EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
PSYCHOLOGY, BUT DIDN’T KNOW TO ASK
AN ADVISING FORUM FOR FIRST-YEAR PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS
PSYCHOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
ADVISORS: CASEY FIUME, DAVID COX, JESSICA CAMPBELL
DATE/TIME: SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 AT 6:15PM
OVERVIEW
 General overview of Psychology advising
 When do I come to Psychology advising?
 Psychology major requirements
 General Psychology v. BCN
 Degree audit/critical tracking
 Course registration
 General registration information
 Individual work courses
 Changing/adding majors or minors
PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT ADVISING VERSUS COLLEGE ADVISING
U of F
College of…
College of
Liberal Arts
& Sciences
College of…
Psychology
Department
…
Department
Statistics
Department
…
Department
…
Department
…
Department
College of…
 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Advisors review requirements outside of the major
(gen-eds, graduation, critical tracking, etc.)
PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT ADVISING
Psychology Department Advisors review requirements for the major
 Undergraduate Coordinator: Dr. Jeff Farrar
 Advisors: Casey, David, Jessica
 Location: PSY 135 (Psychology Building)
 Email: psych-advising@ufl.edu
 Website: www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad
 advisor hours, psychology requirements, other updates
WHEN SHOULD I COME TO PSYCHOLOGY ADVISING?
 Come to Psychology Advising when you have a question directly related to the psychology
major.
For example:
 To ask questions about Requirements for the Psychology major
 To ask questions about Psychology Courses in our department
 To ask questions about Grad School/Psychology Careers
 To turn in Individual Work Forms *We will come back to this!
 To turn in Permission Forms (Departmentally-Controlled courses, Course Prerequisite Waiving
Forms)
 To obtain Department Permission for Study Abroad
 To obtain Department Signature for Change/Add Major form (ONLY AFTER VISITING C.L.A.S.)
WHEN SHOULD I COME TO PSYCHOLOGY ADVISING? (CONT.)
 Here are some issues that would seem like they are taken care of by a Psychology advisor, but are actually taken
care of by other offices:
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
 The curriculum emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science
and as a social science. There are TWO TRACKS available for students to follow:
General Psychology or Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN)

Your choice of track depends on your particular career goals and on the psychology courses you find most interesting.

The best thing to do in the beginning is to look at the types of classes you will need to take in each track

The General Psychology track will include coursework from a variety of different areas in psychology, like developmental
psychology, social psychology, behavior analysis, etc. The BCN track will focus more on physiological and cognitive
psychology as well as neuroscience courses and also requires advanced math and biology courses.

Both tracks require 36 credit hours of Psychology courses, plus additional math, biology, and statistics courses.
WHERE CAN I FIND PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS?
WHERE CAN I FIND PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS?
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS – GENERAL PSYCH.
 What does the General Psychology track entail?

General Psychology

1 laboratory course (lab methods in psychology)

4 Foundation-level courses (Biological Bases, Developmental Changes, Learning
and Cognition, and Sociocultural/Individual Differences)

2 4000-level courses (upper level psychology courses)

12 credits of additional psychology courses (four 3-credit courses)
 Non-Psychology courses relevant to the major

Statistics (I and II)

Mathematics (either the combined MAC1147 course or both MAC 1140 & MAC 1114)

Biology (no labs necessary for the major)
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS – BCN PSYCH.
 What does the BCN Psychology track entail?

General Psychology

2 laboratory courses (lab methods in Psychology, specialized lab methods
in cognitive neuroscience/sensory processes)

2 Foundation-level courses (Biological Bases, Learning and Cognition)

2 4000-level courses (upper level psychology courses)

12 credits of additional psychology courses (four 3-credit courses)

Can also be relevant neuroscience courses. Check the website!
 Non-Psychology courses relevant to the major

Statistics (I and II)

Mathematics (Calc I and II)

Biology (BSC 2010 and BSC 2011)
CHANGING PSYCHOLOGY TRACKS
 To change to a different specialization within Psychology, you must speak with a
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences [CLAS] (http://www.clas.ufl.edu) advisor
in Farrior Hall
 Ultimately, the decision to switch tracks is left to the College
 If you decide to switch later on in your undergraduate career, it is important to take
those critical tracking courses before switching, as you cannot change tracks if doing
so would make you off-track for the major.
DEGREE AUDIT
 The degree audit is an online electronic system that monitors the progress of all undergraduate majors toward
graduation.
 The degree audit helps students find the best academic path to complete their degree, provides academic advice
for choosing the most appropriate major as soon as possible, and provides feedback each semester on academic
progress.
 To see your degree audit:

