership with Early Development & Learning Science (ED&LS) at the Institute of Human Development . It is an interdisciplinary, developmental science Summer Minor and Certificate program, focused on children from the prenatal period to age 8. Integrating research, practice, and policy with problem-solving and implementation skills for the real world, the innovative coursework and practicum compliments many areas of study. The program helps students develop an interdisciplinary approach to understanding child development in a variety of contexts.

The minor is available to enrolled undergraduate UC Berkeley students. The certificate is available to all. Both require a Declaration of Minor/Certificate Form to be submitted and must be completed in one or two summers. All coursework is taught in English and requires complex discussion and problem-solving. Please e mail [email protected] with any questions or visit  the program website  for more information and to apply.

The Developing Child consists of five core, required 3-unit courses:

Learning Goals

Upon completion of the  Developing Child Summer Minor and Certificate , students will:

Understand the theoretical bases and empirical science of early development and learning, from prenatal to age 8;

Examine the interaction of biological, psychological, and socio-culture mechanisms that shape young children's health, development, and learning;

Develop an  interdisciplinary and scholarly approach to research, practice, and policy issues across early development and learning science domains;

Learn how to apply developmental science for positive impact in the lives of young children and their families;

Understand how to establish and foster effective partnerships with families, schools, organizations, and communities, at local, state, national, and international levels to create more responsive systems to serve diverse young children and their families.

College Requirements

Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.

For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please review the  College of Letters & Sciences  page in this Guide. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages. 

University of California Requirements

Entry level writing.

All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley. 

American History and American Institutions

The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university, should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.

Berkeley Campus Requirement

American cultures.

All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.

College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements

Quantitative reasoning.

The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.

Foreign Language

The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.

Reading and Composit ion

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester.

College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements

Breadth requirements.

The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.

Unit Requirements

120 total units

Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units

• Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department

Residence Requirements

For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.

Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.

Senior Residence Requirement

After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your BA degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.

You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.

Modified Senior Residence Requirement

Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.

Upper Division Residence Requirement

You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.

Plan of Study

Students are strongly advised to work with an academic advisor to determine a personal program plan. Each program plan will differ depending on previous credit received, course schedules, and available offerings. To see one sample program plan, visit the Psychology undergraduate program planning webpage .

Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Psychology major requirements before making a program plan. For more detailed information about specific requirements, see the College Requirements and Major Requirements tabs.

Course offerings are subject to change every semester and there are multiple course options that can satisfy many of the requirements. Students must check the Online Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date course offerings that will satisfy a particular requirement.

Student Learning Goals

The Psychology Department at Berkeley reflects the diversity of the discipline's mission covering six key areas of research: Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience; Clinical Science; Cognition; Cognitive Neuroscience; Developmental, and Social-Personality Psychology. Despite the existence of these specialization areas, the program learning goals focus on fostering methodological, statistical, and critical thinking skills that are not tied to any one particular content area in psychology but are relevant for all of them.

Most of the program level goals are introduced in PSYCH 1 These goals are extended and reinforced in a majority of the core courses. These include PSYCH 101 , required of all majors, and the upper division Tier II courses that survey the major fields of psychology. The program is designed to ensure that all students gain broad exposure to the field of psychology. In addition, students are able to develop a deeper understanding of at least one major content area in psychology.

Learning Goals for the Major

1.    Understand basic concepts that characterize psychology as a field of scientific inquiry, and appreciate the various subfields that form the discipline as well as things that differentiate it from other related disciplines 2.    Develop an understanding of the central questions/issues in contemporary psychology as well as a historical perspective of psychological theories and key empirical data 3.    Develop a thorough understanding of one of the major content areas of psychology (i.e., Social/Personality, Developmental, Clinical, Cognitive, Biological) 4.    Develop skills to critically evaluate the presentation of scientific ideas and research in original scientific papers as well as in the popular media. 5.    Become familiar with research methods used in psychological research, and become proficient in basic concepts of statistical analyses and familiar with more advanced methods in data analyses and modeling 6.    Learn to develop, articulate, and communicate, both orally and in written form, a testable hypothesis, or an argument drawing from an existing body of literature. 7.    Apply a psychological principle to an everyday problem, or take an everyday problem and identify the relevant psychological mechanisms/issues

Major Maps help undergraduate students understand academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities at UC Berkeley based on their intended major or field of interest. Developed by the Division of Undergraduate Education in collaboration with academic departments, these experience maps will help you:

Explore your major and gain a better understanding of your field of study

Connect with people and programs that inspire and sustain your creativity, drive, curiosity and success

Discover opportunities for independent inquiry, enterprise, and creative expression

Engage locally and globally to broaden your perspectives and change the world

• Reflect on your academic career and prepare for life after Berkeley

Use the major map below as a guide to planning your undergraduate journey and designing your own unique Berkeley experience.

View the Psychology Major Map PDF.

PSYCH 1 General Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session Introduction to the principal areas, problems, and concepts of psychology. This course is required for the major; students not considering a psychology major are directed to 2. General Psychology: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 1 after completing PSYCH 2 , PSYCH W1 , or PSYCH N1 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 1 may be removed by taking PSYCH N1 .

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: When receiving a failing grade in this course or a course equivalent (i.e. Psych N1).

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-3 hours of lecture and 1-0 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 4-6 hours of lecture and 2-0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two to three hours of lecture and one to zero hours of discussion per week. Four to six hours of lecture and two to zero hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Five hours of lecture and two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Psychology/Undergraduate

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).

General Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N1 General Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session Introduction to the principal areas, problems, and concepts of psychology. This course is required for the major; students not considering a psychology major are directed to 2. General Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students who have passed Psych 1, Psych W1, or Psych 2 may not enroll in Psych N1

Credit Restrictions: Student receives a failing grade in PSYCH N1 and is eligible to take PSYCH 1 or PSYCH W1 in order to remove the deficient grade in lieu of repeating PSYCH N1 . Students will not receive credit for Psych 1, Psych W1, or Psych N1 after completing Psych 2.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: When students receive a failing grade, they MAY repeat this or a course equivalent (Psych 1 or W1).

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.

PSYCH W1 General Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2022 8 Week Session, Spring 2022, Fall 2021 Introduction to the principal areas, problems, and concepts of psychology. General Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students who have passed Psych 1, Psych N1, or Psych 2 may not enroll in Psych W1

Credit Restrictions: Student receives a failing grade in PSYCH W1 and is eligible to take PSYCH 1 or PSYCH N1 in order to remove the deficient grade in lieu of repeating PSYCH W1 . Students will not receive credit for Psych 1, Psych W1, or Psych N1 after completing Psych 2.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: When receiving a failing grade in this course or a course equivalent (i.e. Psych 1 or N1).

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of web-based lecture per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of web-based lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of lecture/discussion per week for six weeks.Three hours of lecture/discussion per week.

Online: This is an online course.

Instructor: Kihlstrom

PSYCH 2 Principles of Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 An overview of psychology for students who will not major in the field. This course satisfies the prerequisite for upper division decade courses. Principles of Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students who have passed Psych 1, Psych N1, or Psych W1 may not enroll in Psych 2

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for Psych 2 after completing Psych 1, Psych W1, or Psych N1.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks.

Principles of Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 3 Introduction to How the Brain Works 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session This course will give a rigorous yet accessible overview of our current understanding of how the brain works and how it is altered by experience. Specifically, the class provides: an introduction to the structure and function of the sensory and motor systems; discussions of disorders and phenomena such as blindsight, synaesthesia, color blindness, and phantom limbs; and a lecture with presentation of classical experiments on the capacity of the young and adult brain for plasticity and learning. Introduction to How the Brain Works: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: A year of college-level general biology for majors

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: One hour of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Three hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Introduction to How the Brain Works: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 4 Emotional Intelligence 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course will examine research on emotional intelligence and techniques for developing emotional intelligence. We will discuss various components of emotional intelligence, including the ability to identity and manage one’s emotions, successfully motivate oneself to achieve one’s goals, read other people’s emotions accurately, and use emotions to navigate social relationships effectively. Material will be taken from social psychology, clinical psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. Emotional Intelligence: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Emotional Intelligence: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 5 Technology vs. Psychology: The Internet Revolution and the Rise of the Virtual Self 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session Most people have an online alter ego that is stronger and sexier but also angrier, more impulsive, and less ethical. These traits can become incorporated into offline personality, turning us into our avatar. Other psychological damage comes from the lack of online privacy and our new relationship with information. But the “Net” effect is not all bad; technology can also contribute to psychological wellbeing and make possible new treatments, including computerized therapy and virtual reality exposure therapy. Technology vs. Psychology: The Internet Revolution and the Rise of the Virtual Self: Read More [+]

Instructor: Aboujaoude

Technology vs. Psychology: The Internet Revolution and the Rise of the Virtual Self: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 6 Stress and Coping 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth analysis of the various areas within the field of psychology that address topics related to stress and coping. In particular, we will cover the biological, social, personality, cognitive, and clinical factors that play a role in the development of stress and subsequent coping techniques that can be used to deal with stress. The class will have a strong focus on the empirical findings relating to the subject. Stress and Coping: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 1, N1, W1, 2, or equivalent

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture per week. Five hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Stress and Coping: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 7 The Person in Big Data 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session This course will introduce students to the basic principles and methods of personality and social psychology as applied to a rapidly growing topic of modern society--the collection and analysis of online social “big data.” Students will learn about the ways in which big data has historically been defined, collected, and utilized, as well as fundamental concepts in person perception and social behavior that are relevant to topics of big data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The Person in Big Data: Read More [+]

The Person in Big Data: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 8 Music and the Brain 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2015 10 Week Session, Summer 2015 Second 6 Week Session This course will explore mental processes that allow listeners to perceive music and performers to produce it. We will compare music from various traditions to examine shared cognitive principles and emotional responses; comparisons to language will highlight neural specializations for music. Developmental psychology will inform discussion of learned vs. innate components of musical behavior. Students will design experiments to test hypotheses relating to music cognition. Music and the Brain: Read More [+]

Music and the Brain: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 9 Changing Behavior: Lessons from a Dog Trainer 1 Unit

Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session In this course, we will examine behavior change – in you, and in those others you wish you could change -- by looking at basic principles that apply across species: operant conditioning, classical conditioning, motivation, stress and development. Animal trainers rely on very specific principles when modifying behavior, and those principles apply to every animal, human and non-human animals alike. Come learn what training animals can tell you about your own life, learning, motivation and habits! Changing Behavior: Lessons from a Dog Trainer: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 9 after passing Psychology 126.

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Instructor: Cook

Changing Behavior: Lessons from a Dog Trainer: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 14 Psychology of Gender 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2014 10 Week Session, Summer 2014 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session Examination of various factors in the development of feminine and masculine roles, including personality, social processes, biology, and culture. Psychology of Gender: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture per week for 15 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Psychology of Gender: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 18 Contemporary Issues in Organizational Psychology with a Focus on Leadership and Creativity 2 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 This course will explore current questions of industrial and organizational psychology. It will look at the following topics: modern organizational models & its requirements, performance & motivation, job satisfaction & positive psychology, teams in organizations & psychological safety, leadership & corporate culture, special track in creativity and innovation. Contemporary Issues in Organizational Psychology with a Focus on Leadership and Creativity: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes: After the class you should be able to understand and discuss, and consult on current organizational topics. Since I/O psychology is closely linked to leadership skills, we expect that due to the course you will learn the basic requirements for leading a team in an organization.

Prerequisites: An introductory psychology course is recommended but not required. The course is for pre-majors considering the field of psychology and are especially interested in teams and leadership as well as creativity

Summer: 6 weeks - 5-7 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Five to seven hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.

Contemporary Issues in Organizational Psychology with a Focus on Leadership and Creativity: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 22 Neurons in Context 3 Units

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 We will introduce the basics of neurobiology while exploring how experience of adversity, enrichment, and other variables can shape brain development and behavior. We will look at scientific data figures and discuss experimentation, data interpretation, and scientific writing. Basic knowledge will be gained on neurotransmission, mechanisms underlying learning and memory, experience dependent plasticity, stress, gonadal hormones, and psychoactive drugs. Students will become familiar with circuits, cells, synapses, proteins, epigenetics, and genetics. Neurons in Context: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Gain familiarity with basics of stress and gonadal hormone systems Gain familiarity with the scientific process and scientific papers Learn basics of neurobiology and neuroplasticity Understand how different forms of adversity can have specific effects Understand how the environment can affect how the brain develops and works

Student Learning Outcomes: Be able to discuss how social policy can be informed by neurobiological data on a basic level Be able to look at a plot of neurobiology data and interpret an outcome Be able to write about differences in data metrics and their interpretation Understand how experience can affect gene expression and neural function Understand how genetics cannot directly influence behavior without cellular functions

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week.

Instructor: Wilbrecht

Neurons in Context: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 24 Freshman Seminars 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 The Berkeley Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Freshman Seminars: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Fall and/or spring: 7 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: One hour of seminar per week. Two and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. Two hours of seminar per week for seven weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.

Freshman Seminars: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 39E Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013, Fall 2011, Fall 2010 Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Seminar format.

Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 39I Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2009 Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two to four hours of seminar per week.

PSYCH 39J Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2010 Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

PSYCH 39K Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2010, Spring 2010 Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

PSYCH 39L Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 2 - 4 Units

Psych 39m freshman/sophomore seminar 2 - 4 units.

Terms offered: Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Spring 2011 Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

PSYCH C61 Brain, Mind, and Behavior 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 The human brain is the most complex structure in the known universe. The study of its structure and function and how it figures into our actions and mental experience is among the most exciting projects of modern science. This class begins with molecules and cells, builds up to brains and nervous systems, encompasses neural signaling, sensory perception, memory, language, and emotion, and culminates with the great mystery of how brain processes relate to consciousness and mental experience — that is, how mind may be related to brain. This is a comprehensive introduction to the exciting subject of contemporary neuroscience, open to all interested students. Brain, Mind, and Behavior: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NEU C61 after completing CHEM C130 , MCELLBI N61, MCELLBI 61, MCELLBI W61, MCELLBI 104 , MCELLBI 110 , MCELLBI 130, MCELLBI 136 , MCELLBI 160 , or INTEGBI 132 .

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week.

Instructor: Presti

Formerly known as: Molecular and Cell Biology C61/Psychology C61

Also listed as: NEU C61

Brain, Mind, and Behavior: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 62 The Science and Practice of Happiness 1 Unit

Terms offered: Prior to 2007 In this course, we will tour different approaches to understanding happiness, covering the great thinking from the past millennia found in the humanities and contemplative traditions (e.g., Indigenous traditions, Buddhism, Romanticism) and the recent social biological study of happiness. We will focus topics such as compassion, awe, gratitude, cooperation, forgiveness, narrative, purpose, and resilience. Each topic will include discussion of the wisdom from the humanities (e.g., art, poetry, philosophy), social science and neurophysiology, and a research-tested practice in which students learn to cultivate happiness and the resilience to stress. The Science and Practice of Happiness: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: To come to understand the health and well-being benefits of happiness To learn about the neurophysiology and evolutionary processes underlying happiness To learn actionable skills that will enable them to handle stress with more agency and skill To learn different cultural approaches to the meaningful life

Student Learning Outcomes: To become acquainted with the science of happiness To learn actionable skills that they can apply in their careers and work after graduation

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH W62 after completing PSYCH 62 . A deficient grade in PSYCH W62 may be removed by taking PSYCH 62 .

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-1 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: One hour of lecture and zero to one hours of discussion per week.

Formerly known as: Psychology W62

The Science and Practice of Happiness: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C64 Exploring the Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Summer 2022 8 Week Session This course will introduce lower division undergraduates to the fundamentals of neuroscience. The first part of the course covers basic membrane properties, synapses, action potentials, chemical and electrical synaptic interactions, receptor potentials, and receptor proteins. The second part of the course covers networks in invertebrates, memory and learning behavior, modulation, vertebrate brain and spinal cord, retina, visual cortex architecture, hierarchy, development, and higher cortical centers. Exploring the Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: High school chemistry or Chemistry 1A; high school biology or Biology 1A. Biology 1AL is not required

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NEU C64 after completing NEU C61 , MCELLBI 104 , CHEM C130 , MCELLBI 110 , MCELLBI C130 , MCELLBI 136 , MCELLBI 160 , or INTEGBI 132 .

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Four hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Formerly known as: Molecular and Cell Biology C64/Psychology C64

Also listed as: NEU C64

Exploring the Brain: Introduction to Neuroscience: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 70 Exploring Career Options as a Mental Health Practitioner 2 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2021 Second 6 Week Session This course is designed for domestic and international undergraduate students who are interested in exploring various careers in mental health practice under the U.S. context. The course will utilize lectures, small group discussions, career assessment tools, online research, panel discussions, informational interviews and readings to help students formulate a future career plan. Students will have opportunities to communicate and network with clinical practitioners, attend professional workshops and events, explore potential graduate school applications and begin to seek educational and internship opportunities. Exploring Career Options as a Mental Health Practitioner: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Describe various mental health practice career options and job functions. Identify and discuss social-cultural factors that influence career decision making. Introduce resources and strategies for career research in becoming a mental health practitioner. Review career assessment tools and results to increase students’ self-awareness.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to clarify cultural and family values which often affect career decision making. Students will be able to conduct research and gather information about career options, graduate schools and internship opportunities in practicing psychology, as well as learn about best practices for building job/internship search skills. Students will be able to create an action plan including steps that they can take to move forward in their career development and planning. Students will be able to examine their interests, skills, values and personality preferences related to the world of clinical practice in psychology through career assessment instruments.

