Psychology Department

Psychology Major Requirements

» Also see Neuroscience major requirements
» Download the Psychology Majors Handbook (PDF)

  1. At least 11 units in psychology, including:
    1. Foundations in Psychological Science
      • PSY 101 (Foundations Lecture)
      • PSY 101 CL (Concept Lab)
      • PSY 101 AL (Applied Lab)
        Note that Foundations Lecture is taken in conjunction with Concept Lab and Applied Lab
      • Four of the following Psychological Science Lab Modules:
        • PSY 200 (Health Psychology)
        • PSY 201 (Brain and Behavior)
        • PSY 202 (Cognitive Neuroscience)
        • PSY 203 (Learning and Comparative)
        • PSY 204 (Educational Psychology)
        • PSY 205 (Psycholinguistics)
        • PSY 206 (Psychopathology)
        • PSY 207 (Social Psychology)
        • PSY 208 (Cognition)
    2. Psychology 348 (Statistical Analysis for Psychology).
    3. Four of the following eight "core" courses: Psychology 322 (Social Psychology), Psychology 324 (Health Psychology), 333 (Behavioral Neuroscience), 351 (Psychopathology), 361 (Developmental Psychology), 366 (Cognitive Processes), 373 (Learning), 381 (Sensation & Perception), 393 (Psycholinguistics). 
    4. Two additional units in Psychology.
    5. Thesis (Psychology 470).
      All students must take the junior qualifying examination before entering the senior year. Ordinarily, the qualifying exam is taken in the second semester of the student’s junior year. Students are eligible to take the Qualifying Exam only if they have already completed five units in Psychology, at least two of which are core courses (listed in “c” above).
  2. Six units in an allied field selected from the fields below, approved by the adviser when the major is declared. Students can petition the department for exceptions to the allied fields requirement. Cross-listed courses taught by psychology faculty may not be used to meet this requirement. Students can see an adviser for more details.
    1. Arts and Literature—six units in the following allied disciplines, to include at least two units from each of two separate disciplines: art, creative writing, dance, English, Humanities (210, 220, 230), music, literature, theatre. No more than four applied courses (i.e. studio art, creative writing, applied courses in dance and music, acting and design courses in theatre) may be counted.
    2. Biological, Physical, Computational Science—six units in the following disciplines, to include at least two units from each of two separate disciplines: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, economics, computer science.
    3. Cognitive Science—six units in the following disciplines, to include at least two units from each of two separate disciplines: philosophy, linguistics, biology, anthropology, computer science.
    4. Cross-Cultural Studies—six units to include a foreign language at the 200-level plus four additional units. The language requirement can be met by placement exam, in which case six additional units are required. Students should select from courses with an ethnic or international focus in history and social sciences or in literature and languages, Humanities 230, religion, a second foreign language at the 200-level (cannot be met by placement exam).
    5. History and Social Sciences—six units in the following disciplines, to include at least two units from each of two separate disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, Humanities (210, 220, 230), political science, religion, sociology.