Components of the Psychology BS Degree
Entrance to Major Requirements
Supporting Option Course Requirements
Components of the Psychology BS Degree
The Psychology BS program at University Park has five main components:
- Psychology Requirements (more details below)
- Option Requirements (more details below)
- Supporting Option Course Requirements
- General Education Requirements
- Electives (Any credited course to bring you to the total of 123 credits required for graduation)
NOTE: Liberal Art students must complete one Science Laboratory course as part of their General Education Requirements. A list of courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found here.
Entrance to Major Requirements
The Psychology Degree program has Entrance to Major requirements that students must fulfill prior to declaring the major during the Spring of their Sophomore year. Students must successfully complete all four courses listed in the below chart with a "C" or higher as well as maintain a Cumulative GPA above a 2.0 before being able to declare the major. These Entrance to Major requirements; better known as ETMs, are also required for any student Changing Location from another PSU location or transferring in from another institution.
ENTRANCE TO MAJOR REQUIREMENTS |
|---|
| PSYCH 100 (3 credits) |
| PSYCH 200 or STAT 200 (4 credits) |
| General Quantification/GQ (3 credits) - Other than PSYCH 200 or STAT 200 |
| General Social and Behavioral Sciences/GS (3 credits) - Other than PSYCH 100 |
PSYBS Major Course Requirements
(50 credits; including 9 credits that also count towards General Education)
For the complete list of requirements please visit the Blue Book.
Remember: Each major requirement MUST be completed with a "C" or higher to fulfill degree requirements.
Prescribed Courses (13 credits)
- PSYCH 100 (3 credits) - Entrance to Major Requirement (ETM)
- PSYCH 105 (3 credits)
- PSYCH 301W (4 credits)*
- PSYCH 490 (3 credits)**
* STAT/PSYCH 200 (4 credits) and PSYCH 100 (3 credits) are prerequisites for PSYCH 301W
**PSYCH 301W (4 credits) and 6.0credits of PSYCH 4xx are prerequisites for PSYCH 490 (The prerequisites may NOT be taken concurrently)
Additional Courses (37 credits)
- 6 credits of General Quantification/GQ - 3 credits for ETM (These will double count in General Education)
- ENGL 202A (This will double count in General Education)
- PSYCH 200 or STAT 200 (4 credits) -ETM
- 12 credits of 200-level PSYCH including 3 credits from each category
A. PSYCH 253, PSYCH 256, PSYCH 260, OR PSYCH 261
B. PSYCH 212, PSYCH 221, PSYCH 231, OR PSYCH 238
C. PSYCH 243, PSYCH 269, PSYCH 270, OR, PSYCH 281 - 12 credits of 400-level PSYCH (NOT including PSYCH 490 and NOT including more than 3credits of PSYCH 494, 493, 495, or 496)
PSYBS Degree Option Requirements
The PSYBS degree has 4 options to which a student must choose one. The option a student may choose can vary depending on a student's long term plan in graduate school or future career path. To discuss which option may best suit you, plan a meeting with your assigned advisor. Within each option students will be required to complete a total of 15-17 credits although the number of categories that must be hit in each option vary. See below for the number of minimum categories for each option. Each option also entails a number of supporting courses described in more detail below.
NOTE: The courses do NOT double count in the general education requirements or supporting coursework..
Biological and Evolutionary Science Option (BIOEV)
Quantitative Skills Option (QUANT)
Select a total of 15 credits from at least 3 of the 4 categories below:
- Genetics: ANTH 460, 473; BIOL 133 or 220
- Biological Anthropology: ANTH 021, 401, 406W, BB H 410
- Biobehavioral Implications: ANTH 464; BB H 101 or higher except BB H 310W; HD FS 417, 468
- Biology and Chemistry: BIOL 141, 177, 341, 409, 421, 427, 472; CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113., 210, 212, 213
Psychology Supporting Course List:
Select 3 credits in Natural Science and 6 credits in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
PSYCH 260 (This course can fulfill your GROUP A of your 200-level Psychology courses for the major)
Select 15 credits from at least 4 of the 5 categories below:
- Genetics: BIOL 110, 133, or 220
- Physiology: BIOL 141 or 472
- Organic Chemistry: CHEM 202, 210, 212
- Cell Biology: BIOL 230W, 469; MICRB 106, 201, 251
- Other Topics: BIOL 240W, 177, 409, BB H 470
NOTE: Students planning to apply to medical school should select this option and choose courses to meet the following minimum requirements for most medical schools: BIOL 110, 230W, and 240W; CHEM 110, 111, 112, 113, 213, 210, and 212; PHSY 201 and 202 OR PHYS 250 and 251. To ensure you are meeting requirements the schools of your choice, be sure to check their web site. Some medical schools also require Calculus.