Summer: 3 weeks - 10-4 hours of lecture and 0-6 hours of discussion per week 6 weeks - 5-2 hours of lecture and 0-3 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Five to two hours of lecture and zero to three hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks. Ten to four hours of lecture and zero to six hours of discussion per week for three weeks.

Exploring Career Options as a Mental Health Practitioner: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 84 Sophomore Seminar 1 or 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Spring 2005 Sophomore seminars are small interactive courses offered by faculty members in departments all across the campus. Sophomore seminars offer opportunity for close, regular intellectual contact between faculty members and students in the crucial second year. The topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 sophomores. Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: At discretion of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 5 weeks - 3-6 hours of seminar per week 10 weeks - 1.5-3 hours of seminar per week 15 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-5 hours of seminar per week 8 weeks - 2-4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: unit(s):one hour of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):two hours of seminar per week. unit(s):one and one-half hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):three hours of seminar per week for 10 weeks. unit(s):two hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):four hours of seminar per week for 8 weeks. unit(s):two and one-half hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):five hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. unit(s):three hours of seminar per week; 2 unit(s):six hours of seminar per week for five weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.

Sophomore Seminar: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 88 Data Science for Cognitive Neuroscience 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2018 The human brain is a complex information processing system and is currently the topic of multiple fascinating branches of research. Understanding how it works is a very challenging scientific task. In recent decades, multiple techniques for imaging the activity of the brain at work have been invented, which has allowed the field of cognitive neuroscience to flourish. Cognitive neuroscience is concerned with studying the neural mechanisms underlying various aspects of cognition, by relating the activity in the brain to the tasks being performed by it. This typically requires exciting collaborations with other disciplines (e.g. psychology, biology, physics, computer science). Data Science for Cognitive Neuroscience: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: This course is a Data Science connector course and may only be taken concurrently with or after COMPSCI C8 / INFO C8 / STAT C8

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of laboratory per week.

Data Science for Cognitive Neuroscience: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 98 Supervised Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Group study of selected topics. Enrollment restricted. See Introduction to Courses and Curriculum section of this catalog. Supervised Group Study: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-7.5 hours of directed group study per week

Additional Format: One to three hours of directed group study per week. One to seven and one-half hours of directed group study per week for 6 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.

Supervised Group Study: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 99 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012 Intended for freshmen and sophomores who wish to undertake a program of individual inquiry on a topic in psychology. Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or consent of instructor and 3.4 GPA or higher

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 2-6 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Zero hours of Independent study per week for 15 weeks. Two to Six hours of Independent study per week for 8 weeks. Two and one-half to Seven and one-half hours of Independent study per week for 6 weeks.

Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 101 Research and Data Analysis in Psychology 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 8 Week Session, Spring 2024 The course will concentrate on hypothesis formulation and testing, tests of significance, analysis of variance (one-way analysis), simple correlation, simple regression, and nonparametric statistics such as chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. Majors intending to be in the honors program must complete 101 by the end of their junior year. Research and Data Analysis in Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 and completion of the quantitative prerequisites for the major

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for Psych 101 after having completed Psych 10 or Psych 101D. Deficient grade in Psych 10 can be replaced with Psych 101. Deficient grade in Psych 101D can be replaced with Psych 101.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-5 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6-10 hours of lecture and 0-4 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Three to five hours of lecture and zero to two hours of discussion per week. Six to ten hours of lecture and zero to four hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks.

Research and Data Analysis in Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 101D Data Science for Research Psychology 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019 This Python based course builds upon the inferential and computational thinking skills developed in the Foundations of Data Science course by tying them to the classical statistical and research approaches used in Psychology. Topics include experimental design, control variables, reproducibility in science, probability distributions, parametric vs. non-parametric statistics, hypothesis tests (t-tests, one and two way ANOVA, chi-squared and odds-ratio), linear regression and correlation. Data Science for Research Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of the general psychology prerequisite (1, N1, or W1) and Foundations of Data Science ( COMPSCI C8 / INFO C8 / STAT C8 ). Prospective Psychology majors need to take 101 or 101D to be admitted to the major. Majors intending to be in the honors program must complete 102 by the end of their junior year

Credit Restrictions: Not repeatable. Students will not receive credit for Psych 101D after having completed Psych 10 or Psych 101. Deficient grade in Psych 10 can be replaced with Psych 101D. Deficient grade in Psych 101D can be replaced with Psych 101.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.

Data Science for Research Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 102 Methods for Research in Psychological Sciences 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 The goal of this course is to give students a strong foundation in statistical methodologies prevalent in the psychological sciences, and to prepare them for more advanced and specialized courses in statistics, machine learning, and data science. This course will cover fundamental principles underlying common statistical methods, as well as specific statistical models, largely centered around the General Linear Model, ranging from t-tests to multilevel models. All analyses will be conducted in the statistical programming language R. Methods for Research in Psychological Sciences: Read More [+]

Student Learning Outcomes: Apply a psychological principle to an everyday problem, or take an everyday problem and identify the relevant psychological mechanisms/issues. This learning goal will not be emphasized in the class but students will learn how to formulate a psychological principle in terms of a particular model. This formulation is key to identify how particular problems observed in the student’s everyday life could be analyzed. Become familiar with research methods used in psychological research, and become proficient in basic concepts of statistical analyses and familiar with more advanced methods in data analyses and modeling. This is the central learning goal of this class. Develop a thorough understanding of one of the major content areas of psychology (i.e., Social/Personality, Developmental, Clinical, Cognitive, Biological). Although, we might be using examples from different areas of psychology, the student will not gain a major understanding of these content areas in this course. Develop an understanding of the central questions/issues in contemporary psychology as well as a historical perspective of psychological theories and key empirical data. In this class, students will learn the current approaches in statistical modeling but these will be related to the more traditional statistics that have been used in the field in prior years giving the students a historical perspective. Develop skills to critically evaluate the presentation of scientific ideas and research in original scientific papers as well as in the popular media. In this course, the students will learn not only how to formulate competing hypothesis and generate the corresponding statistical models but also how to best interpret the results from these quantitative analyses so that they can be communicated in written form in publication format or in spoken form for presentations. These skills are critical for the evaluation of scientific work and conclusions performed by experts in the field and others. Learn to develop, articulate, and communicate, both orally and in written form, a testable hypothesis, or an argument drawing from an existing body of literature. The students will not make a formal oral presentation during this class but will be asked during lecture and section to orally explain their results and reasoning. The final written project is designed to teach how to write-up quantitative analyses and statistical reasoning within a longer manuscript analyzing a particular question in the field of psychology. Understand basic concepts that characterize psychology as a field of scientific inquiry, and appreciate the various subfields that form the discipline as well as things that differentiate it from other related disciplines. Scientific enquiry in Social Sciences and in Psychology in particular is based on the formulation of statistical models. Each scientific hypothesis corresponds to a particular model and hypothesis testing involves comparing models in terms of their predictive power. The field of psychology, because of the complexity of the data it attempts to explain relies heavily (and more so that other biological disciplines) on statistical modeling and other quantitative approaches. Students who desire to pursue a scientific career in psychology need to be well trained in these methods.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate Statistics for Psychology (Psych 101). Very basic elements of calculus and linear algebra will be used in the course and re-introduced where relevant. Basic familiarity with R, the programming language, is required

Methods for Research in Psychological Sciences: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 106 Psychology of Dreams 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2009, Fall 2006, Fall 2002 Dreaming is a necessary, universal nightly activity of the human mind and brain. This class will cover some of the major psychological theories, interpretations, and uses that have been made of dreams. Students will be encouraged to keep dream diaries to provide an experiential component to the class and so that they may apply the class topics and do research using the material they generate themselves. Psychology of Dreams: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Psychology of Dreams: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N108 Clinical Applications of East Asian Meditation Practices 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2015 10 Week Session, Summer 2015 Second 6 Week Session This course applies views and practices of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian schools of meditation. The emphasis in the course will be on practical and clinical applications of meditation such as working with emotions and the quest for psychological well-being. The basic laboratory technique will be various types of meditation. Clinical Applications of East Asian Meditation Practices: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Clinical Applications of East Asian Meditation Practices: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 109 History of Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Fall 2007 Development of scientific study of human and animal behavior. Consideration of history of particular subject areas--such as biological, comparative, developmental, personality, and social psychology--as well as general trends. History of Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 101 or consent of instructor

History of Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 110 Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023 Survey of relations between behavioral and biological processes. Topics include sensory and perceptual processes, neural maturation, natural bases of motivation, and learning. Introduction to Biological Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students who have completed Psych N110 may not enroll in Psych 110

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 110 after completing PSYCH N110 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 110 may be removed by taking PSYCH N110 .

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two to three hours of lecture and one to zero hours of discussion per week. Four hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Five hours of lecture and two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Introduction to Biological Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N110 Introduction to Biological Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Survey of relations between behavioral and biological processes. Topics include sensory and perceptual processes, neural maturation, natural bases of motivation, and learning. Introduction to Biological Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Students who have completed Psych C61 or Psych 110 may not enroll in Psych N110

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH N110 after completing PSYCH 110 . A deficient grade in PSYCH N110 may be removed by taking PSYCH 110 .

PSYCH 111 Human Neuroanatomy 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 This course covers the anatomical composition of the human brain with particular emphasis on modern understanding regarding the micro- and macroanatomy of the cerebral cortex and the underlying white matter. The course is designed for students who intend to continue their postgraduate education toward a masters, doctorate, or medical degree in a field involving the study of the human brain. Human Neuroanatomy: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week.

Human Neuroanatomy: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C113 Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2018 A consideration of the biological clocks that generate daily, lunar, seasonal and annual rhythms in various animals including people. Emphasis on neuroendocrine substrates, development and adaptive significance of estrous cycles, feeding rhythms, sleep-wakefulness cycles, reproductive and hibernation cycles, body weight and migratory cycles. Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of biological prerequisites for the major and one of the following: 110 or a course in animal organismal physiology (Integrative Biology 132, 138, 140, 148, or Molecular and Cell Biology 160)

Instructor: Kriegsfeld

Also listed as: INTEGBI C143A

Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 114 Biology of Learning 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021 The biology of learning and neural plasticity is critical to our understanding of development, culture, behavioral change, uniqueness of individuals, and limits to an organism’s potential. We will study experimental investigations of behavior and neurobiology at the cellular and circuit level to get a basic introduction to what is known and unknown about learning and neural plasticity. Topics may include associative learning, habit formation , fear, memory systems, neurons, synapses, dendritic spines and axonal boutons, LTP, and adult neurogenesis. We will discuss these topics in the context of normal development and disease. Students will become familiar with thinking about the brain at the level of circuits, cells, synapses, and proteins. Biology of Learning: Read More [+]

Biology of Learning: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 115 Introduction to Brain Imaging Analysis Methods 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 An introduction to brain imaging analysis methods with emphasis on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the human brain. Topics include: Basic MR physics of fMRI signals; linearity of the fMRI signal; time versus space resolution trade offs; noise in neuroimaging; correlation analysis; visualization methods; cortical reconstruction, inflation, and flattening; reverse engineering; relationship between brain activation and cognitive state; multi-voxel pattern analyses; fMRI-adaptation. Introduction to Brain Imaging Analysis Methods: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology C127 / Cognitive Science C127; Consent of Instructor; Basic coding experience (preferably with Matlab) is encouraged

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 115 after completing PSYCH 115 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 115 may be removed by taking PSYCH 115 .

Introduction to Brain Imaging Analysis Methods: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C115C Neuroethology: Complex Animal Behaviors and Brains 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 Neuroethologists study neural systems by combining behavior and neuroscience to understand the neural mechanism that have evolved in various animals to solve particular problems encountered in their environmental niches. This comparative approach that emphasizes how information is processed and transformed by the brain is particularly powerful for understanding neural systems. In this course, you will learn important concepts in ethology , sensory systems, motor systems and neural plasticity and development by studying the behavior and brains of animals such as crickets, lobsters, barn-owls, honey-bees, echolocating bats, electric fishes and songbirds. Neuroethology: Complex Animal Behaviors and Brains: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: One foundational lower division level in general Biology, Animal Behavior or Neurosciences; UC Berkeley classes that satisfy this requirement are Bio 1A, Bio1B, IB 31, Psych C61/MCB C61, or Psych 110

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for INTEGBI C147 after completing INTEGBI 147. A deficient grade in INTEGBI C147 may be removed by taking INTEGBI 147.

Instructor: Theunissen

Formerly known as: Integrative Biology C147/Psychology C115C

Also listed as: NEU C125

Neuroethology: Complex Animal Behaviors and Brains: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C116 Hormones and Behavior 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2019 This course provides a comprehensive overview of behavioral endocrinology beginning with hormone production and actions on target tissues/circuits and continuing with an exploration of a variety of behaviors and their regulation/consequences. The course also examines the reciprocal interactions between the neuroendocrine system and behavior, considering the impact of hormones on development and adult behavior, and how behavior regulates physiology. Although non-human vertebrate species will be the primary focus, the relevance of these topics to humans will also be explored. Topics include sexual differentiation and sex differences in behavior, reproductive, parental, and aggressive behavior, biological rhythms, and homeostatic regulation. Hormones and Behavior: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Completion of biological prerequisites for the major and consent of instructor; a course in mammalian physiology recommended

Also listed as: NEU C126

Hormones and Behavior: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 117 Human Neuropsychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2020, Fall 2018 This course covers the neural substrates of human behavior including: neuroanatomy, major methods in human brain research (EEG, MEG, PET, MRI, fMRI, TMS, Optical Imaging), neurological disorders resulting in neurobehavioral disorders (i.e. stroke, brain tumor, epilepsy, dementia) and classic neuropsychological syndromes (i.e. amnesia, aphasia, agnosia, executive control, emotional control). Human Neuropsychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: MCB/Psych C61 OR Psych 110, or MCB 161

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 117 after taking Psychology N117. A deficient grade in Psychology N117 may be removed by taking Psychology 117.

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Five hours of Lecture and Two and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Human Neuropsychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N117 Human Neuropsychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session This course covers the neural substrates of human behavior including: neuroanatomy, major methods in human brain research (EEG, MEG, PET, MRI, fMRI, TMS, Optical Imaging), neurological disorders resulting in neurobehavioral disorders (i.e. stroke, brain tumor, epilepsy, dementia) and classic neuropsychological syndromes (i.e. amnesia, aphasia, agnosia, executive control, emotional control). Human Neuropsychology: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N117 after completing Psychology 117. A deficient grade in Psychology 117 can be removed by taking Psychology N117.

PSYCH 118 Topical Seminar in Biological Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Spring 2022 For a precise schedule of courses, check with the Student Services Office each semester. Topical Seminar in Biological Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

Additional Format: Three hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.

Topical Seminar in Biological Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C120 Basic Issues in Cognition 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 Theoretical foundations and current controversies in cognitive science will be discussed. Basic issues in cognition--including perception, imagery, memory, categorization, thinking, judgment, and development--will be considered from the perspectives of philosophy, psychology, computer science, and physiology. Particular emphasis will be placed on the nature, implications, and limitations of the computational model of mind. Basic Issues in Cognition: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology C120 after passing PSYCH N120 . A deficient grade in PSYCH N120 may be removed by taking PSYCH C120 .

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of lecture and 2-0 hours of discussion per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 5-7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5-0 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 3.5-5.5 hours of lecture and 2-0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two to four hours of lecture and two to zero hours of discussion per week. Three and one-half to five and one-half hours of lecture and two to zero hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Five to seven and one-half hours of lecture and two and one-half to zero hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Also listed as: COG SCI C100

Basic Issues in Cognition: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N120 Basic Issues in Cognition 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session Theoretical foundations and current controversies in cognitive science will be discussed. Basic issues in cognition--including perception, imagery, memory, categorization, thinking, judgment, and development--will be considered from the perspectives of philosophy, psychology, computer science, and physiology. Particular emphasis will be placed on the nature, implications, and limitations of the computational model of mind. Basic Issues in Cognition: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N120 after passing PSYCH C120 . A deficient grade in PSYCH C120 may be removed by taking PSYCH N120 .

Also listed as: COG SCI N100

PSYCH 121 Animal Cognition 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2014 This course focuses on how animals process, organize, and retain information. Specific topics include learning and memory, sensory processes, navigation and migration, communication, and cross-species comparisons of behavior. Material will be drawn from the ethological, behavioral/experimental, and, to a lesser extent, the neurosciences literature. Animal Cognition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 115B or consent of instructor

Animal Cognition: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C123 Computational Models of Cognition 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2020, Spring 2013 This course will provide advanced students in cognitive science and computer science with the skills to develop computational models of human cognition, giving insight into how people solve challenging computational problems, as well as how to bring computers closer to human performance. The course will explore three ways in which researchers have attempted to formalize cognition -- symbolic approaches, neural networks, and probability and statistics -- considering the strengths and weaknesses of each. Computational Models of Cognition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Calculus, discrete mathematics, CogSci 1/1b/N1, Computer Science 61A, or equivalents

Additional Format: Three hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks.

