Components of the Psychology BA Degree
Entrance to Major Requirements
Components of the Psychology BA Degree
The Psychology BA program at University Park has four main components:
- Psychology Requirements (More details below)
- General Education Requirements
- Liberal Arts Bachelor of Arts 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 |
PSYBA Major Course Requirements:
(47 credits; including 6 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 (34 credits)
- 6 credits of General Quantification/GQ - 3 credits for ETM (These 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)
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.
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.
PSYBA Sample Schedule (University Park Students)
PSYBA Sample Schedule (Non-University Park Students)