Psychology – B.A.S.
On Campus Major
Effective beginning Fall 2007
Psychology Major
Admission Requirements
For more information about admission to UMD, see Admission Procedures and Requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions Web site.
Students are admitted to UMD as pre-psychology majors. Pre-psychology majors and other students who have a minimum GPA of 2.50, a minimum of 24 credits and have taken General Psychology may declare Psychology as their major by contacting the Psychology department. Progress toward completion of degree requirements is continuously tracked by the UMD Registrar´s APAS system.
Questions about declaring psychology as you major? Contact: Carol Kivi ckivi@d.umn.edu or Sharon Layon slayon@d.umn.edu |
Download the application to major form: Microsoft Word Format or PDF
Requirements for the B.A.S. (120 Credits) in Psychology include:
Liberal Education Requirements and Advanced Writing Requirements
All student must complete 35 credits of Lib Ed requirements. Students are encouraged to focus on this requirement during their Freshman year.
All students are required to complete a Biology course and an Advanced Writing course:
- Core A
- Comp 3140 or Comp 3160 - Advanced Writing (3 cr.)
Note: Students are encouraged to take Advanced Writing before or while taking Psy 3021 Research Methods
Psychology Major Requirements (52 credits) including Biology
- CORE A, B and C (34–36 cr.)
- Psychology Electives 2xxx or higher (12-14 cr.)
Note: 20 credits of Psy 3xxx or higher applied to the B.A.S. must be taken in residence at UMD.
All the courses in CORE A are required, but two courses are required from CORES B and C.
CORE A (20 credits)
PSY 1003 General Psychology (4 credits)
Biol 1001 Biology and Society (4credits) General Biology (4credits)
PSY 2003 Psychology as a Discipline and Profession (1)
PSY 3081 History and Systems (3 credits)
PSY 3020 Statistical Methods (4 credits)
PSY 3021 Experimental Design and Methodology (4)
PSY 3022 Applied Methods and Measurement (4)
Note: PSY 3020 and PSY 2003 are pre-requisites for PSY 3021. PSY 3020, and 3022 must be taken in sequence.
To find out if courses taken at another institution transfers to UMD, consult the transfer guides at: |
CORE B (6-8 credits) Choose 2 courses
PSY 2021 Developmental Psychology (4 credits)
PSY3111 Theories of Personality (3 credits)
PSY 3121 Abnormal Psychology (4 credits)
PSY 3201 Social Psychology (3 credits)
PSY 3520 Industrial Organizational Psychology (4 credits)
CORE C (8 credits) Choose 2 courses
PSY 3061 Physiological Psychology (4 credits)
PSY 3611 Learning and Behavior (4 credits)
Psy 3621 Cognition (4)
Psy 3691 Sensation and Perception (4)
Psychology Elective Courses (10-14 cr.) 2xxx or higher
Students can select any of the following courses as electives. (All other psychology course offerings 2XXX or higher can be used for electives as well). Courses are grouped into “tracks” to match students’ interests. Completion of a track is not required but at least 3 classes in a track are recommended. Tracks, listed in alphabetical order are:
Clinical/Counseling (9 cr. recommended)
- Psy 2021 Developmental Psychology(4)
- Psy 3098 Stress Management (3)
- Psy 3111 Theories of Personality (3)
- PSY 3121 Abnormal Psychology (4 credits)
- Psy 3122 Child Psychopathology (3)
- Psy 3201 Social Psychology (3)
- Psy 3524 Basic Helping Skills (4)
- Psy 3540 Psychology of Food Abuse (3 cr)
- Psy 3601 Psychology of Personal Development (3)
- Psy 3613 Behavior Modification (3)
- Psy 4121 Clinical Psychology (3)
- Psy 4500 Health Psychology (3)
Developmental (6 cr. recommended)
- Psy 2021 Developmental Psychology (4)
- Psy 2023* Marriages and Families Worldwide(4)
- Psy 2223* Gender and Society (4)
- Psy 3122 Child Psychopathology
- Psy 3215 Human Sexuality (3)
- Psy 3371 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3)
- Psy 3381 Adult Development and Aging (3)
- Psy 3631 Cognitive Development (3)
- Psy 3661 Psychology of Language (3)
Experimental (6 cr. recommended)
- Psy 3061 Physiological Psychology (4)
- Psy 3231 Psychology of Drug Use (3)
- PSY 3611 Learning and Behavior (4 credits)
- Psy 3621 Cognition (4)
- Psy 3661 Psychology of Language (3)
- Psy 5130 Evolutionary Psychology (3)
- Psy 5131 Mind-Body Connection (3)
- Psy 5155 Forensic Psychology (3)
Human Services (10 cr. recommended)
- Psy 2023 Marriages and Families Worldwide (4)
- Psy 3010 Human Service Seminar: Issues and Ethics in the Field (2)
- Psy 3011 Internship (3) + prerequisite Psy 3010
- Psy 3098 Stress Management (3)
- Psy 3211 Group Dynamics (3)
- Psy 3524 Basic Helping Skills (4)
- Psy 3601 Psychology of Personal Development (3)
Industrial/Organizational (6 cr recommended)
- Psy 3010 Human Service Seminar: Issues and Ethics in the Field (2)
- Psy 3011 Internship (3) + prerequisite Psy 3010(3)
- Psy 3520 Industrial Organizational Psychology (4)
- Psy 3701 Personnel Psychology (3)
- Psy 3707 Organizational Psychology (3)
*This course can also fulfill part of UMD liberal education program requirements.
Additional Requirements (outside of Psychology):
Minor program OR 18 outside area credits (3xxx or higher ) *
Personal Experience with Psychology
Along with the core requirements and electives, students are encouraged to select at least one personal experience that fosters engagement with psychology. This can include active membership in Psi Chi & Psychology Club, joining peer advisors, becoming a research and/or teaching assistant in cooperation with a psychology faculty member, applying for a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Project) or conducting research or a project through guided independent study (Psy 3994,3995, 3998, 3999). Students also can have a supervised internship experience in an organization (Internship Psy 3011, prereq 3010).
Exit Standards
Students need a minimum G.P.A. of 2.50 across all psychology courses to graduate with a major in Psychology.
Honors Requirements
- Senior students who have a minimum of 3.80 G.P.A. in all psychology courses will graduate with psychology department honors.
- Senior students who have a G.P.A. of 3.25 through 3.79 in all psychology courses and also have a UMD G.P.A. minimum of 3.00 may earn department honors by doing one of the following:
- complete an honors research project (Psy 3998) or an application project (Psy 3997) under a psychology faculty’s supervision; or
- complete an Honors Seminar (Psy 3985); or
- apply for and successfully complete a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Project).
Note: Students eligible for honors are urged to consult with their advisers or a psychology department faculty member before the end of their junior year to discuss how they wish to pursue psychology department honors.
Distance Education –
Many psychology courses are available online. An online major is available for students who have completed an Associate degree in psychology from one of the partner community colleges. Please call the Psychology Department, visit our website www.umd.edu/psy for more information.
Study Abroad
Psychology students are encouraged to study abroad using the many opportunities UMD offers. Information is available at www.d.umn.edu/ieo.
Other information
Students may qualify for Departmental, College or University awards and scholarships. Please visit www.d.umn.edu/cehsp/scholarships/index.html. Students are encouraged to present their research findings at the Twin Ports Undergraduate Psychology Conference or the National Council for Undergraduate Research.
Helpful Links
- Psychology course descriptions
- UMD course search
- UMD class schedule
- Register for a course
- Sample 4-year plans
- Checkpoint Chart
↑ Top ↑