Also listed as: COG SCI C131

Computational Models of Cognition: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 124 The Evolution of Human Behavior 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021 This course analyzes human behavior in light of evolutionary principles (such as natural and kin selection) and in comparison with other animal species. Topics include how humans evolved different adaptations to their environment, such as embodied (digestive and sensory systems), cognitive (tool use, language), and social (cooperation, political systems) adaptations and finally how human behavior has co-evolved with technology in the Neolithic , industrial and digital ages. The Evolution of Human Behavior: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 1 or 2

Instructor: Jacobs

The Evolution of Human Behavior: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 125 The Developing Brain 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2020 What are the changes in brain structure and function that underlie improvements in cognitive abilities over childhood and adolescence? Or, coming from a different perspective, what insights can we gain regarding the neural basis of cognition by examining how the brain develops? And how are such findings relevant for medicine, education, and the law? The cutting-edge new field of developmental cognitive neuroscience is beginning to address these and other questions. This course will consititute an overview of current research and methods in this field, focusing on both typically and atypically developing children and adolescents. There is no textbook for this course; all readings will be primary sources (e.g., journal articles). The Developing Brain: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommend prior coursework in neuroscience, such as Psych/MCB c61, Psych 110, Psych 117, or Psych/COGSCI C127

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 125 after taking 192 Fall 2007. Students will not receive credit for Psychology 125 after taking Psychology N125. A failing grade in Psychology N125 may be removed by taking Psychology 125.

Instructor: Bunge

The Developing Brain: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C126 Perception 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 An introduction to principal theoretical constructs and experimental procedures in visual and auditory perception. Topics will include psychophysics; perception of color, space, shape, and motion; pattern recognition and perceptual attention. Perception: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. 101 recommended

Also listed as: COG SCI C126

Perception: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C127 Cognitive Neuroscience 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2022 This course will examine research investigating the neurological basis of cognition. Material covered will include the study of brain-injured patients, neurophysiological research in animals, and the study of normal cognitive processes in humans with non-invasive behavioral and physiological techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Topics to be covered include perception, attention, memory, language, motor control, executive control, and emotion. Cognitive Neuroscience: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psych/MCB C61 OR Psych 110, or Psych C120/Cog Sci C100, and relevant prerequisites. Courses may be taken simultaneously with Psych C127. Enrollment limited to students who are declared Psych, CogSci, MCB, or IB majors, or by permission of the instructor if the student has declared another major

Also listed as: COG SCI C127

Cognitive Neuroscience: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 128 Topical Seminars in Cognitive Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2017, Fall 2016 For a precise schedule of offerings check with the Student Services Office each semester. Topical Seminars in Cognitive Psychology: Read More [+]

Topical Seminars in Cognitive Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 130 Clinical Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Theoretical and empirical approaches to the explanation of psychological dysfunction. The relation between theories of psychopathology and theories of intervention. A critical evaluation of the effects of individual, family, and community approaches to therapeutic and preventive intervention. Thematic focus of the course may change from year to year. See department notices for details. Clinical Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: Psychology 1 or Psychology 2

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 130 after completing PSYCH S130, PSYCH S130X, or PSYCH N130 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 130 may be removed by taking PSYCH N130 .

Clinical Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 130M Psychopathology Across the Life Span 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session Course Overview: This is an introductory course to developmental and adult psychopathology. This course will introduce the key concepts, terminology, and principles of developmental and adult psychopathology and commonly used research methods in studying mental health problems across the life span. The discussion of concepts and methods will guide our discussions of major mental health problems: 1) early childhood (trauma and stress-related disorders, autism); 2) middle childhood (attention and conduct problems); 3) adolescence (substance use problems, eating disorders); 4) adulthood (mood disorders, schizophrenia). Topics on stigma and race/ethnicity/culture and mental illness will also be discussed. Psychopathology Across the Life Span: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Students are encouraged to apply knowledge gained from class to understand clinical cases or problems in the real-world. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness and knowledge of how social and cultural contexts, race and ethnicity, gender, and other diversity factors influence the etiology and manifestation of psychopathology. Students are expected to demonstrate basic knowledge of the major disorders, dysfunctions, and conditions of child and adult psychopathology, and possible etiologies and developmental courses. Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the basic terminology, principles, and research methods of developmental and adult psychopathology.

Prerequisites: Students need to have previously taken Psychology 1 in order to enroll into this course

Summer: 3 weeks - 15 hours of lecture per week 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks. Fifteen hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Psychopathology Across the Life Span: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N130 Clinical Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2016 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2014 10 Week Session, Summer 2014 First 6 Week Session Theoretical and empirical approaches to the explanation of psychological dysfunction. The relation between theories of psychopathology and theories of intervention. A critical evaluation of the effects of individual, family, and community approaches to therapeutic and preventive intervention. Thematic focus of the course may change from year to year. See department notices for det ails. Clinical Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 1

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N130 after having completed Psychology 130. A deficient grade in Psychology 130 may be removed by taking Psychology N130.

PSYCH 131 Developmental Psychopathology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course will discuss linkages between developmental processes and child psychopathology. Included will be discussion of cognitive impairments in children, including learning disabilities and mental retardation; internalizing disorders, such as anxiety, withdrawal, and depression; externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder; and child abuse and neglect. Psychobiological, familial, legal, and societal factors will be emphasized. Developmental Psychopathology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: Psych 130

Developmental Psychopathology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 132 Applied Early Developmental Psychopathology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 1999, Spring 1996 In this course, we examine the developmental trajectories that lead to mental illness in young children by: 1) understanding abnormal development in the context of normal development, and vice versa; 2) using a developmental approach to identify continuities and discontinuities; 3) addressing how mental illness develops and why; 4) learning the role genes and contexts of development play; 5) investigating multiple levels , and the dynamic reciprocal transactions among them; and 6) applying our knowledge to children’s real-world experiences, to better understand the mental illness, its mechanisms, and its challenges. Applied Early Developmental Psychopathology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Prioritizing Education and Letters and Science Summer-Only Minor Students

Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of seminar per week 12 weeks - 4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Eight hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. Four hours of seminar per week for twelve weeks.

Applied Early Developmental Psychopathology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 133 Psychology of Sleep 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2021, Fall 2020 This course has two primary goals: (1) to provide a basic introduction to the study of sleep and an overview of sleep measurement, regulation, ontogeny, phylogeny, physiology, and psychology; and (2) to provide a basic introduction to sleep disorders including their classification, cause, and treatment. Psychology of Sleep: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 133 after taking Psychology N133. A failing grade in Psychology N133 may be removed by taking Psychology 133.

Psychology of Sleep: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N133 Psychology of Sleep 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2015 10 Week Session, Summer 2015 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2014 Second 6 Week Session This course has two primary goals: (1) to provide a basic introduction to the study of sleep and an overview of sleep measurement, regulation, ontogeny, phylogeny, physiology, and psychology; and (2) to provide a basic introduction to sleep disorders including their classification, cause, and treatment. Psychology of Sleep: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N133 after having completed Psychology 133. A deficient grade in Psychology 133 may be removed by taking Psychology N133.

PSYCH 134 Health Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021 This course will provide students with an introduction to Health Psychology. Students will learn about measurement of psychological, behavioral, and biological constructs; incidence and prevalence of psychological and medical disorders; introductions to endocrinology, immunology, and psychophysiology and how these systems are thought to relate psychology to health; as well as introductions to how science is working to understand psychology and health in the laboratory and across the population. Health Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: Psych 1, N1, W1, or 2; and a lower-division biology or neuroscience course (such as Psych C19/MCB C62/L & S C30T.)

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 134 after taking Psychology N134. A failing grade in Psychology N134 may be removed by taking Psychology 134.

Instructor: Fisher

Health Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N134 Health Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2020 First 6 Week Session This course will provide students with an introduction to Health Psychology. Students will learn about measurement of psychological, behavioral, and biological constructs; incidence and prevalence of psychological and medical disorders; introductions to endocrinology, immunology, and psychophysiology and how these systems are thought to relate psychology to health; as well as introductions to how science is working to understand psychology and health in the laboratory and across the population. Health Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 1, N1, W1, 2, or Psychology C19/Molecular and Cell Biology C62/Letters and Science C30T

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N134 after taking Psychology 134. A failing grade in Psychology 134 may be removed by taking Psychology N134.

PSYCH 135 Treating Mental Illness: Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020 Although progress has been made in developing and disseminating evidence-based treatments for most forms of mental illness, there are still huge gaps in our knowledge base. Coverage of serious mental illness with adequate and disseminable intervention strategies is all too limited. Hence, there is a great need for the next generation of clinical scientists to contribute to the mission of treatment development for mental illness. In this course we will learn about, and critique, treatment development models. We will review the steps in treatment development spanning from the study of mechanisms on to proof of concept and to establishing the feasibility of novel treatment ideas. Treating Mental Illness: Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 135 after taking Psychology N135. A failing grade in Psychology N135 can be removed by taking Psychology 135.

Instructor: Harvey

Treating Mental Illness: Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N135 Treating Mental Illness: Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Summer 2016 Second 6 Week Session Although progress has been made in developing and disseminating evidence-based treatments for most forms of mental illness, there are still huge gaps in our knowledge base. Coverage of serious mental illness with adequate and disseminable intervention strategies is all too limited. Hence, there is a great need for the next generation of clinical scientists to contribute to the mission of treatment development for mental illness. In this course we will learn about, and critique, models of psychotherapy. We will review the steps in treatment development spanning from the study of mechanisms on to proof of concept and to establishing the feasibility of novel treatment ideas. Treating Mental Illness: Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 130 or N130 - Clinical Psychology

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N135 after taking Psychology 135. A failing grade in Psychology 135 can be removed by taking Psychology N135.

PSYCH 136 Human Sexuality 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Biological, social, and clinical issues in sexuality. Topics include psychology and physiology of sexual response, new developments in contraception, homosexuality and lesbianism, variations in sexual behavior, gender identity and role, definition and treatment of sexual dysfunction. Approved for state psychology licensing requirement. Human Sexuality: Read More [+]

Human Sexuality: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 137 Mind-Body and Health 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2022 3 Week Session Course explores psychosomatics or mind-body interactions in a dozen diseases/disorders from recurrent ailments (e.g., asthma, gastrointestinal disorders) and chronic diseases (e.g., hypertension) to “terminal” diseases (e.g., cancer, AIDS); also included are specific disorders of appetite, sleep, and sexual functioning. For each of these, (i) symptoms (physical and psychological) are outlined, (ii) epidemiological data are used to illustrate socio-cultural underpinnings of health, and (iii) etiology examines how emotion, personality, and other psychological variables interact with the biological. Finally, (iv) psychosocial assessment and (v) cognitive-behavioral-affective treatments are presented for each disease/disorder. Mind-Body and Health: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: To be acquainted with cognitive, affective, behavioral treatments and lifestyle change To be acquainted with psychological assessment of relevant symptoms and sequelae To interpret epidemiological findings from a socio-cultural perspective of health To learn relevant terminology in health-related disciplines To recognize physical as well as behavioral symptoms of diseases/disorders To trace the evolution of the field of psychosomatics To uncover the psychosomatic etiology of diseases and disorders covered in the course To understand the different types of psychosomatic processes

Mind-Body and Health: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 138 Global Mental Health 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2021 3 Week Session Global mental health seeks to alleviate suffering caused by mental disorders globally. Although most of the world lives in low-and-middle income countries, the majority of mental health resources are concentrated in high-income countries. Therefore, we focus on the mental health burden in low-resource settings. Through primary articles and recent chapters, this course integrates the scientific evidence, cultural and contextual nuances, and interdisciplinary approaches of global mental health. Global Mental Health: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: 1) Gain an understanding of the: *Global perspectives and priorities in understanding mental health. *Multidimensional nature of mental health in low-resource settings—biological, psychological, cultural, economic, community, and organizational dimensions that are central to understanding and addressing mental disorders. *Importance of cultural expressions, cultural differences, and contextual nuances that affect diagnosing and treating mental disorders. *Major individual, clinical, community and population approaches to preventing, treating and managing mental disorders. *Role of the mental health delivery systems in preventing, identifying and treating mental disorders in different contexts. 2) Develop the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate scientific ideas and research in original scientific papers and popular media 3) Learn to articulate and communicate both orally and in written form a critical and nuanced understanding of current global mental health research

Global Mental Health: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 139 Case Studies in Clinical Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course is for students who are curious about clinical psychology and who seek to explore real world cases and examples of mental health diagnoses. Through the use of clinical cases and first-person accounts, this course will give an overview of the diagnostic criteria mental health providers use to make diagnoses, and analyze environmental and other causal factors, with a view to possible treatment options for various mental disorders. Case Studies in Clinical Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 130, 131, or equivalent

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Case Studies in Clinical Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 140 Developmental Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 This course explores the development of children from birth to adolescence, in a wide range of areas including biological, cognitive, linguistic, social, and personality development. It also covers the effects of genes, experience, and social context on children's development. Developmental Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: Psych 1

Developmental Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N140 Developmental Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session This course explores the development of children from birth to adolescence, in a wide range of areas including biological, cognitive, linguistic, social, and personality development. It also covers the effects of genes, experience, and social context on children's development. Developmental Psychology: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N140 after completing Psychology 140. A deficient grade in Psychology 140 may be removed by taking Psychology N140.

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Six hours of lecture per week for 8 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of lecture per week for 6 weeks.

PSYCH 141 Development During Infancy 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2014, Fall 2013 Cognitive, perceptual, and social development during the first two years of life with emphasis upon methods of observation and experimentation. Development During Infancy: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 9 credit hours of Psychology, Social Science of Cognitive Science courses

Development During Infancy: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 142 Applied Early Developmental Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 This lecture and small group activity course will examine the development of young children—from the prenatal period to age 8—in the varied contexts in which development occurs. The course is designed to introduce the basic theories and the research approaches that have been used to develop them. We will also explore how the contexts, the influences of environments in which children are growing and living, affect their development and our understanding of children. We will discuss how this understanding may be different, depending on whether one has studied psychology, neuroscience, education, social welfare, public health, or public policy, and how each contributes to our deeper understanding of children’s healthy development. Applied Early Developmental Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Prioritizing ED&LS Summer-Only Minor Students

Additional Format: Four hours of seminar per week for 12 weeks. Eight hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Applied Early Developmental Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C143 Language Acquisition 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 An overview of topics and theories in language acquisition: early development of speech perception and production, word learning, generalizing linguistic structure, and differences between first language acquisition, second language acquisition, and bilingualism. We will also compare different theoretical approaches, and address the classic "nature vs. nurture" question by examining both traditional generativist approaches and more recent usage based models. Language Acquisition: Read More [+]

Formerly known as: Linguistics C146/Psychology C143

Also listed as: LINGUIS C146

Language Acquisition: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 144 Emerging Adulthood 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2018, Fall 2016 This course will explore the unique biological, cognitive, social, personality and identity development of individuals aged 18 to 29. As this is an experiential course, students are expected to apply their learning through active engagement in the course material. Emerging Adulthood: Read More [+]

Summer: 5 weeks - 9 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Nine hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week for five weeks.

Emerging Adulthood: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 145 Human Nature 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2002 10 Week Session, Summer 2001 10 Week Session, Summer 2000 10 Week Session What makes humans unique? What makes humans different from other animals? The proposed course will be addressing these questions. We will examine the origins and evolutionary foundations of human psychology by synthesizing research from developmental, comparative, and cross-cultural psychology. To do so, we will compare the psychology of non-human primates, especially chimpanzees, to human psychology and compare human psychology across a wide range of cultural backgrounds. Human Nature: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 145 after completing PSYCH 145 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 145 may be removed by taking PSYCH 145 .

Human Nature: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 147 Methods in Cognitive Development 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 The goal of this course is to introduce you to the excitement of studying development, primarily in humans. The course covers different methodologies for studying development, and how to interpret the resulting data. Students will become more wise consumers of empirical data on development, whether those data appear in scholarly or popular media. This course provides students with the analytical tools and productive skepticism required to objectively evaluate findings in developmental science. Methods in Cognitive Development: Read More [+]

Methods in Cognitive Development: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 148 Topical Seminars in Developmental Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018 For a precise schedule of offerings, check with the Student Services Office each semester. Topical Seminars in Developmental Psychology: Read More [+]

Topical Seminars in Developmental Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 149 Early Development & Learning Science Core Seminar 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 This course serves as the foundation to the Early Development & Learning Science minor. It will help students understand how best to promote children’s robust early development and learning, integrating a variety of different perspectives. A wide range of approaches, representing different disciplines—education neuroscience, psychology, public health, public policy, and social work—will be presented by visiting lecturers to impart key aspects of supporting young children. Each perspective is necessary to understand and integrate with the others to most effectively address the complex problems facing young children and their families today. Early Development & Learning Science Core Seminar: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week 12 weeks - 4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Four hours of seminar per week for 12 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Early Development & Learning Science Core Seminar: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 149A The Developing Child Practicum: Linking Research and Practice 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 A new seminar and fieldwork course designed to increase participants’ knowledge of interdisciplinary, developmental science and how it applies to interdisciplinary practices when working with or on behalf of children ages 0-8. Participants will learn how to apply and integrate current research findings through hands-on experiences provided through their fieldwork placements. They will learn how to engage in more effective, research-informed interactions with children. The focus is on professional growth, including how to develop a interdisciplinary approach to working with or on behalf of children and their families. The Developing Child Practicum: Linking Research and Practice: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Participants will (further) develop their skills in facilitating Social and Emotional Support, Well-Organized Classrooms, Instructional Interactions. The course is grouped into five modules using these three areas as focal points. Each class meeting will give students the opportunity to know, see, do, and reflect, as the core components of effective and intentional interactions with young children.