Psychology Supporting Course List:
Select 6 credits in Natural Sciences and 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
BUS Option (for students entering the major prior to Summer 2010)
NOTE: Students cannot receive credit for both MGMT 100 and MGMT 301
Select 15 credits from at least 4 of the 5 categories below:
- ECON 002, 004, 302 or higher; FIN 100, 301 or higher
- MGMT 100, 301 or higher; H P A 101 or higher
- MKTG 221, 301 or higher
- B LAW 243; S C M 301
- ACCTG 211
Psychology Supporting Course List:
Select 3 credits from Arts and Humanities, 3 credits from Natural Sciences, and 3 credits from Social and Behavioral Sciences.
BUS Option (for students entering the major Summer 2010 and later)
Select 15 credits from at least two different groups. Three (3) credits in any category can be replaced by internship (L A 495), but internship credits alone cannot be used to complete a category.
Group 1.
a. ECON 002 004 014, 302 or higher; PHIL 420; PL SC 412, 444, 481, 490
b. FIN 100, 301 higher
c. MKTG 221, MKTG 301or higher
d. ACCTG 211
Group 2.
a. Management: H P A 101, 301 or higher, MGMT 100, 301 or higher
b. Law and ethics: B LAW 243, LER 460, PHIL 119, 406, 418, PHIL /S T S 407, 432, SCM 301
c. Labor relations: LER 100, 400, 401, 411, 414W, 437, 444, 465, 470
d. Communication: CAS 352, 450W,452, ENGL 419, 464
Group 3.
a. Global view: ANTH 451, 455, 424, GEOG 439, H P A 401, PL SC 487, 441
b. Gender and race: AAA S/LER /PL SC 445Y, SOC 455(3), SOC /WMNST 456, CED/R SOC/WMNST 420, SOC/WMNST 456, LER/WMNST 472
c. History: HIST 423, 425, HIST/LER 458Y
Psychology Supporting Course List:
Select 3 credits from Arts and Humanities, 3 credits from Natural Sciences, and 3 credits from Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Select 15 credits from at least 4-5 category below (NOTE: Category 2 is optional):
- MATH 018, 110, 111, 140, 141
- CMPSC 101, 201, 203; CSE 103 (OPTIONAL)
- STAT 318, 414, 418
- STAT 319, 415, 416, 460, 462, 464
- CSE 120, CAS 483, PSYCH 405, 404
NOTE: Students may fulfill the requirements of the QUANT option by completing a minor in Statistics in lieu of the course requirements listed above. Students should consult with a Psychology Advisor to determine the suitability of particular courses given their quantitative backgrounds. Other courses with advance quantitative content may be substituted in category 4 with advisor approval.
Psychology Supporting Course List:
Select 3 credits in Arts and Humanities and 6 credits from Natural Sciences.
Supporting Option Course Requirements
Each option in PSYBS degree has a number of supporting courses that compliment your option. Students will take extra Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences,and Social and Behavioral Sciences courses that do NOT double count with general education or the option. Below is the link to the department list of supporting courses.
PSYBS Supporting Option Course List
The Psychology Department has designed Timeline Planning Worksheets to assist students, DUS advisors, and PreMajor advisors in helping students choose appropriate courses throughout their undergraduate career. To view and print off a worksheet, please click the appropriate link below.
PSYBS BIOEV Timeline Worksheet
PSYBS NEURO Timeline Worksheet
PSYBS QUANT Timeline Worksheet
Many students question is it possible to earn a Psychology degree within four years. Below are sample four-year schedules for students who begin at University Park as Freshman as well as a sample for students who begin at a Non-University Park location. These Sample Schedules are NOT meant to be a format strictly followed but instead a general idea of how to create a balanced schedule throughout a student's undergraduate career.
PSYBS Sample Schedule (University Park Students)
PSYBS Sample Schedule (Non-University Park Students)