1) Log onto www.isis.ufl.edu

2) Click on “degree audit” (under “degree audit” heading, left side of page)

3) View your complete degree audit or view unmet requirements
 Note: Course adds or drops are not reflected in your audit immediately. These transactions will not show in your
audit for up to one business day. Please keep this in mind when you are looking at your audit. Courses you are
registered for will show up with RG written next to them.
DEGREE AUDIT (CONT.)
 General
Psychology
BCN 
DEGREE AUDIT (CONT.)
 General
Psychology
BCN 
CRITICAL TRACKING
 Critical-tracking criteria are used to monitor progress through a major/degree.

Minimum UF GPA (2.8 for Psychology)

Critical tracking GPA – 2.75

All psych courses count toward critical tracking

Completion of certain courses toward the major
 For questions about these requirements, or if you are off track, visit a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
[CLAS] (www.clas.ufl.edu) advisor in Farrior Hall.
 You can view your critical tracking by clicking on the link at the top of your degree audit

Also 4-year suggested schedule
COURSE REGISTRATION: REGISTRATION PREP
 Students register for classes online using a computer to access ISIS (www.isis.ufl.edu).

First, you will want to click on the “registration prep” link to make sure that you are able to register (e.g., that you don’t have
any holds).
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
 Checking the “Registration Prep” link on ISIS
 Most common issue is registration “holds”
 Often just Update Emergency Contact or Verify Address
 Can usually resolve through ISIS
 If the holds are more involved, you need to contact the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences [CLAS].
 Critical tracking issue
 Unpaid charges
 Others
COURSE REGISTRATION (CONT.)
 Click on the appropriate semester under the heading “Register Now”.
 If you need help with the registration process, you can contact the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences [CLAS]. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Registrar’s critical dates for
your academic period (http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/critdates.html) to avoid any registration
fees/penalties.
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
 Which Classes to Take and Where to find them
 The first step to finding classes is knowing which classes to take.
 Requirements for both the General Psychology and Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
specializations at www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad
 “requirements for psychology”
 Semester-by-semester plan
 Click the “critical tracking requirements” link at the top of your degree audit.
 Electronic copies of course syllabi at http://syllabus.ufl.edu/
 Search specific courses and open dates/times for courses here
 “Register Now” link
 www.registrar.ufl.edu/soc and click “course schedule” to see all of the available courses offered by
specific departments.
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
Remember…
There is a FORM required
for just about everything
you want to get done
 Go to
www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad
 Click on the “other forms” link
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
Waiving Course Prerequisites
 Contact the instructor
 If the instructor agrees, print the
“Permission to Waive a Course
Prerequisite” form
 Obtain a signature from the
instructor
 Bring COMPLETELY FILLED OUT
form to Psychology Department
Advising (PSY135)
 An advisor will input consent in to
the system
 You can then register for that course
without being blocked
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
Full Course Registration
 Stalk ISIS
 Seats reopen across drop/add
 We do not accept these forms until
the third day of the drop/add period
 If you cannot get in to a course by
the third day of the drop/add
 Contact the instructor
 If the instructor agrees, print the
“Permission to Be Added to a FULL
Course” form
 Obtain a signature from the
instructor
 Bring COMPLETELY FILLED OUT
form to Psychology Department
Advising (PSY135)
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
Schedule Changes ..
……AFTER DROP/ADD
To ADD a PSYCH Course
 Contact the instructor
 If the instructor agrees
 Print the “Permission to Be Added
to a Psychology Course After
Drop/Add ” form
 Obtain a signature from the
instructor
You do NOT need instructor
permission, or need to come in to our
office, to DROP a course
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
THEN…
 Print the “Course Schedule
Adjustment” form
 Obtain a signature from the
instructor
 Bring BOTH COMPLETELY
FILLED OUT forms to
Psychology Department Advising
 Obtain an advisor signature
 Take the SIGNED Course Schedule
Adjustment form to CLAS AAC in
Farrior Hall
 FEES may apply – ask CLAS
INDIVIDUAL WORK COURSES
What are Individual Work Courses?
 Students can obtain course credit while gaining real-
life, practical experience
 Research, teaching, or community service oriented
 Great for graduate school especially – but great for
other employment as well!
You cannot register for these
courses yourself – see a Psychology
Department Advisor
PSYCHOLOGY COURSE CREDIT
Up to 9 credits can be applied toward your psychology degree
Some restrictions apply 
 All individual work courses are S/U (except PSY4905,
which is graded)
 These courses are variable-credit
 You can choose how many credits you want to take
during a semester
 1 to 3 credits (in some cases 0 credits)
 1 credit hour = 45 semester hours,
 3 hours per week in the Spring/Fall
 3.75 hours per week during Summer C
 7.5 hours per week during Summer A or Summer B
ON YOUR DEGREE AUDIT
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Individual Work Courses
 Go to