Prerequisites: Prioritizing ED&LS Summer-Only Minor Students 1) Sign up for a weekly 5-hour practicum placement 2) Provide copies of records verifying: - Tuberculosis (TB) clearance - Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Immunization (MMR) - Pertussis/Whooping Cough Immunization - Influenza (Flu) Vaccination or a signed opt-out statement

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar and 4 hours of fieldwork per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar and 10 hours of fieldwork per week 12 weeks - 4 hours of seminar and 5 hours of fieldwork per week

Additional Format: Four hours of fieldwork and three hours of seminar per week. Five hours of fieldwork and four hours of seminar per week for 12 weeks. Ten hours of fieldwork and seven and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks.

The Developing Child Practicum: Linking Research and Practice: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 149B Contexts of Early Development 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 This seminar will examine the developmental context of young children—from the prenatal period to age 8. The course is designed to introduce research on how individual, family, pre-/school, community, and digital media contexts influence children’s development and learning. We will discuss how this understanding may be different, depending on whether one has studied psychology, neuroscience, education , social welfare, public health, or public policy, and how each contributes to our deeper understanding of children’s healthy development. Contexts of Early Development: Read More [+]

Contexts of Early Development: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 149C Design Thinking for ED&LS 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session This course will teach a human-centered, evidence-based method for finding new ways to solve persistent problems: Design Thinking. Design Thinking is a methodology for collaborative problem solving pioneered at the design firm IDEO and Stanford University to come up with game-changing solutions to difficult problems. As student learners accustomed to taking others’ perspectives and problem solving, we are especially well-suited to use Design Thinking. We will be tackling the problem of children’s school readiness. The goal of this class is to find imaginative and practical solutions -- imaginative enough to be exciting and effective for children and families, and practical enough to be able to pilot these solutions during the class. Design Thinking for ED&LS: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Seven and one-half hours of seminar per week for 6 weeks. Four hours of seminar per week for twelve weeks.

Design Thinking for ED&LS: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 149D Early Childhood Policy 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 This seminar examines how the diverse policy contexts in which children are born and raised have dramatic implications for their life trajectories. We will explore how, when and why government intervenes in children’s lives, through family, pre-/school, community, and digital media contexts, aiming to improve their developmental trajectories. From this basis, we investigate the effects of policies on children locally, nationally, and internationally. Drawing from a variety of case studies and empirical research, students will gain a deep understanding of policy goals, development, implementation, and implications. After gaining familiarity with early childhood policies, students will develop their own early childhood policy. Early Childhood Policy: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Learn to use new digital tools in creating multimedia texts and artifacts that demonstrate critical understanding of course content. Build collaboration skills. Demonstrate their understanding and skills through designing family, pre-/school, community, and digital media policy that supports the health and development of young children. Gain fluency in writing and analytic thinking by critiquing existing and proposed policy. In this course, students will: Learn to interpret relevant contextual factors that determine the viability and impact of family, pre-/school, community, and digital media policy.

Early Childhood Policy: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 150 Psychology of Personality 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022 A consideration of general and systematic issues in the study of personality and an evaluation of major theories and points of view. Psychology of Personality: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Recommended: Psych 1 and Psych 101

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology 150 after completing Psychology N150. A deficient grade in Psychology N150 may be removed by taking Psychology 150.

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Four hours of Lecture and Two hours of Discussion per week for 8 weeks. Five hours of Lecture and Two and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Psychology of Personality: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N150 Psychology of Personality 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session A consideration of general and systematic issues in the study of personality and an evaluation of major theories and points of view. Psychology of Personality: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1

Credit Restrictions: Students will not receive credit for Psychology N150 after having completed Psychology 150. A deficient grade in Psychology 150 may be removed by taking Psychology N150.

PSYCH 156 Human Emotion 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Spring 2019 This course will examine two different theoretical perspectives on emotion: (1) the differential emotions approach with its strong evolutionary grounding, and (2) the social constructionist approach. Next, the course will investigate empirical research on many facets of emotion including facial expression, physiology, appraisal, and the lexicon of emotion. Finally, we will consider more specific topics including social interaction, culture , gender, personality, and psychopathology. Human Emotion: Read More [+]

Human Emotion: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 158 Topical Seminars in Personality 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2017, Fall 2015 For a precise schedule of offerings, check with the Student Services Office each semester. Topical Seminars in Personality: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 150 and consent of instructor

Topical Seminars in Personality: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 160 Social Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023 Survey of social psychology including interaction processes, small groups, attitudes and attitude change, and social problems. Social Psychology: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Four hours of lecture and one and one-half hours of discussion per week for 8 weeks. Five hours of lecture and two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Social Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N160 Social Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Survey of social psychology including interaction processes, small groups, attitudes and attitude change, and social problems. Social Psychology: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N160 after completing Psychology 160. A deficient grade in Psychology 160 may be removed by taking Psychology N160.

PSYCH 162 Human Happiness 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2011 10 Week Session, Summer 2011 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2009 Second 6 Week Session This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to an understanding of happiness. The first part of the course will be devoted to the different treatments of happiness in the world's philosophical traditions, focusing up close on conceptions or the good life in classical Greek and Judeo-Christian thought, the great traditions in East Asian thought (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism) , and ideas about happiness that emerged more recently in the age of Enlightenment. With these different perspectives as a framework, the course will then turn to treatments of happiness in the behavioral sciences, evolutionary scholarship, and neuroscience. Special emphasis will be given to understanding how happiness arises in experiences of the moral emotions, including gratitude, compassion, reverence and awe, as well as aesthetic emotions like humor and beauty. Human Happiness: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 160 or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for 162 after taking C162, Letters and Science C160V or 160C.

Summer: 6 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Five and one-half hours of lecture and two and one-half hours of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Human Happiness: Read Less [-]

PSYCH C162 Human Happiness 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2022 This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to an understanding of happiness. The first part of the course will be devoted to the different treatments of happiness in the world's philosophical traditions, focusing up close on conceptions or the good life in classical Greek and Judeo-Christian thought, the great traditions in East Asian thought (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism), and ideas about happiness that emerged more recently in the age of Enlightenment. With these different perspectives as a framework, the course will then turn to treatments of happiness in the behavioral sciences, evolutionary scholarship, and neuroscience. Special emphasis will be given to understanding how happiness arises in experiences of the moral emotions, including gratitude, compassion, reverence and awe, as well as aesthetic emotions like humor and beauty. Human Happiness: Read More [+]

Also listed as: L & S C160V

PSYCH N162 Human Happiness 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2014 10 Week Session, Summer 2014 First 6 Week Session This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to an understanding of happiness. We will first review the different treatments of happiness in the world’s philosophical traditions: conceptions of the good life in classical Greek and Judeo-Christian thought, the great East Asian philosophies, and ideas about happiness that emerged in the age of Enlightenment. With these different perspectives as a framework, the course will turn to treatments of happiness in the behavioral sciences, evolutionary scholarship, and neuroscience. Special Emphasis will be given to understanding how happiness arises in experiences of the moral emotions, including gratitude, compassion, reverence and awe, and aesthetic emotions like humor and beauty. Human Happiness: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psychology 160 or consent of instructor

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N162 after taking Psychology 162, or Psychology C162/Letters and Science C160V. A deficient grade in Psychology 162 may be removed by taking Psychology N162.

PSYCH 163 Development of Prejudice and Bias 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2021 We currently live in a society riddled with prejudice and inequality. In this class we will explore the emergence and development of prejudice across the lifespan, while paying close attention to the first 10 years of life. This class aims to: 1) foster a critical understanding of how and why prejudice has been maintained across generations and 2) foster intentional thought about how create and maintain a more equitable society through a psychological lens. Development of Prejudice and Bias: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: To help students understand the interplay between mind, culture, and society. To highlight the ways in which prejudice and inequality are perpetuated across time and generations. To promote critical reflection on the current state of society and the effects it has on prejudicial thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Student Learning Outcomes: Learn how to analyze, describe, and integrate psychological research, perspectives, and theories that explain the development of prejudice and inequality. Learn how to identify prejudice and inequality, and the processes that explain how these attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors emerge and are reinforced throughout development. To foster intentional thought regarding how to design a more equitable society.

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 163 after completing PSYCH 163 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 163 may be removed by taking PSYCH 163 .

Development of Prejudice and Bias: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 164 Social Cognition 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2010 Surveys empirical and theoretical approaches to our understanding of perception, memory, thought, and language concerning ourselves, other people, interpersonal behavior, and the situations in which social interaction takes place. Emphasis is placed on the integration of problems in social, personality, and clinical psychology with the concepts and principles employed in the study of nonsocial cognition. Social Cognition: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Required Courses: Psych 1, Psych W1, Psych 2, OR CogSci 1. Recommended Courses: Psych 150 OR Psych 160

Social Cognition: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 166AC Cultural Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session The course will review research on culture, race, and ethnicity and will consider the implications of these findings for our understanding of race, culture, and ethnicity in American society. Mounting evidence suggests that psychological processes are culture-specific, theory-driven, and context-dependent. This course will focus on the effects that theories of mind, person , self, and social institutions have on human cognition, motivation, emotion, and social interactions in American society. Students will gain a better appreciation of the ways that cultural traditions and social practices regulate and transform psychological functioning. Simply, the course is about how culture affects psyche and how psyche affects culture. Cultural Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Psych 160 is recommended

Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Cultural Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 167AC Stigma and Prejudice 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2021 Traditionally, research on prejudice and stereotyping has focused on the psychological mechanisms that lead people to be biased against others. Recent research has begun to shed light on the psychological legacy of prejudice and stereotyping for their targets. This course will review the major contributions of each of these literatures, providing students with a broad understanding of both classic and current issues in the field. The course will be divided into three sections: bias (i.e., the perpetrator's perspective), stigma (i.e., the target's perspective), and intergroup relations. Stigma and Prejudice: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1 or consent of instructor

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Seven and one-half hours of Lecture per week for 6 weeks.

Stigma and Prejudice: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 168 Topical Seminars in Social Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2014 For a precise schedule of offerings check with Student Services Office each semester. Topical Seminars in Social Psychology: Read More [+]

Topical Seminars in Social Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 169 Love & Close Relationships 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2020, Spring 2019 This course will explore the social, biological and neurological attributes of love and close relationships. As this is an experiential course, students are expected to apply their learning through active engagement in the course material. Love & Close Relationships: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: This course will afford UC Berkeley undergraduate students opportunities to acquire a scientific understanding of love and to engage in experiential exercises of healthy interpersonal relating.

Student Learning Outcomes: Apply course material through introspection, self-exploration, and intentional goal setting. Be able to identify key components of love and human attraction. Develop an in-depth knowledge of several theories of love and human attachment.

Love & Close Relationships: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 170 Clinical and Counseling Professions: Practice & Research 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 3 Week Session, Summer 2022 First 6 Week Session What does applied mental health practice and research look like? This course aims to provide an overview of major issues, debates, and tensions in the applied mental health field. This course assumes that effective mental health treatment and research rests on the following foundations: 1) best available scientific evidence; 2) culturally-sensitive & contextual understanding of mental health; 3) contextualizing this topic in the major debates of the mental health field; 4) an interdisciplinary approach that recognizes the value of biological, psychological and societal contributions to mental health and its alleviation as well as overlaps across medicine, psychology, social work, and larger societal/cultural influences. Clinical and Counseling Professions: Practice & Research: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Ability to articulate both orally and in written form a critical, nuanced understanding of current debates and issues within mental health professions. Critical thinking skills to evaluate scientific ideas and research in original scientific papers & their presentation (or absence) in popular media. Understanding of the biopsychosocial approach towards preventing, identifying and treating mental disorders in different contexts.

Prerequisites: Students should have taken Psychology 1 before taking this course

Clinical and Counseling Professions: Practice & Research: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 171 Psychological Research on Children of Immigrant Families 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 First 6 Week Session The goal is to provide a systematic learning experience in the scientific field of interdisciplinary research on children of immigrant families. Students will learn about the scientific theories, research methods, and key research findings. Students will be exposed to primary and secondary source readings on ecological and socio-cultural theories of human development, the guiding framework for research on immigrant families. Students will also read theoretical and empirical research articles on language, cognitive, academic, and socio-emotional development of children in immigrant families, as well as prevention, intervention, and policy research on children of immigrant families. Psychological Research on Children of Immigrant Families: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Develop skills to conduct literature review, critically evaluate the presentation of scientific ideas and research in original science papers as well as the popular media, and synthesize and summarize the key findings from a literature. Gain knowledge on demographic, socio-cultural, and interpersonal characteristics of major immigrant groups in the U.S. Gain knowledge on ethnical issues in conducting human subjects research with immigrant families. Gain knowledge on the definitions of and research methods for studying psychological constructs unique for immigrant families: acculturation, acculturation stress, bilingualism, racial discrimination. Gain knowledge on theoretical models of human development (e.g., the bioecological theory, socio-cultural theory) and their applications to research on children of immigrant families.

Prerequisites: As an advanced elective for the undergraduate minor, all prerequisites must be completed by the time the student is enrolled in this course

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 171 after completing PSYCH 171 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 171 may be removed by taking PSYCH 171 .

Summer: 3 weeks - 15 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0 hours of discussion per week

Additional Format: Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Seven and one-half hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for 6 weeks. Fifteen hours of lecture and zero hour of discussion per week for three weeks.

Psychological Research on Children of Immigrant Families: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 172 DSM: Defining Normal 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the "bible" of psychiatric diagnoses. Medically, culturally, socially and politically, it is an influential document that defines what constitutes a disorder to human behavior. From its first edition to its last incarnation (DSM-5), the DSM has exploded in size and clout. With the rise in status, however, have come serious questions about its expanding list of disorders , the scientific basis of some of its diagnostic categories and how some conditions seem to appear and disappear as a function of the moment's sociocultural pressures and sensibilities. The course will cover the history and metamorphoses of the DSM, covering both its laudable achievements and costly mistakes. DSM: Defining Normal: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for PSYCH 172 after completing PSYCH 172 . A deficient grade in PSYCH 172 may be removed by taking PSYCH 172 .

DSM: Defining Normal: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 173 Lens on Mental Health: Diversity and Intersectional Approaches 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 3 Week Session From its incipience, mainstream psychotherapy is understood to have been developed for a particular kind of person: the Viennese bourgeoisie, YAVIS (young, attractive, verbal, intelligent, successful), WEIRD (western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic), and recently, the white, middle- and upper-middle classes, and usually, women. This course provides an overview of these criticisms and shifts the gaze, evaluating the evidence for and against such views, and summarizing the best steps forward for the field. As such, it relies on the best available research and evidence-based mental health treatment, and an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from psychology and related disciplines (e.g. neuroscience, sociology, cultural studies). Lens on Mental Health: Diversity and Intersectional Approaches: Read More [+]

Summer: 3 weeks - 16 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Sixteen hours of lecture per week for three weeks.

Lens on Mental Health: Diversity and Intersectional Approaches: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 180 Industrial-Organizational Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2013 10 Week Session, Summer 2013 First 6 Week Session, Fall 2005 Primarily for majors. Introduction to the field of industrial psychology, covering fundamental theory and concepts in personnel and social aspects in the field. Concerned with the processes involved in developing and maintaining organizations. Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Read More [+]

Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH N180 Industrial-Organizational Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2022 Second 6 Week Session Primarily for majors. Introduction to the field of industrial psychology, covering fundamental theory and concepts in personnel and social aspects in the field. Concerned with the processes involved in developing and maintaining organizations. Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Read More [+]

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Psychology N180 after taking Psychology 180. A deficient grade in Psychology 180 may be removed by taking Psychology N180.

PSYCH 181 Emotion, Motivation, Influence: Psych in the Real World 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session The goal of this course is to provide students with an introduction to the practical implications of personality and social psychology in the professional setting. Through a combination of theoretical readings and practical applications, students will learn how to apply psychological theory and research to a range of workplace-related questions, such as what makes a workplace attractive to employees, how to match individuals with the right organizations , and how to design jobs that increase employee motivation and build cohesive, collaborative teams. Additionally, the course will explore important topics such as diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Emotion, Motivation, Influence: Psych in the Real World: Read More [+]

Student Learning Outcomes: Students in this course will understand the ways in which social/personality psychology is related to organizational behavior, and will possess the background knowledge about individual trait, person perception, social behavior, and group collaboration required to think competently and critically about how to apply these knowledge in the applied world.

