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The PSYBS degree (For students admitted to the major Summer 2004 or earlier)

Note: The requirements listed below apply only to students who were officially PSY majors prior to Fall 2004.

The PSYBS degree

The PSYBS degree requirements fall into five categories:

  • Psychology requirements (listed below)
  • General Education requirements (see http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/)
  • Option requirements (see below); you must choose one of the following options:
  • Supporting courses (additional science, arts/humanities, and social/behavioral sciences) for each option (see below)
  • Electives (courses of your choice to bring you to the total credits required for graduation)
The complete requirements are listed in the Liberal Arts Majors section of the Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin
The listing below is in a format that the Psychology Department has found useful for advising students, and includes only the Psychology portion of the requirements.

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Bachelor of Science Degree Program Check sheet
(Total Minimum Credits Required: 126)

NOTE: The printed "blue book" (1998-2000, p. 311-313) lists 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences supporting courses as part of the common requirements for the PSYBS; the listing here includes those credits in the supporting courses for each option, as do degree audits.

PSYBS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:  77-80 credits*

A. Prescribed Courses (16 credits)

1. PSY 2 (3 cr.)
2. PSY 201W* (4 cr.)
3. ENGL 202A (3cr.)
4. 6 credits of GQ courses (may also count toward Gen Ed)

NOTE: PSY 2 to be completed by the end of the fourth semester. *Also note that STAT 200 or PSY 15 (under  Additional Courses) is a prerequisite for PSY 201W.

NOTE: ENGL 202A may be used to fulfill the Writing/Speaking requirement under  General Education, but the credits only count once towards graduation. 

B.  Additional Courses (28 credits)

1.  PSY 15 (4 cr.) or STAT 200 (4 cr.)

NOTE: STAT 200 maybe used to fulfill the Quantification requirement under General  Education, but the credits only count once towards graduation.

2. Select 24 credits from groups a through h.  You must take at least three credits from each of  four different groups.  At least 15 of the 24 credits must be 300 or 400-level courses.

    a.  Abnormal/Clinical/Personality:

    PSY 238, 243, 412, 436, 437, 438, 473, 474, 482, 488, 489

    b. Biological/Comparative/Perception/Physiological/Sensation:

    PSY 202, 203, 402, 405, 407, 408, 456, 483, 484, 485, 487

    c. Cognitive/Learning/Psycholinguistics:

    PSY 204, 220, 221, 404, 420, 421, 422, 430, 444

    d. Developmental:

    PSY 213, 423, 424, 425, 426, 445

    e. Industrial/Engineering:

    PSY 231, 432, 441, 451, 461

    f. History/Philosophy/Religion/Diversity:

    PSY 170, 236, 237, 410, 411, 414, 472, 479

    g. Methods/Quantitative:

    PSY 301A-F, 401, 415, 419, 449, 450

    h. Social:

    PSY 217, 417, 443, 470, 471, 475, 476, 477


*A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better in each course counted toward the major requirements, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.

NOTE:   Some PSY 297 or 497 (Special Topics) courses offered at University Park are approved to count in one of the groups A-H.  Announcements of such courses will include this information, or you may check with Sherri Gilliland in the Psychology Advising Center. The placement of approved courses on your degree audit is done automatically by the Psychology Department, but will not occur until a grade is assigned at the end of the semester.

C. Requirements for the Option (33-36 credits)

 1. BIOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE OPTION: 33 Credits

Additional Courses (15 credits)

Select 15 credits from groups a through d, including at least 3 credits from each of the  three different groups. 

    a. Genetics: ANTH: 460, 473, 473W; BIOL 33 or 222
    b. Biological Anthropology: ANTH 021, 401, 406W, 471, BB H 410
    c. Biobehavioral Implications: ANTH 464; BB H 101 or any higher numbered 
        BB H course, except BB H 310W; HD FS 417, 468
    d. Biology and Chemistry: BIOL 141, 341, 409, 421, 427, 472; CHEM 012, 013, 014, 015, 036, 038, 039
Supporting Courses and Related Areas (18 credits) 2. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES OPTION:  33-36 credits

Additional Courses (15-18 credits)

    PSY 203 (also counts in category b of Common Requirements for the Major)

    Select 3 credits each from groups a through e

    a. Genetics: BIOL 033, 110, or 222
    b. Physiology: BIOL 141 or 472
    c. Organic Chemistry: CHEM 034, 038, or 039
    d. Cell Biology: BIOL 230W, 469, MICRB 106, 201, 251
    e. Other topics: BIOL 240W, 341, 409, BB H 470

NOTE: Students planning to apply to medical school should select this option and choose courses to meet the following minimal requirements for most medical schools: BIOL 110 GN(4), BIOL 230W GN(4), and BIOL 240W GN(4); CHEM 012 GN(3), CHEM 013 GN(3), CHEM 014 GN(1), CHEM 015 GN(1), CHEM 036(2), CHEM 038(3), and CHEM 039(3); PHYS 201 GN(4) and PHYS 202 GN(4), or PHYS 250 GN(4) and PHYS 251 GN(4).

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (18 credits)

3. BUSINESS OPTION: 33 credits

Additional Courses (15 credits)

    Select 15 credits from groups a through e, including at least 3 credits from each of four different groups.

    a. ECON 002, 004, FIN 100, 301 or any higher-numbered FIN course, 
        ECON 302 or higher-numbered ECON course
    b. MGMT 100 or any MGMT course numbered 301 or higher
    c. MKTG 221 or any MKTG course numbered 301 or higher
    d. B LAW 243, B LOG 301
    e. ACCTG 211

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (18 credits) 4. QUANTITATIVE SKILLS OPTION: 33 credits

Additional courses (15 credits)

    Select a total of 15 credits from groups a through d.

    a. MATH 018, 110, 111, 140, 141
        At least one class must be taken from group a.
    b. CMPSC 101, 201, 203, CSE 103

Group b is optional.  If you decide to take a class from this group, only one class will count toward the option.

c. STAT 318, 414, 418

One class must be taken from group c.  Only one class from group c will count toward the option.

d.  STAT 319, 415, 416, 460, 462, 464

At least one class must be taken from group d.

d.  CSE 120, CAS 483, PSY 449, 450

At least one class must be taken from group d.

NOTE: Students may fulfill the requirements of the Quantitative Skills Option by completing a minor in Statistics in lieu of the course requirements listed above.  Students should consult with an advisor designated by the Psychology Department to determine the suitability of particular courses given their quantitative backgrounds.  Other courses with advanced quantitative content may be substituted in category d with advisor's approval.

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (18 credits)

    Select 6 credits in arts/humanities from department list
    Select 9 credits in natural sciences from department list
    Select 3 credits in social and behavioral sciences from department list

    *A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better in each course counted toward the major requirements, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.

This page was last updated on 08-08-05.