www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad
 Click on the Research Experience,
Teaching Experience, or
Community Volunteer Experience
links.
INTRODUCTION TO
RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY
 Great for students who want to work
in Experimental Psychology
 Intended for students with little direct
laboratory experience.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
PSY4911 PCO4911 CLP3911
 Students assist with various phases of
ongoing research in psychology
 Experimental Design
 Participant Interviews
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
PSY4911 PCO4911 CLP3911
 There are a number of ways to get
involved in research
 Review the list of opportunities posted
on our website
 Become involved with the Psychology
Club
 Read the postings on the bulletin
boards located on the first floor of the
psychology building
 Go to the Department of Psychology
website at http://www.psych.ufl.edu/
and review current research in your
area of interest
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
PSY4911 PCO4911 CLP3911
 RESTRICTIONS
 You can only take between 0 and 3
credits of this course per semester.
 Of the total 9 credits which can be
applied toward your degree in the form
of Individual Work credits, all 9 can be
taken as Introduction to Research
 Make sure you work with an approved
faculty member
 If not an approved faculty member (e.g., a
graduate student), you will need to find
an approved faculty member to sponsor
you
INTRODUCTION TO
TEACHING IN PSYCHOLOGY
 Great experience for students
interested in Teaching and
Mentoring others
 Good preparation for graduate school
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PSY4940
 Learn about college-level teaching in
psychology
 Develop communication and
leadership skills
 Gain a better understanding of how
people learn
 Students assist professors in various
instructor responsibilities
 Proctor Exams
 Design Test Questions
 Grade Papers
 Answer Student Questions
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PSY4940
 Those who have complete 2 years at UF
 Have done well in the course
 Instructors usually invite students to TA
for them –
 Can also ask if they are looking for
teaching assistants for the following
semester
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PSY4940
 Do well in the course
 Be invited to TA
 Complete online FERPA (privacy) and
Sexual Harassment Training
 Read the Undergraduate Teaching
Assistant Handbook
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PSY4940
 RESTRICTIONS
 You can only take between 0 and 3
credits per semester.
 Of the total 9 credits which can be
applied toward your degree in the
form of Individual Work credits, only 4
can be taken as Introduction to
Teaching
 Make sure you work with an
approved faculty member
 If not an approved faculty member
(e.g., a graduate student), you will need
to find an approved faculty member to
sponsor you
COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
 Great experience for students
interested in one of the applied fields
of psychology, such as Clinical,
Counseling, or School Psychology
 Good preparation for internships
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
PSY4949
 Approved agencies which are
partnered with UF to offer course for
volunteer wok in psychology-relevant
settings
 Become a child advocate in the court
room (Guardian ad-litem)
 Help at-risk children with schoolwork
and social skills training
 Answer phones at a crisis hotline
 Work with mentally ill patients during
their transition to community living
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
PSY4949
 Complete 12 hours of psychology
courses
 Review the list of approved agencies
on our website
 Agencies not currently approved will
have to be approved
 Contact the agencies you are
interested in working with
 Ask if they are accepting UF volunteers
this semester
 Treat this as if you were applying for a
paying job
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
PSY4949
 RESTRICTIONS
 You can only take between 1 and 3
credits per semester.
 Of the total 9 credits which can be
applied toward your degree in the
form of Individual Work credits, only 4
can be taken as Community Volunteer
Experience
 You cannot be getting paid for your
work there and also receive credit
 Make sure you work with an
approved agency
 If not an approved agency, you will
need to have the agency approved
before receiving credit
INDIVIDUAL WORK IN PSYCHOLOGY
 Typically used when
developing a senior
honors thesis idea or
when doing a directed
readings course as an
independent study with a
professor
INDIVIDUAL WORK
PSY4905
 PSY4905 cannot be used for supervised research that should be taken under PSY 4911
 Must type up 1-2 page proposal about what you plan to research
 12 semester hours of psychology are a prerequisite for taking PSY 4905
 Make sure that you work with a faculty member who is eligible to supervise you; otherwise, you must
have an approved faculty sponsor.
 RESTRICTIONS:
 Of the total 9 credits which can be applied toward your degree in the form of Individual Work credits, a
maximum for 4 can be taken as Individual Work in Psychology.You can only take between 1 and 3 credits per
semester. Remember, this course is also graded.
SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH
 An original and
substantive research
project under the close
supervision of a faculty
member
 Earn high or highest honors
 Takes ~1 year to complete
SENIOR THESIS
PSY4970
 Qualified students may enroll in PSY 4970 to conduct a senior thesis
 Students must take at least one credit of PSY 4970 in the semester that they will defend their thesis (often the same
semester they will graduate), although typically several previous semesters will have already been spent working
on the thesis.