Emotion, Motivation, Influence: Psych in the Real World: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 192 Special Topics in Psychology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2013 Course examines current problems and issues in psychology. Special Topics in Psychology: Read More [+]

Special Topics in Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 192AC Child Development in Different Cultures 3 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2012 10 Week Session, Summer 2012 Second 6 Week Session This course explores "culture" as a context for development from both global and American sub-group perspectives, through developmental stages from early childhood to adolescence, across physical, social and cognitive domains. It will examine traditional theories and modern systems theories with respect to individual and social contexts, discuss the experience of sub-groups of American children and conclude with a comprehensive analysis of the development of an individual. Child Development in Different Cultures: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Lecture and One hour of Discussion per week for 15 weeks. Two hours of Lecture per week for 8 weeks. Five hours of Lecture and Two and one-half hours of Discussion per week for 6 weeks.

Child Development in Different Cultures: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 192P Psychology Post Baccalaureate Capstone 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017 The Psychology Post Baccalaureate Program at UC Berkeley is intended to serve as a training program for students who have interest in pursuing graduate degrees in Psychology but who are lacking necessary academic training and research experience. In addition to the required course and lab work, Post Baccalaureate students are required to complete a two-part research learning project, called The Capstone Experience. The Capstone Experience consists of two components: an applied written submission and a formal research presentation. Psychology Post Baccalaureate Capstone: Read More [+]

Course Objectives: Students will receive training in APA style writing and presentation skills.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will learn APA writing and presentation styles.

Credit Restrictions: Course may not be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 9 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 10 weeks - 13.5 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Nine hours of independent study per week. Thirteen and one-half hours of independent study per week for 10 weeks.

Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Alternative to final exam.

Psychology Post Baccalaureate Capstone: Read Less [-]

PSYCH H194A Honors Seminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 In the fall semester the seminar will concentrate on issues of research design, ethics, and data analysis using statistical packages. The spring semester will focus on oral and written presentations of the thesis projects and feedback on thesis drafts. Honors Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Required of and limited to psychology majors in the honors program. H195A-H195B should be taken concurrently

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Two hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Honors Seminar: Read Less [-]

PSYCH H194B Honors Seminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 In the fall semester the seminar will concentrate on issues of research design, ethics, and data analysis using statistical packages. The spring semester will focus on oral and written presentations of the thesis projects and feedback on thesis drafts. Honors Seminar: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Required of and limited to psychology majors in the honors program. H195A-195B should be taken concurrently

PSYCH H195A Special Study for Honors Candidates 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2013, Spring 2012 Independent study and preparation of an honors thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Special Study for Honors Candidates: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Open only to senior psychology majors in the Honors Program

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 6 units.

Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Individual conferences.

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.

Special Study for Honors Candidates: Read Less [-]

PSYCH H195B Special Study for Honors Candidates 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2013 Independent study and preparation of an honors thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. Special Study for Honors Candidates: Read More [+]

Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Final exam not required.

PSYCH 197 Field Study in Psychology 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015 Supervised experience relevant to specific aspects of psychology in off-campus settings. Individual and/or group meetings with faculty. Enrollment is restricted by regulations of the Berkeley Division listed elsewhere in this catalog. Field Study in Psychology: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: 1; appropriate upper division work in psychology (to be determined by instructor). Consent of instructor

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of fieldwork per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of fieldwork per week 8 weeks - 2-5.5 hours of fieldwork per week

Field Study in Psychology: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 198 Directed Group Study 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Group study of a selected topic or topics in psychology. Enrollment is restricted by regulations of the Berkeley Division listed elsewhere in this catalog. Directed Group Study: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of directed group study per week 8 weeks - 1.5-5.5 hours of directed group study per week

Directed Group Study: Read Less [-]

PSYCH 199 Supervised Independent Study and Research 1 - 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2016, Summer 2016 10 Week Session Enrollment is restricted by regulations of the Berkeley Division listed elsewhere in this catalog. Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-5 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week

Contact Information

Department of psychology.

2121 Berkeley Way

Phone: 510-642-5292

Fax: 510-642-5293

Department Chair

Serena Chen, PhD

3316 Berkeley Way West

[email protected]

Department Vice Chair

Ozlem Ayduk, PhD

3430 Berkeley Way West

[email protected]

Sheri Johnson, PhD

[email protected]

Student Services Director

Harumi Quinones

2210 Berkeley Way West

Phone: 510-642-7097

[email protected]

Undergraduate Student Services Advisor

Jennifer Ochoa

Phone: 510-643-8114

[email protected]

[email protected]

Undergraduate Student Services Adviser

Olivia Owens

[email protected]

Print Options

When you print this page, you are actually printing everything within the tabs on the page you are on: this may include all the Related Courses and Faculty, in addition to the Requirements or Overview. If you just want to print information on specific tabs, you're better off downloading a PDF of the page, opening it, and then selecting the pages you really want to print.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Psychology Major

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Nazish Salahuddin, Ph.D.

The undergraduate major in Psychology provides an introduction to the study of human behavior. This includes an understanding of the neurobiological, developmental, social, and evolutionary factors influencing our thought and behavior. Through that understanding comes the ability to modify behavior in beneficial ways. Courses are organized into three broad themes:

• Mind, Brain, and Behavior;
• Mental Health and Interventions; and
• Social, Developmental, and Organizational Studies.

The program emphasizes a strong foundation in quantitative and research methods. Beyond coursework, students will have opportunities to assist with and conduct research, an important advantage in any career path.

Students who are interested in the biological aspects of behavior tend to choose a program leading to the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, while those interested primarily in the impact of social factors on behavior tend to choose the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The choice of program is made in consultation with an academic advisor.

Courses offered by this department may be found under the following acronym: PSYC

Admission to the Major

In accordance with university policy, the Department of Psychology has been designated a Limited Enrollment Program (LEP) . All first-time freshman who request psychology as a major will be directly admitted into the major. Other first-time freshman who wish to declare psychology as a major prior to the last day of classes of their first semester in residence will be allowed to do so.

In order to remain a psychology major, newly admitted freshman will be required to meet an academic performance review on or before the end of the semester in which they earned 45 University of Maryland credits. This standard includes:

• Completion of PSYC100 with a grade of "B-" or higher (if the student has Advanced Placement credit for PSYC100 , the student must complete PSYC221 with a grade of "B-" or higher)
• Completion of MATH120  or MATH140 with a grade of "C-" or higher.
• Completion of BSCI170 (Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology) and BSCI171 (Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology Lab) with a minimum grade of "C-" in both courses.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all coursework taken at the University of Maryland.

All other students, including both internal and external transfer students, will be admitted to the program only if they have met the above LEP requirements and also have a minimum cumulative GPA based on all previous college-level coursework of 2.70 or higher.

For a more detailed discussion of LEP policies visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website  and then call 301-405-5866 to consult with one of our academic advisors.

Any student denied admission or dismissed from the major may appeal to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Psychology .

Internal transfer students may appeal to the Office of the Dean for Behavioral and Social Sciences .

External transfer students may appeal to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions .

Program Objectives

Students in the B.A. and B.S. programs in psychology will have a broad exposure to the diverse approaches to studying human behavior. They will acquire the tools and experiences necessary for successful careers utilizing their skills in the behavioral and social sciences. Their training will include a foundation in research methods, critical and creative problem solving, and effective communication. Students will also master the primary concepts and ideas representing both the breadth and depth of the fields in psychology.

Program Learning Outcomes

Modeled after the American Psychological Association's (APA) guidelines for undergraduate training, our individual courses and the overall program curriculum are designed to prepare you as a well-rounded scholar with marketable, professional skills. For a detailed list of our learning outcomes, please navigate here: http://psyc.umd.edu/undergraduate/program-learning-objectives/ .

• Describe key concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology (Knowledge base in psychology)
• Develop a working knowledge of psychology's content domains (Knowledge base in psychology)
• Describe applications of psychology (Knowledge base in psychology)
• Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena (Scientific inquiry and critical thinking)
• Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving (Scientific inquiry and critical thinking)
• Interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research (Scientific inquiry and critical thinking)
• Understand sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry (Scientific inquiry and critical thinking)
• Understand and follow ethical practices in academic study and scientific research (Ethics)
• Understand the concepts and practice of ethical principles in a broad range of professional contexts (Ethics)
• Understand the role of academic, professional, and personal integrity in maintaining a healthy community (Ethics)
• Understand the socio-cultural influences on human development and behavior (Multiculturalism and diversity)
• Demonstrate critical awareness of one's own worldview, values, and biases (Multiculturalism and diversity)
• Exhibit the ability to work respectfully and constructively with individuals of different backgrounds, values, and experiences (Multiculturalism and diversity)
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate multicultural concepts into psychology research, theory, practice, and service to others (Multiculturalism and diversity)
• Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes (Communication)
• Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes (Communication)
• Interact effectively with others (Communication)
• Professional development (Professional development)
• Apply psychological content and skills to career goals (Professional development)
• Refine project management skills
• Enhance teamwork capacity (Professional development)
• Develop meaningful professional directions for life after graduation (Professional development)

All students must complete at least 35 credits (11 courses) in Psychology. The required courses include:

 A detailed list of courses, including multicultural courses, by theme can be found at the following link:  https://psyc.umd.edu/undergraduate/courses-syllabi

• A grade of "C-" or better must be earned in all 38 credits of psychology courses used for the major, except for PSYC100 (or PSYC221 , if AP credit was earned for PSYC100 ), in which the grade must be "B-" or higher.
• No course may be used as a prerequisite unless a grade of "C-" is earned in that course prior to its use as a prerequisite.

Bachelor of Science: Math and Science Requirement

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree option must complete a minimum of 5 courses/17 credits in mathematics and science, as follows:

• At least three courses must be advanced
• At least two courses must contain a lab.
• The 5 courses/17 credits must be completed with at least a 2.0 average.
• MATH140 (highly recommended) or MATH120 (formerly MATH220 ) and BSCI170 plus BSCI171 , may be used to satisfy part of the requirement for the B.S. degree.  ( MATH136 is acceptable only for declared PSYC/BSCI double majors and for students who have taken the course prior to becoming a PSYC major.) 

Students should consult the following website for a list of approved advanced math and science courses for the Bachelor of Science in psychology:  https://psyc.umd.edu/undergraduate/degree-requirements

Click  here  for roadmaps for four-year plans in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Additional information on developing a four-year academic plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the  Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy  section of this catalog

Print Options

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

• Major Requirements

• Complete all prerequisite courses with a letter grade (COVID-19 Pass/No Pass Grading Policy Update below for more info)
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA in the prerequisite courses (if you have more than one course that satisfies a requirement, we will use the higher graded course).
• If you entered UC Berkeley as a freshman, you must submit the major declaration form after completing three semesters at Cal and before you begin your 6th semester.  If you entered Berkeley as a transfer, you must declare the major before you begin your 2nd semester at UC Berkeley. For students on a reduced courseload who cannot complete major requirements within this semester range, we will extend the window if you can apply   prior to the accumulation of 80 semester units, including work in progress.

If any of the above criteria are not met, students may still apply to the major, however there is no guarantee  you will be accepted. Visit the Apply to the Major  webpage for more information on the appeal process. 

Fall 2023 Freshman Admission Update

Admission into the Psychology major will be based on a student's UC Application. The implementation of this policy is in development, please talk to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for further guidance. For more information on the high-demand major policy please visit the "Admissions" page for the College of Letters and Science on the Berkeley Academic Guide.

Psychology major advisors have no purview on the process for "Comprehensive Review" as this will be primarily handled by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please refer to this  webpage  for additional information, or contact them at  [email protected]

ALL courses taken for the major (both lower division prerequisites and upper division requirements) must be taken for a letter grade .

* We require a minimum of four letter-graded courses to satisfy prerequisites.   If you take more than one AP exam or IBHL exam you may choose which one to use for the major prerequisites.  The other four prerequisites must be satisfied with letter-graded courses. 

Transfer students and UC Berkeley students who wish to complete prerequisites at community colleges should consult a ssist.org for further information about the appropriate transferable coursework. 

Students must take at least 8 upper division courses according to the guidelines below.

Tier II: Survey - A total of 5 courses with at least one in each area

Tier III: Electives - A total of 3 Additional Upper-Division Psychology Courses 

• Select three courses from upper-division psychology courses numbered 104-182. Each course must be at least 3.0 units.
• Psych 149, Psych 149A, Psych 149B, Psych 149C & Psych 149D DO NOT COUNT for the major requirements. 
• Any excess Tier II survey courses will count towards Tier III.

* Effective Fall 2022 - Psych 111: Human Neuroanatomy is eligible to count as a tier 2 biological upper-division requirement.

* Effective Fall 2020 - Psych 124: The Evolution of Human Social Behavior is eligible to count as a tier 2 biological upper-division requirement.

* Effective Spring 2022 - Psych C115C: Neuroethology: Complex Animal Behaviors and Brains is eligible to count as a tier 2 biological upper-division requirement.

** Psych 130M is a lifespan psychopathology class and is not the same as Psych 130. Students who have take both Psych 130 and Psych 131 are discouraged from also taking Psych 130M.

Additional information regarding upper division Psychology course requirements: 

Psych 102, H194, H195, 197, 198, and 199 do not count toward the coursework requirement although students are encouraged to become involved in research.

Students may take up to two upper division courses outside the department to satisfy these requirements.  See a list of courses that have been previously approved on our website here.

Courses taken in the summer with an "N" prefix or online with a "W" prefix can be used to satisfy the same requirements as the traditional course. For example, taking Psych N140 in summer is equivalent to taking Psych 140 in Fall or Spring. 

Sample Psychology Major Schedule

Here are commonly asked questions on how the recent grading policy change from campus affects admission to the Psychology major in regards to prerequisite coursework and requirements completed during the remote learning period:

How many Psychology major requirements can I take P/NP?  

As a general rule, students must take all prerequisites and all Tier II/III requirements for a letter grade.  However, during the remote learning period of Spring 2020, Fall  2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 students may take some of these courses P/NP and if earning a Pass apply them to their major requirements. 

Students must complete at least 4 prerequisites for a letter grade to be admitted to the major. The other prerequisite can be either a course passed on a  P/NP basis taken during the remote learning period(Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 ONLY), or AP or IBHL credit.

Students must complete at least 4 Tier II/Tier III major requirements for a letter grade to be satisfactorily complete major requirements. The other 4 Tier II or Tier III courses can be a combination of Pass grades taken during the remote learning period (Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 ONLY),  There is no restriction on which areas these courses may be in. 

How will admission to the Psychology major be determined in future terms? For students applying to the major, the GPA requirement for admission to the Psychology major will remain at the 3.0 for guaranteed admissions purposes. We will be accepting P/NP grades from Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021. However, we require that 4 out of the 5 psychology prerequisite courses be taken for a letter grade. For now, please know that the Psychology Department will be making admission decisions within reason to allow for as much flexibility as possible.

Can UCEAP, Community College and non-UC Berkeley courses be taken P/NP in Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021? Yes. Students can take UCEAP courses, community college and other non-Berkeley courses, P/NP and we will accept them towards major if a P grade is earned in the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 semesters. Please note that we require that 4 out of the 5 psychology prerequisite courses be taken for a letter grade. NOTE: UCEAP/non-Berkeley course(s) must be approved to count towards the major (The Psychology syllabus review form can be submitted to the department for further processing). This applies to Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 courses only.

How will the department calculate major GPA with Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 P/NP courses? We will include all letter-graded courses (minimum of 4) taken to satisfy prerequisites in order to calculate the prerequisite GPA.

For more questions please email [email protected] for further advising

For more information about the process to declare the major, a link to the online application, and deadlines for major applications each semester, visit our  Apply to the Major  webpage. 

Grading All prerequisite courses and upper-division courses that apply to the major must be taken on a letter grade basis and receive a D- or above.  Major requirements will not count towards the major progress if a course is taken Pass/No Pass (See COVID-19 Policy above for more info). Major courses can only be taken as Pass/No Pass once student has completed all major requirements. 

Minimum Grade Point Average in the Major The University requires that students maintain a 2.0 grade point average in all courses (lower and upper division) required in the major program, as well as a 2.0 grade point average in all upper division courses that apply to the major.  Any student who does not meet the minimum grade point average in the major will be placed on probation. 

• Apply to the Major
• Major Orientation Videos
• Program Planning
• Graduation Preparation
• Pre-Med / Health Track
• Psychology Commencement - 2024
• Academic Overview
• Academic Advising
• Minor Requirements
• Enrollment & Course Information
• Research & Discovery
• Weekly Opportunities
• Career Paths

Undergraduate Student Services

Room 2210, 2121 Berkeley Way University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720-1650

OFFICE HOURS

Undergraduate Studies and Advising

• > undergraduate

About the Undergraduate Psychology Major

The undergraduate Psychology major at the University of Washington offers students a broadly based introduction to human and animal behavior based on a curriculum that emphasizes current research and theory. Read more about the Psychology major .

The UW Psychology program for undergraduate majors stresses scientific and statistical reasoning skills that help students evaluate data, claims, and theories in both the academic and popular literatures. We provide undergraduates research participation, applied fieldwork and supervised teaching opportunities. Students make use of what they learn in various career paths including areas such as counseling, education, and basic research. We also provide opportunities for a wide range of UW majors to include psychology as part of their general education.

