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The PSYBS degree

Important Note: The PSYBS requirements listed here are effective for students declaring their major in Fall 2004 or later. If you declared your major prior to Fall 2004, please see the OLD PSYBS requirements.

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)

*Note that Liberal Arts students must take one laboratory course in the General Education Natural Sciences category. Here is the list of courses satisfying the Laboratory requirement.

The complete requirements are listed in the Liberal Arts Majors section of the Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin (direct link: http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/major/psybs.htm).

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. Click below for timeline planning worksheets for your option (pdf format):

PSY designations**

Biological and Evolutionary Sciences Timeline Planning Worksheet
Neuroscience Timeline Planning Worksheet
Business Timeline Planning Worksheet
Quantitative Skills Timeline Planning Worksheet

PSYCH designations**

Biological and Evolutionary Sciences Timeline Planning Worksheet
Neuroscience Timeline Planning Worksheet
Business Timeline Planning Worksheet
Quantitative Skills Timeline Planning Worksheet

To see sample four-year schedules, click on the appropriate link below (pdf files):

PSYBS sample academic plan (pdf format)
PSYBS sample academic plan (Word format)

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
(Total Credits Required: 123)

PSYBS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS: 47 credits (including 6 credits that also count toward General Education)

Each of these courses must be completed with a grade of C or better

** PSYCH designations refer ONLY to courses offered Spring 2007 or later.

Prescribed Courses (13 cr.)

1. PSY 002/PSYCH 100(3 credits) - Must be completed prior to entrance to major
2. PSY 101/PSYCH 105(3 credits)
3. PSY 201W/PSYCH 301W* (4 credits)
4. PSY 490/PSYCH 490** (3 credits)
5. ENGL 202A*** (3 credits)

*STAT 200 or PSY 15/PSYCH 200(under Additional Courses) is a prerequisite for PSY 201W/PSYCH 301W. PSY 201W/PSYCH 301W also fulfills the General Education Writing Across the Curriculum ("W") requirement

**PSY 201W/PSYCH 301W and 6 credits of 400-level PSY/PSYCH courses are prerequisites for PSY 490/PSYCH 490

***ENGL 202A also fulfills the ENGL 202 requirement for General Education; PSYBS majors MUST take 202A

Additional Courses ( 28 cr.)

1. 6 credits of GQ (Quantification) courses - 3 credits of GQ must be completed prior to entrance to major

2. PSY 15/PSYCH 200(4 cr.) or STAT 200 (4 cr.) - Must be completed prior to entrance to major

3. 12 credits of 200-level PSY/PSYCH courses, including at least one course (3 credits) each from categories A, B, and C:

A. PSY 202/PSYCH 253, PSY 203/PSYCH 260, PSY 204/PSYCH 261, PSY 221/PSYCH 256

B. PSY 213/PSYCH212, PSY 217/PSYCH 221, PSY 238/PSYCH 238, PSY 270/PSYCH 231

C. PSY 209/PSYCH 269, PSY 212/PSYCH 270, PSY 231/PSYCH 281, PSY 243/PSYCH 243

4. 12 credits of 400-level PSY/PSYCH courses (not including PSY 490/PSYCH 490). No more than 3 credits of PSY/PSYCH 493, 494, 495, or 496.

Requirements for the Option (24-27 credits)

 BIOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE OPTION

Additional Courses (15 credits)

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

    a. Genetics: ANTH: 460, 473, 473W; BIOL 33 or 222
    b. Biological Anthropology: ANTH 021, 401, 406W , 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 (9 credits)
    Select 3 credits in natural sciences and 6 credits in social and behavioral sciences from department list
NEUROSCIENCE OPTION

Additional Courses (15-18 credits)

    PSY 203/PSYCH 260 (also counts toward 200-level PSY/PSYCH requirement above)

    Select 15 credits from groups a through e, including at least 3 credits from 4 different groups

    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 (9 credits)

    Select 6 credits in natural sciences and 3 credits in social and behavioral sciences from department list
BUSINESS OPTION

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; HPA 101 or any HPA 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 (9 credits)
    Select 3 credits in arts/humanities, 3 credits in natural sciences, and 3 credits in social and behavioral sciences from department list
 QUANTITATIVE SKILLS OPTION

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.

e.  CSE 120, CAS 483, PSY 449/PSYCH 405, PSY 450/PSYCH 404

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 3 credits in arts/humanities and 6 credits in natural sciences from department list

     

 

This page was last updated on 08-16-06.