Psychology B.A.
Degree requirements – 120 Credits
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviors, feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Psychologists develop theories to explain
behavior and to generate hypotheses that are tested through quantitative and qualitative research methods. Depending on the situation,
psychologists may attempt to describe, explain, predict, and change behavior.
Psychology students develop transferable skills in several areas including research design and analysis, the ability to understand
human behavior, recognition of and tolerance for diversity, report writing and presentation, establishing rapport in groups and critical
thinking. With these skills, graduates gain employment as, for example: educators, counselors, administrators, managers, personnel
analysts, researchers (including market researchers), police and corrections officers, and sales people. Graduates also enter masters
and doctoral programs in many areas of psychology and in rehabilitation, special education, business, and social work. Recent
demographic analyses predict a continued demand for individuals with a background in psychology.
Required Major Credits – 12
PSY 200 Psychological Statistics and Design (3)
PSY 300 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
PSY 380 Introduction to Physiological Psychology (3)
PSY 491 Psychological Field Experience (1-6) (minimum 3 credits)
Elective Major Credits – 24
Select six credits from the Foundation Group, three credits from the
Experimental Group, and three credits from the Social/Development Group.
Foundation Group
PSY 230 Human Growth and Development (3) (Liberal Arts Core
5.c.-gtP.)
PSY 265 Social Psychology (3) (Liberal Arts Core 5.c.)
PSY 255 Abnormal Psychology (3)
Experimental Group
PSY 341 Principles of Learning (3)
PSY 375 Sensation and Perception (3)
PSY 440 Cognition (3)
PSY 443 Motivation (3)
Social/Developmental Group
PSY 330 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3)
PSY 331 Maturity and Aging (3)
PSY 365 Psychology and the Law (3)
PSY 467 Psychology of Prejudice (3)
Choose 12 additional elective credits to bring the total elective credits to 24.
These electives may include:
1. Any additional courses from the above groups. For example, if you
satisfied the foundation group requirement with PSY 230 and PSY 255,
you may select PSY 265 to help you reach the required 24 elective credits
2. Any additional psychology course with the PSY designation.
PSY 271 Psychological Testing and Measurements (3)
PSY 280 Human Sexuality (3)
PSY 323 Health Psychology (3)
PSY 347 Educational Psychology for Elementary Teachers (3)
PSY 349 Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers (3)
PSY 350 Theories of Personality (3)
PSY 366 Industrial Psychology (3)
PSY 422 Directed Studies (1-3)
PSY 475 Evolution and Behavior (3)
PSY 490 History of Psychology (3)
PSY 492 Instructional Aide (1-3)
PSY 493 Practicum in Psychology (1-3)
PSY 495 Special Topics (1-5)
3. Electives from outside the PSY designation. (No more than six credits of
the following courses may be included in the major as electives.)
GERO 455 Grant Development and Administration (3)
HURS 205 Introduction to Human Rehabilitative Services (3)
HUSR 397 Rehabilitation of the Substance Abuser (3)
APCE 468 Psychology of Women (2)
SES 333 Psychological Analysis of Sports, Exercise & Physical
Activity (3)
4. Majors Only Seminars (Juniors or above, 3.0 cumulative grade point
average and above)
PSY 401 Advanced Research Methods (3)
PSY 407 Introduction to Counseling Theories (3)
PSY 430 Developmental Disabilities and Psychopathology (3)
PSY 460 Clinical Psychology (3)
PSY 481 Advanced Physiological Psychology (3)
PSY 482 Behavioral Genetics (3)
5. Graduate Classes (Juniors or above, 3.0 grade point average and above)
PSY 500 Educational Psychology for Teachers (3)
PSY 530 Life Span Developmental Psychology (3)
PSY 540 Theories and Principles of Learning (3)
PSY 550 Cognitive Development (3)
PSY 574 Measurement I: Educational Testing (3)
PSY 575 Educational Assessment (3)
PSY 580 Psychopharmacology (3)
PSY 585 Psychology of Addiction (3)
PSY 587 Social Cognitive Neuroscience (3)
PSY 590 Seminar in History and Systems (3)