Undergraduate Advising Office

The Psychology Advising Office has in-person and Zoom appointment hours Mondays through Fridays. Please click "Meet with an Advisor" below to set up an in-person or Zoom appointment or drop-in.

Meet with an Advisor   Find Us On Campus

Undergraduate Studies and Advising Team

The Undergraduate Studies and Advising team offers services to assist you. You can also find information about how to find us and our advising staff.

Carrie Perrin, Director of Student Services

Vicky Hansen, Senior Academic Advisor

I work with students who are interested in the honors program and with the admissions process into the major. I teach Psych 298 in the Autumn quarter for seniors and recent alumni on applying to graduate school. I am happy to consult with any student or alumni on their plans for graduate school or career development.

Cy Delgado, Senior Academic Advisor

Hello, if you find yourself stumped with the pronunciation of my name, you are not alone; it is “ sigh.” I studied Education at Central Washington University and proceeded to work in Enrollment Management at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. In 2006, I joined the Office of Admissions at the University of Washington, where I read many admissions essays, and I can confidently say that to become a Husky, grades are not the be-all and end-all. With my knowledge of admissions, I decided to take my passion for helping students achieve their educational goals to a new level, and in 2015 I joined the Department of Psychology advising team. As an advisor, I enjoy meeting with prospecitve and current students. I also instruct PSYCH 497, a fieldwork experience course that applies and reflects on the skills and experiences you have gained in class through a volunteering experience. I love to travel with my partner Arlen in my free time, run, and work towards completing my M.Ed in Adult and Higher Education.

Subscribe to our updates

• Utility Menu

Psychology Undergraduate Program

• Department of Psychology

Requirements

Psychology concentrators have a lot of flexibility in selecting both their concentration track and their concentration courses. Please view the  Requirements Chart  for a visual display of all track requirements, and check out the Courses tab to learn more about the courses that can fulfill each line!  

Programs in Psychology  

The Psychology concentration offers a variety of program options that reflect the diversity of interests our students have in psychology and related areas. The three tracks we offer are:

• The  General Track
• The  Life Sciences: Cognitive Neuroscience & Evolutionary Psychology Track
• The  Mind/Brain/Behavior: Cognitive Science Track

We also offer the option to study  psychology as a Secondary Field .

You can also check out...

• Info about  Studying Out of Residence as a Psychology concentrator
• Honors in Psychology
• The Harvard College Course Catalog  

Additional Resources  

Need more help deciding what courses to choose? To help you craft a program that reflects your own intellectual and career interests, please make use of the following resources...

• Psychology's Concentration Advisors
• The Harvard College Student Handbook
• Requirements Chart
• Psychology Requirements Under COVID-19
• Concentration Tracks
• Double Concentration
• Secondary Field
• Concentration GPA & Honors

B.A. Psychology

Psychology Bachelor of Arts

The  B.A. in Psychology  emphasizes the fundamental principles of Psychology that can be applied to solve practical problems related to human behavior and society.   You’ll gain a broad education in Psychology that is relevant to many fields, including counseling and therapy, social work, education, physical health and wellness, marketing and sales, law and forensics, environmental sustainability, and human resources. 

The B.A. program emphasizes real-world applications through community engagement, and is designed for students who want marketable skills they can use to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

Psychology Major

Major coursework in psychology will include one course from each of the following domains:

• Clinical Science,
• Social-Personality Science, and
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Additional course work can include up to two active learning experiences such as independent study, internship, or practicum.

Course Requirements

A total of 33 credits is required to complete the major, covering foundational topics in psychology. 18 units must be upper division courses.

B.A. Course Curriculum Guide for Fall 2021 and prior

b.a. course curriculum guide spring 2022 and beyond

Four-Year Planning Guides NOTE:   This is meant to be used as a guide only. Plan of Study will vary from student to student. 

Students with Math 100 Placement

four-year planning guide

Students with Math 107 or 112 Placement

Prepare for Your Future

The B.A. in Psychology will give you marketable skills you can use to enter the workforce or apply to graduate programs in counseling, therapy, social work, education, and more. Our Faculty, Professional Advisors and Staff are committed to supporting you throughout your undergraduate career and beyond.  We offer professional development coursework, events, and guidance on internship and research opportunities. 

Explore Career & Graduate School Support

» psychology courses and learning objectives

University of Florida

Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. Psychology majors receive a broad science-based liberal arts education. As a result, those with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology are widely sought in business, education, and mental health fields. For a professional career in Psychology, a graduate degree is needed.

About this Program

• College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Degree: Bachelor of Science
•      Specializations:  General Psychology | Behavior Analysis | Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Credits for Degree: 120
• Contact: Email

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Department of Psychology is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the generation of psychological science and to its application and dissemination. The department is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory environment. Website

Email | 352.392.0601 (tel) | 352.392.7985 (fax)

P.O. Box 112250 114 PSYCHOLOGY BUILDING GAINESVILLE FL 32611-2250 Map

 Curriculum

• Psychology UF Online

The Psychology curriculum provides a strong background to pursue careers in Psychology or to prepare students for entry into advanced professional schools such as law or medicine. The curriculum emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science and as a social science.

SPECIALIZATIONS

Students in the Psychology major can specialize in General Psychology, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, or Behavior Analysis. All specializations require coursework in psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology, and all offer the option to conduct a senior honors thesis if desired. The specializations vary in the specific courses necessary to complete the degree requirements.

General Psychology 

Requires courses in four core areas within the discipline as well as elective psychology courses.

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

Focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and allows students to take limited approved non-psychology courses relevant to contemporary neuroscience. This specialization also requires more math and biology courses than General Psychology. 

Behavior Analysis

Also focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and how the environment around an organism can be modified to change behavior.

COURSEWORK FOR THE MAJOR

A psychology major consists of a minimum of 36 credits with related coursework in biological science, mathematics, and statistics. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be taken at the University of Florida. Courses used toward the major must be earned with minimum grades of C.

Required Coursework

Required coursework will depend on the program the student chooses. Coursework for each specialization can be found below.

Recommended Coursework

In addition to regularly scheduled courses, the department offers six individual work courses:

In each case, a psychology faculty member or other approved professional serves as supervisor. A maximum of nine credits of individual work courses from the following can count toward the major:

Research in Psychology means asking questions about behavior, designing and running experiments and collecting data regarding those questions, analyzing and interpreting the results, and communicating these results to colleagues. Developing research skills is encouraged, especially if students anticipate graduate school in Psychology or in other professional areas.

The Bachelor of Science in Psychology enables students to achieve a high level of proficiency in the science of psychology, including the core natural and social science areas of psychology. Laboratory courses emphasize students' understanding of the design, analysis, and critical interpretation of psychological research. Students will also refine their core knowledge and understanding of psychological research with advanced coursework in statistics, biology, and mathematics.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Demonstrate satisfactory (minimum grade of C) performance on exams, papers, and other coursework for six credits in core psychology natural sciences (course prefixes CBH, EAB, EXP and PSB), six credits of core psychology social sciences (course prefixes CLP, DEP, SOP and PPE) and three or four credits of psychological research methodology, design, and analysis, as graded by department rubric.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student learning outcomes | slos.

• Critical knowledge of basic and applied aspects of core natural science areas within psychology as well as core social science areas within psychology.
• Knowledge of the design, analysis, and interpretation of psychological research.

Critical Thinking

• Review, interpret, and analyze the literature in psychological science.

Communication

• Clearly and effectively present ideas in speech and in writing that contribute to the dissemination of advances in research in psychological science.

Curriculum Map

All courses available to students are listed in the table; however, students select six credits in core psychology natural sciences, six credits of core psychology social sciences and three to four credits in psychological research methodology, design, and analysis.

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

Print options.

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

All pages in 2024-2025 Academic Catalog.

Please enable Javascript in your web browser in order to use the features on this website.

Overview of the Psychology Major

Jump to a subject:.

The Psychology Department offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree (new degree option as of spring 2021). We also partner with other programs to provide joint majors in linguistics, neuroscience & behavioral biology, and quantitative sciences with a psychology track.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The BA in Psychology provides students with a solid grounding in psychology as an empirical science. 

Requirements:  12 courses, 39 hours to complete. Eleven courses originating in or officially cross-listed with the psychology department, plus QTM100.

Required coursework and progression designed to help students (a) experience a breadth of topics within the field and (b) delve deeply into more advanced topics and means of learning about them.

Good fit for: Students interested in connecting psychology to other fields as part of a comprehensive liberal arts experience. The BA may be particularly appealing for those planning to pursue careers for which a strong background understanding of human behavior is advantageous (for example, business, marketing, economics, health care, policy, etc.).

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The BS in Psychology provides the same strong scientific training afforded by the BA, as well as enhanced quantitative training and exposure to interfacing natural sciences.

Requirements:  16 courses, 51 hours to complete. Eleven courses originating in, or officially cross-listed, with the psychology department, plus QTM100. Additional courses in the areas of (a) quantitative or methodological inquiry and (b) related natural science inquiry.

Good fit for: Students drawn to cutting-edge questions in the scientific literature about behavior. The BS may be particularly appealing for those planning to pursue graduate study in labs employing advanced methodological and analytical techniques, as well as those with an interest in graduate programs in health-related fields.

Joint Majors

The department of psychology, in conjunction with other departments and programs in the university, offers joint majors in: (i) linguistics, (ii) neuroscience & behavioral biology, and (iii) a quantitative sciences degree with a psychology track. 

The department of psychology does not offer a minor in psychology.

Declaring Your Psychology Major

Students wishing to declare a major in Psychology can do so by first completing the online declaration of major form . 

After completing the online form, students must contact Lorenza Houser in Suite 270, PAIS Building  for additional paperwork required to declare a psychology major.

Declarations will not be accepted during the direct enrollment period. 

Maintain at least a "C" average and Pass Your Courses

• Students declaring a psychology major are required to maintain a “C” average (2.0) in their major and pass all courses with a “D” or better for them to count towards the major requirements.  
• Courses taken to meet the requirements for the BA in Psychology   may not   be taken under the S/U option.
• Courses taken for the psychology major must appear on the transcript with a letter grade; grades of S are not acceptable for any course.

Declared Majors: check your Emory email for crucial information Declared majors will be put on the undergraduate email list. Please read email information from the department carefully; these emails will keep you up-to-date on crucial deadlines, requirements, and opportunities.

GPA Calculator

This GPA calculator may be useful. It is for unofficial use only.

Academic Advising

Each psychology major is assigned an academic advisor. You should meet with that advisor on a regular basis to discuss courses that can meet the requirements for your major.

Advisors will be available during advising and direct enrollment periods; however, advisors often have more time to spend with students at times other than advising or direct enrollment periods. We hope that students will take advantage of these times in scheduling appointments with their advisors.

Sign-up sheets will be placed outside each advisor’s office in the weeks before advising period. It is strongly advised that students sign up as early as possible for advising.

Students should talk to their academic advisor about future career plans if they include graduate training in psychology, as there may be additional courses they should take for entrance to graduate school.

Find Your Academic Advisor

Office for undergraduate education, changing your oue academic advisor.

Students unhappy with their advisors may come by Suite 270 in the PAIS Building to fill out a request to change advisors. Students may also change advisors if their area of interest becomes more closely aligned with another faculty member’s area of expertise.  

Students cannot change advisors during advising or direct enrollment periods.

Undergraduate

Lorenza houser undergraduate academic degree program coordinator, senior.

Lorenza Houser is responsible for undergraduate program administration, curriculum management, departmental course planning and scheduling, teaching evaluations, website administration, and sustainability initiatives. 

Ask Lorenza about:   undergraduate student records • program management & accreditation • reports • undergraduate policies & procedures • course & faculty evaluations • teaching plan • curriculum management • website administration • study abroad • degree applications & requirements • transfer credits • honors program • research participation • pre-registration advising • Oxford continuees • final grades • enrollment • course offerings • atlas • classroom assignment & reservations • textbooks • commencement planning & reception • class visits

Contact Information

Questions or comments contact, lorenza houser, undergraduate academic degree program coordinator, senior, jessica barber, director of undergraduate studies, associate teaching professor, declaration of major form, career info and opportunities, is graduate study in psychology right for you.

Books, guides, application materials are some of the resources that can help you start your search for a program that suits your interests. Here's some guides to get you started.

College of Letters and Science

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science

Are you fascinated by human behavior? Do you want to understand how people think, feel, act and interact? Psychologists conduct studies to learn about what makes people the way they are — including their biology, environment and culture. This knowledge can be used to solve real-world problems in nearly every field, including business, counseling, teaching and technology, and help people who suffer from neuropsychiatric disorders or experience psychological distress.

Major Requirements

You’ll begin your studies with a generalized psychology course to introduce you to the subject matter. And after taking the foundational research methods and statistics courses, you’ll be better equipped to take our advanced psychology courses. If you’re pursuing a bachelor of science, you’ll be taking a series of mathematics, chemistry and biological science courses on top of the depth subject matter. Bachelor of arts students will have the opportunity to take a number of humanities and/or science courses while completing the in-depth subject matter. Regardless of degree or area of study, the sky’s the limit when it comes to conducting original research, assisting faculty with their own projects or participating in an internship.

Contact Information

• Counselor/Therapist
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Applied Behavior Analyst
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Human Resources Official

Graduate Study

• Social work
• Sport psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• Forensic psychology

Alumni Employers

• Credit Karma
• UC Davis Health

Related Degrees

Cognitive Science

Human Development

Internship opportunities

Explore internships and jobs on campus and beyond.

Your course roadmap

Find the detailed course requirements for your program and map out your path to graduation.

The faculty you will work with

Our undergraduates work directly with our faculty through research projects and labs.

Global learning programs

Expand your horizons by studying abroad or pursuing global learning on campus.

Undergraduate research

Get hands on with your interests. Participate in one of our hundreds of research opportunities.

What can I do with my psychology major?

Learn how to connect your psychology major to career opportunities.

• University of Pennsylvania
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Penn Calendar

Search form

Psychology Major Requirements

Please note: Starting in Summer 2022 all PSYC courses will have a 4-digit course number.

A list of *LECTURE* Courses with their new numbers (1000- and 2000-level) can be found here:

4-digit numbers for PSYC Lecture Courses  

A list of Psychology *SEMINARS* with their new 4-digit numbers (3000-level) can be found here:

4-digit numbers for PSYC Seminars (3000-level)

The emphasis on Psychology as a science begins in the introductory course, Introduction to Experimental Psychology, and persists in all subsequent, advanced coursework. As majors progress through their curricula, advanced courses shift from textbook summaries of topics to reading of the primary empirical literature. In addition, all majors gain first-hand experience with the process of generating psychological knowledge through empirical research, either by completing a faculty-supervised Mentored Research project (new numbers PSYC 4998 and PSYC 4999; old number PSYC 399) over the course of one or two semesters, or by taking a structured Research Experience course (new number 4000-level; old number 300-level).  Students can also explore advanced topics in small, discussion-based seminars (new number 3000-level; old number 400-level).

The undergraduate handbook can be viewed here: https://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/undergraduate-handbook

REQUIREMENTS:

Psychology majors are required to take a total of 13 credits . The current Psychology courses can be found here . To graduate, a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major is required.   Please note:  Six (6)   of the total PSYC credits towards the Psychology major must be Penn classes taken in the Penn Psychology Dept.

The specific requirements of the major are:

Introduction to Experimental Psychology (new number PSYC 0001; old number PSYC 001) : (1 cu) This one-semester course provides initial contact with the facts and basic concepts that underlie the field as a whole. It is an integrated treatment of the scientific basis of the field, and its content is assumed, but not duplicated, in the other psychology courses. PSYC 0001 is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses at the 1000-level and above, unless otherwise indicated. 

Students who earned 5 on the AP exam can get a waiver for PSYC 0001. In place of PSYC 0001, these students must take any other 1000- through 4000-level PSYC course so they still have a total of 13 credits toward the major. Please contact your advisor in the College about securing a waiver. 

Distribution Requirement (1000- and 2000-level courses) : (6 cu) Majors take six lecture courses which approach various areas of the discipline in greater depth. Because Psychology is such a diverse discipline, majors distribute their six core lecture courses across three content areas to ensure broad coverage. These content areas are Biological science, Cognitive science, and Social science. Majors are required to take one 1000-level course in each area, as well as a subsequent lecture course in each area (either 1000- or 2000-level). This totals six distribution courses. The available courses will change from time to time as new courses are added and others deleted, but the current lecture courses accepted in the distribution can be found here: Distribution Requirement (1000- and 2000-level courses)

Statistics  Requirement : (1 cu) Inferential statistics are important for understanding and conducting research in Psychology.   Each Psychology major is required to take an approved Statistics course. The following courses fulfill the statistics requirement in the Psychology Major: 

STAT1010, STAT 1020, STAT 1110, STAT 1120, STAT 4310, BIOL 2510, ECON 2300, SOCI 2010, NURS2300, ANTH 3454, CRIM 1200, ENM 3750

These approved introductory statistics courses also fulfill the Quantitative Skills foundational requirement in the General Requirement curriculum of the College .