NOTE – this takes a while to complete (~1 year). Start as a research assistant early if you think you might want to do this!
 24 semester hours of psychology are a prerequisite for taking PSY 4970
 Must find a faculty member to act as your “chair” (any faculty in the psychology department, excluding adjunct faculty)

If the supervisor is NOT a faculty member in the psychology department (e.g., is in another department, such as Clinical and Health
Psychology), you must find a Psychology faculty member to serve as a co-chair of your committee.

You and the chair should then identify two other faculty members, at least one who is a psychologist with a research focus, to serve on
your thesis committee.
 RESTRICTIONS:

Of the total 9 credits which can be applied toward your degree in the form of Individual Work credits, a maximum for 4 can be taken as
Senior Thesis.You can only take between 1 and 3 credits per semester, and 1 credit MUST be taken in the semester you plan to defend
your thesis.
INDIVIDUAL WORK COURSE REGISTRATION
Again… you cannot add these course to your schedule on your own (e.g. not through ISIS)
You will need the appropriate
form(s) and to turn forms in
to a Psychology Advisor
How to register:
 Go to
www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad
 Click on Registration Forms:
Individual Work Courses”
INDIVIDUAL WORK COURSES
COURSE REGISTRATION
 Fill out all of the appropriate
information, including
obtaining the faculty
supervisor’s signature
 Print the necessary form(s),
and bring it to us in
Psychology Advising (PSY135)
BUT…. before taking
your paperwork to the
Psychology Advising office
INDIVIDUAL WORK COURSES
COURSE REGISTRATION
 Check Isis For Registration Holds
 These pop-up at different times each semester… update emergency contact, etc.
 Psychology Department Advisors cannot remove holds
 If you have holds, we will not be able to add the course to your schedule
 Training Needed
 If training is required, copies of training certificates must be attached to your registration form
 Be sure that the certificates include name &/or student ID#, and date completed
 If these are not included, we will not be able to add the course to your schedule
 Faculty Sponsor Is On The Approve List
 Go to the Registration Forms for Individual Work Courses page
 In the paragraph at the bottom of the page: … who is eligible to supervise research and senior theses in our
department. Click here to see the lists
INDIVIDUAL WORK COURSES
COURSE REGISTRATION
Remember, only 9 credits IN TOTAL of the above individual work courses (PSY 4911; PCO 4911; CLP 3911, PSY 4905, PSY
4940, PSY 4949, and PSY 4970) can be taken to count toward your major
QUESTIONS/ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP
THEN…
 Print the “Course Schedule
Adjustment” form
 Obtain a signature from the
instructor
 Bring BOTH COMPLETELY
FILLED OUT forms to
Psychology Department Advising
 Obtain an advisor signature
 Take the SIGNED Course Schedule
Adjustment form to CLAS AAC in
Farrior Hall
 FEES may apply – ask CLAS
CHANGING/ADDING MAJORS OR MINORS
 If you would like to change your major, add another major, or add a minor, here are some things to
consider:
 1) You CANNOT add Psychology as a minor
 2) ALL paperwork to add or change your major/minor begins with visiting the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences [CLAS] in Farrior Hall. After you have started your paperwork, then you can
come to the Psychology Advising Office to obtain the appropriate department signature.
 3) If you have questions about the possibility of changing/adding a major/minor, visit
http://www.advising.ufl.edu/information/dd.html