6. Additional credits of PSY 491, Field Experience (six credits maximum).
Required Supporting Credits – 4
Select one of the following courses:
BIO 101 Biological Perspectives (4) (Liberal Arts Core 6-gtP)
BIO 110 Principles of Biology (4) (Liberal Arts Core 6-gtP)
BIO 245 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology (4)
Required Specified Liberal Arts Core Credit – 3
Category 5.c Human Behavior and Social Systems
PSY 120 Principles of Psychology (3) (Liberal Arts Core 5.c.-gtP)
Elective Liberal Arts Core Credits (37)
Elective University-Wide Credits – 40
Note(s):
 A maximum of 24 semester credits may be transferred to the major from
other institutions.
 Psychology students must have a minimum of 9 upper division credits
(300-400 level) while in residence in order to graduate.
School of Psychological Sciences
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
This is a recommended three-year sequence of requirements for the BA involving coursework in the summers. Courses are also
available in the interim session between fall and spring semesters. Summer and interim classes in psychology are almost exclusively
online. (Note: this is one of many ways to organize the requirements in order to complete them in three years and assumes that the
student begins with zero college credits)
YEAR 1- FALL (15 credits)
Liberal Arts Core including PSY 120 Principles of Psychology (Liberal Arts Core 5.c-gtP) 15 credits
YEAR 1- SPRING (15 credits)
Liberal Arts Core 15 credits including Liberal Arts Core Area 2 Mathematics
YEAR 1- INTERIM/SUMMER (9 credits)
Psychology: Foundation Group 6 credits
Psychology: Social/Developmental Group 3 credits
____________________________________________________________________
YEAR 2- FALL (15 credits)
University-Wide Electives 9
Psychology: PSY 200 Psychological Statistics 3 credits
Psychology Elective 3
YEAR 2-SPRING (16 credits)
Psychology: PSY 300 Research Methods 3 credits
Liberal Arts Core, including BIO 101, 110 (Liberal Arts Core 6-gtP), or BIO 245 10 credits
University-Wide Elective 3 credits
YEAR 2- INTERIM/SUMMER (9 credits)
Psychology: Experimental Group 3 credits
Psychology Electives 3 credits
University-Wide Elective 3 credits
_____________________________________________________________________
YEAR 3- FALL (15 credits)
Psychology: PSY 380 Introduction to Physiological Psychology 3 credits
University-Wide Electives 12 credits
YEAR 3- SPRING (18 credits)
University-Wide Electives 12 credits
Psychology elective 3 credits
PSY 491 Field Experience 3 credits
YEAR 3- INTERIM/SUMMER (8 credits)
Psychology Elective 3 credits
University-Wide Electives 5 credits
No separate admission requirement is necessary to declare the psychology major.
No Minor required.
NOTES
This handout should not be used as a substitute for advising or as a substitute for the description of the Psychology Major
in the UNC Catalog. Credits fall into three categories: Liberal Arts Core, Psychology Major, and University-Wide
Electives. University-Wide Electives may take the form of another major, a minor, or additional Psychology credits. Your
advisor can suggest electives in response to your interests and objectives. It is recommended that PSY 300 (Research
Methods in Psychology) be taken as soon as possible after PSY 200 (Psychological Statistics and Design). Students
considering graduate school are encouraged to consider available advanced seminars for majors only in psychology.
Discuss with your advisor three- and four-year approaches to the BA in psychology and consider if an accelerated pace is
best given your goals. Recognize that a high GPA and research experience will be important in applying to graduate
school and might be more difficult to obtain in a three-year program.
The School of Psychological Sciences office is located in McKee Hall, #14  (970) 351-2957
http://www.unco.edu/cebs/psychology/