Empirical Research Requirement (4000-level credit; old number 300-level credit): (1 cu) All students must complete one semester of either  Mentored Research (PSYC 4998 or PSYC 4999) or a Research Experience Course (4000-level course). Students are expected to be engaged in empirical research activities throughout the semester(s); exactly what this means will vary from project to project, but in all cases it should involve the empirical assessment of a psychological hypothesis. You will explore background literature relevant to your project, and develop the quantitative skills necessary to complete your research. There is a statistics prerequisite for the research credit (see above).

Each semester of PSYC 4998 or 4999 counts as one credit unit. Only two PSYC 4998 or 4999 credits can count toward your major. Any third or subsequent PSYC 4998 or 4999 credit will count as electives in the College.

Electives  Requirement : (4 cu) Students are required to take four electives in the Psychology major. These elective courses can be selected from any undergraduate Psychology course from the 1000- to 4000- level, and up to 2 cognate courses, see below.

Lecture courses (1000- and 2000- level courses) : Students often select additional lecutres/ distribution courses as electives.

Seminars (3000-level courses; old number PSYC 400-level courses) : Students are encouraged to take seminars. These are our highly popular small, discussion-based courses. These courses afford the opportunity to work closely with faculty, engaging with the material in depth.

A list of PSYC Seminars with their new 4-digit numbers (3000-level) can be found here:

Psychology cognate electives : There are numerous courses from other departments that are permitted to count toward the Psychology major as electives. You are permitted a maximum of two approved cognate electives counting toward your major. Please note these courses are not necessarily offered frequently, and it is your responsibility to take any prerequisites or related course to be prepared for these courses. The approved cognate electives are: ANTH 1040, ASAM 1800, BEPP 220, CRIM 2070, ECON 0120 (cross-listed as PPE 3001), EDU 2535, EDU 2541, EDU 2551, EDU 3545, ENGL 0052, ENGL 2145, LING 0740, LING 2700, LING504, LING1720, NRSC 2233, NRSC 2240, NRSC 3310, NRSC 2350, NRSC 4421, NRSC 4430, NRSC 4469, NRSC 4470, NRSC 4480, NRSC 4482, OIDD 2900, PHIL 4840, PHIL 4843,  PPE 3001 (cross-listed as ECON 0120), STAT 1020, STAT 1120. If there is a course offered in another department that you would like to petition as a cognate elective, please email a rationale of how this course complements your undergraduate education with a PDF of the syllabus to  [email protected] . Generally 100% remote classes will not count towards the major.

Mentored Research aka  Independent Study (PSYC 4998 and 4999) : Students are permitted to count a maximum of two PSYC 4998 or 4999 credits in the Psychology major. Many students earn one PSYC 4998 or 4999 credit completing the research requirement, and then a subsequent PSYC 4998 or 4999 credit counts as a Psychology major elective. Any additional PSYC 4998 or 4999 credits will count as electives in the College.

Research experience courses:  These 4000-level courses (old number 300-level research courses) give students the opportunity to conduct research in a setting that emphasizes group work. These courses are rare and enrollment is usually through individual application.  

Statistics : Students are permitted to take a maximum of two statistics courses counting toward the Psychology major - one fulfilling the Statistics requirement and one cognate elective. Students considering graduate school are encouraged to take an advanced statistics elective (this can be used as an approved cognate elective described above). If you are unsure of which advanced statistics course is appropriate, please contact Claire Ingull i.

Individual Scholarly research credits (PSYC 3999; old number PSYC 299) : Students may take PSYC 3999 as an elective. In this seminar-of-one, the student completes a set of directed readings, meets regularly with their faculty supervisor to discuss these readings, and writes a critical paper addressing some topic(s) covered by these readings. It is the student's responsibility to arrange their scholarly research credit with a Penn Psychology faculty member. This course does not satisfy the research credit requirement!

We value your privacy

We use cookies to allow this site to work for you, improve your user experience, and to serve you advertising tailored to your interests. Let us know if you agree to all cookies. You can manage your preferences at any time

Your Privacy

We use cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to allow the site to work for you, improve your user experience, to provide us with information about how our site is used, and to deliver personalised ads which help fund our work and deliver our service to you for free.

The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.

You can accept all, or else manage cookies individually. However, blocking some types of cookies may affect your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.

You can change your cookies preference at any time by visiting our Cookies Notice page. Please remember to clear your browsing data and cookies when you change your cookies preferences. This will remove all cookies previously placed on your browser.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, or how to clear your browser cookies data see our Cookies Notice

Manage consent preferences

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems.

They are essential for you to browse the website and use its features.

You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. We can’t identify you from these cookies.

These help us personalise our sites for you by remembering your preferences and settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers, whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, then these services may not function properly.

These cookies allow us to count visits and see where our traffic comes from, so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are popular and see how visitors move around the site. The cookies cannot directly identify any individual users.

If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to improve its performance for you.

These cookies may be set through our site by social media services or our advertising partners. Social media cookies enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They can track your browser across other sites and build up a profile of your interests. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to see or use the content sharing tools.

Advertising cookies may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but work by uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will still see ads, but they won’t be tailored to your interests.

CHOOSE ONE OR MORE

Popular universities.

• University of Kent
• University of East Anglia UEA
• University of Chester
• Coventry University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of Portmouth
• Nottingham Trent University
• University of Sunderland
• London Metropolitan University
• London South Bank University
• University of East London
• BROWSE ALL UNIVERSITIES

Course search

Popular undergraduate courses.

• Computer Science
• LLB Bachelor of Laws
• Biomedical Sciences
• Physiotherapy
• Sports Science

Open days search

Upcoming open days.

• BIMM University
• University of Bedfordshire
• Edge Hill University
• Ravensbourne University London

Article search

Popular topics.

• League tables
• Choosing what to study
• Financing your studies
• Choosing where to study
• Career prospects

Popular articles

• How to use the league tables
• Helping you decide where and what to study
• Why use our university league tables?
• Types of degrees in the UK
• How to revise for exams: Top tips
• BROWSE ALL ADVICE

Results for Undergraduate Psychology Courses

162 universities offer 1195 undergraduate courses

Add your grades

Find courses that match your qualifications.

• University League Table: highest first
• Subject League Table: highest first
• UCAS points: highest first
• UCAS points: lowest first

University of Cambridge

UCAS points

University League Table

Psychology League Table

160 - 160 UCAS points

University of Oxford

112 - 165 UCAS points

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

152 - 152 UCAS points

University of St Andrews

126 - 136 UCAS points

126 - 144 UCAS points

Durham University

136 - 160 UCAS points

144 - 168 UCAS points

UCAS points not available

Loughborough University

104 - 136 UCAS points

University of Bath

104 - 128 UCAS points

112 - 152 UCAS points

UCL (University College London)

University of Warwick

136 - 136 UCAS points

144 - 144 UCAS points

Lancaster University

Studying Psychology

Search through undergraduate Psychology and Counselling degree courses to see what’s available from UK universities. Each page should give you an insight into what the course might be like, along with information on entry requirements, UCAS points and university league table performance.Psychology and Counselling courses help you to understand human behaviour and provide mental health support. You’ll develop a robust interpersonal skill set and work towards a career as a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist. Module topics might include neuropsychology, psychotherapy theories, therapeutic practice, trauma, responsibility and social psychology. There are many related courses in both Psychology and Counselling, with several dual honours options available.

Filter by qualification

• Access to Higher Education
• Bachelors Degree
• Foundation Degree
• Undergraduate Certificates & Diplomas

Filter by region

• East Midlands
• East of England
• North East England
• North West England
• Northern Ireland
• South East England
• South West England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and the Humber

Filter by city

• Loughborough
• Southampton

Filter by subject

• Psychology and Counselling
• Psychology Specialisations
• Counselling
• Criminal Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Behavioural Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Applied Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Occupational Psychology
• Psychological Counselling
• Health Counselling
• Child / Youth Counselling
• Environmental Psychology

Course type

Qualification, your ucas points 0.

• About Seattle U
• Facts and Figures
• Campus Sustainability
• Centers and Institutes
• Campus News
• Faculty and Staff Resources
• Directories
• Undergraduate Majors and Degrees
• Graduate Programs and Degrees
• Colleges and Schools
• Lemieux Library
• Service Learning
• Education Abroad
• Student Academic Services
• Redhawk Axis
• Student Life
• Housing and Residence Life
• Food Services
• Center for Community Engagement
• Center for Student Involvement
• Health and Personal Wellness
• Diversity and Multicultural Resources
• Career Services
• Parent and Family Engagement
• Public Safety
• Campus Store
• Campus Calendar
• University Recreation
• First Year Applicants
• International Students
• Transfer Students
• Graduate Students
• Adult Learners
• School of Law
• Campus Tours
• Accepted Students
• Orientation
• Tuition and Aid
• Net Price Calculator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships and Grants
• Student Billing and Payment
• Student Financial Services
• Academic Calendar
• Authorized User Login
• Jesuit Tradition
• Campus Ministry
• Center for Jesuit Education
• Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture
• Chapel of St. Ignatius
• All Things Jesuit
• Jesuits of Seattle U

The specific and unique role of the Psychology Department is to provide knowledge of psychology as a human science and as a natural science, founded both on solid philosophical reflection and scientific rigor. The curriculum is designed to provide a basic knowledge and understanding of human experience and behavior and the methods psychologists use to gain such knowledge and understanding.  A psychology major is ideal for students who plan a career in any field that deals primarily with people (such as nursing, teaching, social work, guidance, and human resources, to name only a few), or for students who plan to work as professional psychologists and thus need a sound preparation for graduate study.

General Program Requirements

Entry into the psychology major requires a 2.75 grade point average for incoming First-Year in College and a 2.75 grade point average for transfer students and for those transferring majors within the University. 

All psychology majors (BS and BA, with and without honors) may not register for pass/fail (P/F) in the courses listed under departmental requirements; courses graded P/F may not apply to major or Core requirements. Up to 10 credits of courses graded CR may apply towards the major. All majors must obtain a minimum grade of C in all required courses:  PSYC 1200    , PSYC 2050   , PSYC 3030   , PSYC 3050   , PSYC 3700   , and PSYC 4890    . In the bachelor of science and bachelor of science with honors programs, PSYC 2400   ,  PSYC 4030   , and the two required electives (selected from  PSYC 3040   ,  PSYC 3440    and PSYC 4160   ) also must be graded C or higher. All psychology majors must complete at least 30 credits in the major at Seattle University.  PSYC 2050   , PSYC 3030   , PSYC 3050   , and PSYC 4890    must all be completed at Seattle University.

A psychology major cannot count more than a total of 10 credits in independent study and/or practicum toward the credits required for the major.

Psychology majors may choose any minor but are not required to do so.

Requirements

In order to earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, students must complete a minimum of 180 credits with a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

Module i: engaging academic inquiry.

• UCOR 1100 - Academic Writing Seminar
• UCOR 1200 - Quantitative Reasoning (or MATH 1010 or above)
• UCOR 1300 - Creative Expression and Interpretation
• UCOR 1400 - Inquiry Seminar in the Humanities
• UCOR 1600 - Inquiry Seminar in the Social Sciences
• UCOR 1800 - Inquiry Seminar in the Natural Sciences  (or BIOL 1610/1611, 2200, CHEM 1500/1501, PHYS 1050/1051, 1210/1211)

Module II: Engaging Jesuit Traditions

• UCOR 2100 - Theological Explorations
• UCOR 2500 - Philosophy of the Human Person
• UCOR 2900 - Ethical Reasoning

Module III: Engaging the World

• UCOR 3100 - Religion in a Global Context
• UCOR 3400 - Humanities and Global Challenges
• UCOR 3800 - Natural Sciences and Global Challenges

II. College of Arts and Sciences Requirements

• Modern Languages 1150, 1250, 1350, or equivalent (15)

Students earning this major must demonstrate competency through the level of 1350 in a language other than English. This competency is ordinarily achieved by successful completion of the three-course sequence: 1150, 1250, and 1350. Because these courses are a college requirement, no course in the sequence may be taken on a pass/fail, correspondence, or audit basis. Placement into other than the beginning course of the sequence is achieved by acceptable performance on the Modern Language Competency Examination. See the Modern Languages and Cultures Department for details on the examinations. Courses used to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences modern language requirement may not be used to fulfill major requirements.

Choose one of the following three courses:

• HIST 1200 - Constructing Past and Present I
• HIST 1210 - Constructing Past and Present II
• HIST 2310 - US in the World

III. Major Requirements

65 credits in psychology, including:

• PSYC 1200 - Introductory Psychology 2
• PSYC 2050 - Writing for Research in Psychology 2
• PSYC 3030 - Statistics and Research Methods I 2, 3
• PSYC 3050 - Statistics and Research Methods II 2, 3
• PSYC 3700 - History and Schools of Psychology 2
• PSYC 4890 - Senior Seminar 2
• PSYC Electives (see course descriptions   ) (30)
• Statistical Thinking recommended to satisfy UCOR 1200
• Major requirements must be graded “C” (2.00) or better
•   CRJS 3010    /  3020    (10 credits) may substitute for PSYC 3030    / 3050     for BA Psychology students earning a double major or double degree with Criminal Justice
• No more than 10 total credit hours of independent study and/or practicum are permitted

Departmental Honors

Psychology Major with Departmental Honors  

Program Description

A student must complete a minimum of 44 PSYC credits and at least 60 non-PSYC credits.

Admission and Retention Requirements

• Complete  PSYC 101   , with a minimum grade of “C.” Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
• Complete  MATH 205   ,  MATH 220   ,  MATH 231   ,  MATH 235    or another acceptable math course with a minimum grade of “C.” Equivalent courses completed at other institutions that transfer to JMU are acceptable.
• Complete any General Education Psychology course ( PSYC 101   ,  PSYC 122    or  PSYC 160   ) with a minimum grade of “B.”  Earning a 4 on the AP Psychology exam meets this requirement. With departmental approval, grades from other institutions can fulfill this requirement.
• Complete an online orientation and application, available from the  psychology department   website.

Degree and Major Requirements

Major requirements.

The courses listed below are required of all students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, regardless of whether psychology is their first or second major.

• PSYC 101. General Psychology [C5SD] Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 160. Life Span Human Development [C5SD] Credits: 3.00
• MATH 220. Elementary Statistics [C3QR] Credits: 3.00

Methodology Core: 8 Credit Hours

PSYC 210    and PSYC 211    are offered every semester; PSYC 212    is offered only during the fall semester; PSYC 213    is offered only during the spring semester.

Choose one of the following sequences:

• PSYC 210. Psychological Measurement and Statistics Credits: 4.00 and
• PSYC 211. Psychological Research Methods Credits: 4.00
• PSYC 212. Psychological Research Design and Data Analysis I Credits: 4.00 and
• PSYC 213. Psychological Research Design and Data Analysis II Credits: 4.00

SS Content Core – Psychology as a Social Science: 9 Credit Hours

Choose at least three of the following:

• PSYC 330. Psychology of Personality Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 335. Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 345. Social Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 365. Developmental Psychology Credits: 3.00

NS Content Core – Psychology as a Natural Science: 9 Credit Hours

• PSYC 375. Sensation and Perception Credits: 3.00
• BIO 375. Sensation and Perception Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 380. Cognitive Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 385. Biopsychology Credits: 3.00
• BIO 385. Biopsychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 390. Psychology of Learning Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 395. Comparative Animal Behavior Credits: 3.00
• BIO 395. Comparative Animal Behavior Credits: 3.00

Upper-Level Courses: 6 Credit Hours

Earn six credit hours from among the following:

• PSYC 400. Advanced Topics in Psychology Credits: 1.00 - 3.00
• PSYC 401. Peer Advising Credits: 2.00
• PSYC 402. Independent Study in Psychology Credits: 1.00 - 4.00 4
• PSYC 403. Independent Research in Psychology Credits: 1.00 - 4.00 4
• PSYC 410. Psychology of the Workplace Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 415. Forensic Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 425. School Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 427. Tests and Measurements Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 428. Educational Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 430. Clinical Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 450. Psychology of Child Abuse and Neglect Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 452. Child Psychopathology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 461. Advanced Study Abroad in Psychology Credits: 1.00-4.00
• PSYC 475. Psychology of Adulthood Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 480. Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 3.00

Psychology electives: 3 Credit Hours

Capstone course: 3 credit hours.

Departmental approval is required for students to enroll in more than one psychology capstone course.

Choose one of the following:

• PSYC 492. History of Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 495. Field Placement in Psychology Credits: 4.00
• PSYC 497. Senior Seminar Credits: 3.00 2
• PSYC 499A. Honors Credits: 2.00 2
• PSYC 499B. Honors Credits: 2.00 2
• PSYC 499C. Honors Credits: 2.00 2

Sociocultural Competency: 0 Credit Hours

Choose one of the following: 3

• PSYC 220. Psychology and Culture Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 308. Health Psychology Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 310. The Psychology of Women and Gender Credits: 3.00
• PSYC 325. Counseling Psychology Credits: 3.00
• Other course sections that meet the sociocultural competency requirement

Total: 47 Credit Hours

1 The  General Education    program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.

2 Some sections of this course may meet the sociocultural awareness requirement depending on the content; when this course does meet the requirement it will be listed in the notes section of the course listing in MyMadison.

