Bachelor of Science (BS) in General Psychology

Students with a strong science background enrolled in several science and math courses, can choose to declare the Bachelor of Science (BS).  See a departmental advisor to make the change. 
This is a common path for students pursuing pre-med or the neuroscience track; however, there are significant differences for departmental requirements for students pursuing the neuroscience track in psychology.  Please see the link for the BS in Neuroscience Track for further information. 

  • Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major and overall.
  • Courses taken P/F may not be counted toward the major with the exception of internships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

The departmental requirements do not differ between the BA and the BS in general psychology. You can download a checklist of the major requirements for the General Psychology BA/BS.

College Requirements

Majors pursuing a BS in General Psychology must complete 60 credits of courses taught in departments in the College of Natural Sciences.  See the CNS website for courses that can apply. For more information about college-level requirements or to inquire about whether you have satisfied the requirement, consult the CNS Advising office in Morrill. 

Departmental Requirements

1. Psychology 100: Introductory Psychology

  • Psychology 100 is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses numbered 200 and above.
  • A grade of C- or better in Psych 100 is a required prerequisite for entering Psychology 240. Students may pre-register in Psych 240 while completing Psych 100, but if the final grade is not C- or better, the registration will be canceled.

2. Psychology 240: Statistics in Psychology.

  • Students must have completed a math prerequisite for entering Psych 240: Math 101 & 102 or higher, or Stat 111 or math placement algebra test score of 20 or higher.
  • A grade of C- or better in Psych 240 is a required prerequisite for entering Psychology 241. Students may pre-register in Psych 241 while completing Psych 240, but if the final grade is not C- or better, the registration will be canceled.
  • Stat 240 may be taken in lieu of Psych 240.  

3. Psychology 241: Methods of Inquiry in Psychology

  • For successful completion of the major within four years, Methods should be completed by the end of the junior year.

4. One Core A Course: Psychology 314. Cognitive Neuroscience OR Psychology 315. Cognitive Psychology OR Psychology 320. Learn and Think

  • Psychology 240 and 241 are prerequisites for entering the Psych 315 or 320. Psychology 100 and 330 are prerequisites for entering Psych 314.

5. Core B Course: Psych 330 Introduction to Neuroscience (formerly Behavioral Neuroscience)

6. Two Core C Courses:

  • Psychology 350 Developmental Psychology
  • Psychology 360 Social Psychology
  • Psychology 380 Abnormal Psychology

7. Junior Writing:

  • Psychology 337 (formerly 392A) Junior Year Writing Seminar

8. One advanced Psychology lab, seminar, or small course (minimum 3 credits):

  • Choose from Psychology: 391*, 430, 480, 481, 486, 491*, 530, 535, 580, 581, 586, 591*.
  • With few, if any, exceptions, completion of Psychology 240 and 241 are prerequisites for entering these classes.
  • *These classes generally have letters following in SPIRE, so do not look up by “is exactly.” Use “begins with” as your search criterion.

9. Two Psychology electives numbered 200 and above

  • Each must be a minimum of 3 credits and one must be a graded, nonindependent study course.

10. Psych 494P Professional Development in Psychology (Integrative Experience Requirement)

  • When taken in combination with a Psych 391 seminar, Psychology 494P will satisfy the Integrative Experience for psychology majors. 
  • Seminar equivalents will not be accepted; students must enroll in a Psych 391 seminar to satisfy the IE. 

Other requirements for the Psychology major
There are limitations on the number of transfer credits that can be applied to the major.