3 One sociocultural competency course is required. Credit for this course may be counted under one of the other major categories.

4  Repeatable. Additional credits in PSYC 402    or  PSYC 403    could fulfill the three credit hour elective requirement. Any additional PSYC 402    or  PSYC 403    hours could fulfill the 120 credit hours needed for graduation.

Recommended Schedule for Majors

The following program sample is intended as a guide. Courses must be taken in the sequence outlined; however, the semester during which a particular course is taken depends on a number of factors, including readiness to take 200-level math, the semester the psychology major is started and other majors or minors the student is completing.

Students are encouraged to meet regularly with their psychology academic advisor to plan their personal course schedule. Because of course sequencing requirements, even with the most compressed program, a minimum of five semesters (or four semesters and summer school) is required to complete the psychology major.

General Education   , B.S. degree    requirement and/or minor program courses Credits:   24.00

First Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Second year.

• PSYC 210. Psychological Measurement and Statistics Credits: 4.00
• PSYC 212. Psychological Research Design and Data Analysis I Credits: 4.00
• PSYC 211. Psychological Research Methods Credits: 4.00 1
• PSYC 213. Psychological Research Design and Data Analysis II Credits: 4.00 2
• General Education    , B.A. degree requirement and/or minor program courses and/or Psychology elective courses Credits:   19.00

Second Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

• SS content core courses  Credits:   3.00- 9.00  
• NS content core courses  Credits:   3.00-9.00  
• Minor program courses or electives  Credits:   12.00-24.00  

Third Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Fourth year.

• SS and NS content core courses Credits:  0.00-12.00
• Psychology Upper-level Course  Credits:   6.00
• Psychology Capstone course Credits: 3.00
• Minor program or elective courses  Credits:   9.00- 21.00  

Fourth Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Program total: 120 credit hours.

LET US HELP

Welcome to Capella

Select your program and we'll help guide you through important information as you prepare for the application process.

FIND YOUR PROGRAM

Connect with us

A team of dedicated enrollment counselors is standing by, ready to answer your questions and help you get started.

• Capella University Blog

Which psychology field is right for me?

May 15, 2024

Reading time: 4 minutes

Are you interested in using theory, analysis and evidence-based approaches to understand how people think, learn, develop and behave and to help them thrive? If you want to explore new ways to make a difference, the options for discovering your professional path in psychology may seem endless – and you may have found that you need advanced knowledge and skills to take the next step.

What skills can I develop with a psychology degree?

The specific skills that can be useful in the field of psychology will vary depending on the area of study you pursue and your degree level. Some of the broad skills that are important to develop include:

• Communication: Strong communication skills are an asset for helping individuals, groups or organizations, conveying research findings or working with colleagues.
• Ethical awareness: You may be required to handle sensitive information, which means respecting confidentiality.
• Analysis and critical thinking: When you conduct research or work with your stakeholders, you should be able to interpret data and understand how to apply what you know to different situations.
• Patience: Making progress toward specific goals takes time, whether it’s discussing solutions with a patient or conducting research on a study.
• Empathy and active listening: Understanding and recognizing the feelings of others starts with giving your full attention and knowing how to recognize verbal and nonverbal cues.
• Inclusivity: Recognizing the diverse perspectives of people and their communities and examining your own biases can help you adapt your approach to different needs.

Which area of psychology is right for me?

As you explore areas of psychology, these questions may help you figure out your interests:

• Who do you want to help?
• Are you more interested in clinical or applied areas of psychology?
• What issues do you want to focus on?

Your answers to these questions can help you find paths to explore, including degree options that could help you pursue your professional goals. You will need to conduct your own research to understand what opportunities may be available to you. Note that some professional paths may require you to have previous experience, licensure,* certifications or other designations along with a degree.

While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome – such as a job title, promotion, salary increase or other career outcome – we encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.

*It is important to understand all educational and individual requirements for licensing. Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, certification or endorsement. State regulations vary regarding professional licensure. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with requirements for your state.

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Based on where your interests lie, explore some fields of psychology and degree options offered by Capella.

Clinical psychology:  Study human behavior and help people build wellness and emotional resilience.

• BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling & Therapy
• MS in Clinical Psychology
• PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Behavioral health:  Treat populations in distress to improve emotional, social and mental health.

• BS in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis
• MS in Applied Behavioral Analysis
• PhD in Behavior Analysis

Developmental psychology:  Promote positive development, social growth and emotional changes throughout all stages of life.

• MS in Psychology, Child & Adolescent Development
• PhD in Psychology, Developmental Psychology

Educational psychology: Study how people learn and retain knowledge.

• MS in Psychology, Educational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology, Educational Psychology

School psychology:  Apply principles of educational and developmental psychology to meet behavior and educational needs in a learning environment.

• MS in School Psychology
• EdS in School Psychology
• PsyD in School Psychology

Industrial/organizational psychology:  Support leaders and organizations through an understanding of human behavior to help create efficiencies and advance team performance.

• MS in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology  

Learn more about Capella’s  bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral psychology programs and graduate certificates.

You may also like

The difference between school counselors and school psychologists

How long does it take to become a psychologist?

What can you do with a bachelor’s in psychology?

Start learning today.

Get started on your journey now by connecting with an enrollment counselor. See how Capella may be a good fit for you, and start the application process.

Please Exit Private Browsing Mode

Your internet browser is in private browsing mode. Please turn off private browsing mode if you wish to use this site.

Are you sure you want to cancel?

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Cognitive Science Major

C ognitive science majors study how the mind works. Students learn about cognition through an interdisciplinary curriculum that engages them in critical thinking and problem-solving. Those who are interested in better understanding cognitive processes such as memory, language, reasoning, motor control and attention, as well as how these processes affect our ability to learn, communicate and experience the world around us, might be a good fit for a degree in cognitive science.

What Is a Cognitive Science Major?

Cognitive science majors follow an interdisciplinary degree path that challenges them to examine and better understand cognitive processes. Because the field of cognitive science encompasses ideas and concepts from a number of disciplines, students in this major take classes in areas, including biology, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, mathematics, anthropology and philosophy, to help inform their understanding of cognition.

Undergraduate coursework typically focuses on understanding foundational theories and developing practical skills so students are prepared to apply their training to their chosen fields. Cognitive science majors might also focus on a problem of interest and tailor their coursework to delve into that issue. They can also engage in research, working with faculty members on specific projects or in affiliated research labs.

Cognitive science major vs. psychology major: What’s the difference?

Given the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science, it should come as no surprise that there is some overlap with psychology – at some schools, cognitive science is a degree offered by the psychology department. While both majors involve studying the mind, psychology is only one aspect of cognitive science. Psychology is a more concentrated major wherein students focus on human behavior and cognition. Psychology majors can specialize in particular parts of the human experience that are examined in clinical, developmental or industrial-organizational psychology.

Cognitive science majors do take some of the same courses as their psychology counterparts, but they can concentrate on other disciplines such as linguistics, artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. Cognitive science majors may need to meet with their academic advisers to determine their course selection based on their goals and the interdisciplinary options available, so the exact degree path may look different for each student.

Common Coursework Cognitive Science Majors Can Expect

As with most majors, the cognitive science degree path often requires undergraduate students to take introductory classes that build foundational knowledge in areas such as cognition, psychology and philosophy. Once they’ve completed their introductory coursework, and depending on their program, students can typically choose from a wide selection of elective courses.

Some students might choose to focus their elective coursework in a specific area. For example, Marquette University students interested in studying cognitive science through the lens of psychology might take the psychology of racism and introductory social psychology classes to learn more about how the mind affects human behavior. Other students might even be able to choose from a tailored mix of electives offered at their school. Yale University, for example, outlines custom course plans delving into areas such as comparative cognition, gender and prejudice, and human-computer interaction.

How to Know if This Major Is the Right Fit for You

Cognitive science might be a good fit for you if you find yourself wondering what drives people to think, behave and communicate the way they do. Cognitive science also explores how we might be able to use artificial intelligence and computing to advance our ability to develop and share information.

With its interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking skills, the cognitive science degree path prepares students to apply what they learn to fields including health care, business, law, psychology and education.

What Can I Do With a Cognitive Science Major?

Cognitive science majors can pursue a range of career paths and advanced study after they graduate. The degree path instills strong writing, research and analytical thinking skills that can prepare cognitive science graduates for jobs in fields such as software development , marketing, medical research, health care management, game design and education.

For graduates interested in furthering their education and research interests, master’s and doctoral programs in neuroscience, linguistics, psychology , education and other disciplines that draw on an understanding of cognitive functioning might be a good fit. Some cognitive science graduates might also choose to pursue medical school, law school or business school.

The table below contains a sampling of jobs people with a cognitive science background might pursue . Some positions, such as those in marketing or human resources, may only require a bachelor’s degree, while others, such as occupational therapist or school counselor, require an advanced degree and licensing. Whether cognitive science majors need to continue their studies or earn a professional license after obtaining their bachelor’s degree depends on each student’s chosen career.

Data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent estimates of annual salary by occupation and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

What Cognitive Science Majors Say

"The cognitive science major allowed me to explore my interdisciplinary passions and delve into multiple academic topics. It was fascinating to learn about the human mind through different lenses. In particular, I feel fortunate to have acquired strong skills in psychology, computer science and linguistics. It is very nice to have learned the methods from these diverse disciplines and be able to blend them into a cohesive academic pursuit. For instance, in one semester I was coding the technical details behind machine learning models in one course, while discussing the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence in another, and learning the ways in which computational methods can support psychology research in yet another class. In essence, the major has been an inspiring and challenging journey, nurturing my intellectual curiosity beyond the confines of any single discipline."

- Daniel Verdi do Amarante , University of Richmond, class of 2024, cognitive science major.

"As a student majoring in cognitive science at Rice University, I’ve had a unique chance to dive into a world that’s as varied as it is fascinating. This major is like a melting pot of subjects – linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and computer science all come together here. It’s this mix that has really pushed me to explore beyond what I thought I was capable of. In this major, there’s no shortage of chances to get hands-on with research. For me, this has meant stepping out of my usual comfort zone. I’m currently gearing up for a linguistics honors project next year. This summer, I’ll be interning at a neuroscience lab, and right now, I’m working as a research assistant in a psychology lab."

- James Belanger , Rice University, class of 2025, cognitive science major.

"Cognitive science is the study of understanding intelligence through the intersection of computer science, psychology and neuroscience. At CMU, from working as a computer vision researcher in the HyperSense Lab to developing a social distancing AI detection system, I have learned how technology can address real-world challenges by empowering others with dependable tools during uncertain times. The program’s interdisciplinary approach, along with technology-focused curriculum, provides me with a solid foundation to contribute to the evolving landscape of cognitive science. CMU’s cognitive science program is truly a dream come true for anyone aspiring to gain hands-on experience and make a positive impact in this dynamic field."

- Samhitha Srini , Carnegie Mellon University, class of 2024, Bachelor of Science in cognitive science.

Schools Offering a Cognitive Science Major

Check out some schools below that offer cognitive science majors and find the full list of schools here that you can filter and sort.

Dynamic Table : Cognitive Science Major Table

Copyright 2024 U.S. News & World Report

• Request Info
• Check Status

Health Administration (BS)

Undergraduate Major

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in the future of healthcare? The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration prepares students for a career in public health by combining courses from The Alvarez College of Business and The College of Health, Community and Policy to integrate UTSA’s strengths in population health, “big data” analytics and cyber security.

Start Your Bold Future

By submitting this form, I agree that UTSA may contact me by email, voice, pre-recorded message and/or text message using automated technology.

Please enable javascript in your browser

Why Pursue a Health Administration Bachelor's Degree

The BS in Health Administration is designed to make students effective, ethical leaders ready for diverse healthcare roles in a variety of settings including public health, safety net programs, community-based care, primary care and hospital/tertiary care. Our customized curriculum delves into the specific needs of San Antonio and South-Central Texas by tackling regional challenges such as border community health.

Students who graduate with a Health Administration bachelor’s degree are prepared for diverse careers as healthcare business analysts, healthcare consultants, revenue cycle specialists, health information technology specialists, public health project/program managers, population health analysts, hospital/health system administrators, long-term care administrators and physician practice managers.

Preparing for Career Success

Through hands-on learning, the BS in Health Administration equips students with skills such as healthcare process management, healthcare finance, accounting, data analytics, health information systems, operations management and population health analysis.

This degree prepares students for the competitive job market with top employers in San Antonio, the state of Texas and beyond. Companies currently hiring health administration candidates include:

• UT Health San Antonio
• University Health (San Antonio)
• Christus Health (San Antonio)
• Metro Health (San Antonio)
• Memorial Hermann (Houston)
• Houston Methodist
• Walmart Health
• HCA Healthcare
• UnitedHealth Group

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Professional development course.

The bachelor’s degree in Health Administration includes a professional development course to prepare students for the professional standards and expectations of the field, so they can excel from the beginning of their careers.

Internship Experiences

As part of the bachelor’s in Health Administration program, students will start building a professional network and gaining valuable experience by interning at a local healthcare provider or public health agency. 

Capstone Course Sequence

Before graduating with a BS in Health Administration, students will complete a capstone course sequence which offers unique exposure to project-based learning opportunities in population health, strategy, and value-based care.

Extracurricular Activities

The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration helps students maximize their time at UTSA with extracurricular opportunities for professional development, industry exposure, networking and other valuable career-focused learning experiences. 

Admission Requirements

Scholarships, careers, salary & skills.

When you apply to UTSA, you select the major you'd like to study. The choice of major will not impact if you get admitted to the University ( all students must meet UTSA's general admission requirements ); however, some majors will require additional admission requirements to be able to declare the major your freshman year.

Pro Tip: Even if you don't think you will qualify for financial aid, you should still submit the FAFSA! Information from the FAFSA could impact certain scholarships that are even merit-based.

UTSA Scholarship Hub

Through one general scholarship application, you can automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships at UTSA, including scholarships that are available for this major. In order to access all available scholarship applications on the UTSA Scholarship Hub, you must be an admitted student. If you are a student applying for admission, but have not yet been admitted, you may sign in and complete the Scholarship Hub’s General Application as long as you have authenticated your myUTSA ID and Passphrase. Once you are admitted to UTSA, please sign back in to the Scholarship Hub to see if there are any additional scholarship opportunities available for you to pursue.

UTSA Scholarship Hub Public Administration and Policy Scholarship Opportunities

Distinguished Scholarship

UTSA offers an automatic merit-based scholarship to incoming new freshman and transfer students who display exceptional scholastic achievement in high school by the priority deadline. Non-resident and international students awarded a Distinguished Scholarship for a minimum of $1,000 for the academic year will be granted a waiver for non-resident tuition if scholarship eligibility is maintained. This means out-of-state and international students could pay in-state tuition! For fall admitted freshmen, this scholarship is valued up to $20,000 for up to four years. For fall or spring admitted transfer students, this scholarship is valued up to $6,000 for up to two years. Renewal eligibility must be maintained and funding must be available.

UTSA Bold Promise

Although not a scholarship, UTSA is committed to cover tuition and mandatory fees 100% for eligible students who come from low and middle-income Texas families.

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. See possible careers below. This data is pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls data from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program. On top of the resources your college will provide, the University Career Center offers several resources to help students identify and develop the global skills necessary to successfully pursue and achieve lifelong career goals.

Minors & Certificates

After selecting a major area of study and enrolling at UTSA, degree-seeking students can choose from a variety of minors and certificates to supplement their education. Although not required, minors and certificates can help students customize their UTSA experience based on their passions and unique career goals.

The Honors Experience

Realize your full potential at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Honors College. Rooted in experiential learning, our classes and programs are hands-on, project-based, and customizable to fit your individual goals. Students in any majors can get invited to our Honors College. Turn your passions into marketable skills for the future!

The College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) is a diverse college that provides real world experiences and engages directly in our community. The college contains nine academic disciplines, and these important areas of study directly affect one another. For example, you can’t examine public policy without considering public health, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, nutrition, sociology and more. When you join HCAP, you will choose a degree program that complements your interests, conduct research and study with faculty who are experts in their field and engage with peers that will become lifetime friends.

Research is very important in the field of Health, Community and Policy. As early as your freshman year at UTSA, you will be involved in conducting research studies that will let you act upon your curiosity, learn experientially and make a difference in people’s lives. Some of the areas of research include vaccine access, preventing substance abuse, violence prevention, understanding demographic trends and health impacts, diabetes prevention and improving resources for underserved populations.

Ensuring our HCAP students are ready for the world of work is a top priority. HCAP has a dedicated internship director who coordinates with employers to provide internship opportunities and advice for students. There have been over 140,000 internships hours completed by HCAP students. Courses offer career-engaged learning experiences such as opportunities in undergraduate research, internships and field experiences. The HCAP Student Success Center provides additional outside classroom support in professional development and leadership.

Student Success

UTSA is all about your success. Our experiential learning initiative takes what you learn in the classroom and helps you apply it to real life. As a student in the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) , you will explore, engage and reflect on your experiences to launch your career in a global society. The HCAP Student Success Center is a one-stop resource to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals. Receive tutoring, find internships, connect with industry professionals for job opportunities, and enhance your professional development skills through the center’s comprehensive programming.