Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Psychology B.A.Psychology
College of Liberal Arts
Psychology examines human behavior through environmental, genetic, physiological, and social determinants and correlates. The department strives to train students with a strong general background in psychology and an ability to think clearly and critically in a wide variety of settings. Students must fulfill distribution requirements in a variety of psychological topics.
Faculty and students work with related University units, including the Institute of Child Development, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the Carlson School of Management, the Departments of Psychiatry and Educational Psychology, the Department of Neuroscience, and affiliated research units within the department, such as the Center for Cognitive Sciences, the Center for Interest Measurement Research, and the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research. While a BA in psychology has proved to be a valuable and useful background for a wide variety of careers, a professional career as a psychologist requires further training.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to complete PSY 3801 (or a Department of Psychology approved equivalent) prior to formally declaring the major. To declare a major, students first complete the online Declaration Module (https://cla.umn.edu/psychology/ undergraduate/majors-minors/declare-your-major) and then schedule an appointment with a Psychology Advisor (psyadvis@umn.edu).
Students may declare the major with PSY 1001 (or equivalent) completed and PSY 3801 in progress.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
CLA BA degrees require 4 semesters or the equivalent of a second language.
CLA degrees require students to complete 48 credits of upper division coursework taken at the 3xxx, 4xxx, or 5xxx level. This program requires 18 upper division credits outside the major. Students may not use CPSY, EPSY, CAPY or PSY courses to satisfy this requirement. See your advisor for a list of courses that can or cannot be used to meet this requirement.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 upper division credits in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.
Students may earn no more than one undergraduate degree in psychology: a BA or a BS or a minor. Students may combine the psychology BA with the child psychology minor, but not with the child psychology BA or BS.
All incoming CLA freshmen must complete the First Year Experience course sequence.
Major Courses
Take 36 or more total credits including: Foundation Courses, Distribution Area Courses, Senior Project and any Electives needed to reach the minimum 36 credits in Psychology coursework. 3 Foundation Courses, 5 Distribution Area Courses, and Senior Project are all required.
Foundation Courses
Take 3 of the following courses.
PSY 1001 - Introduction to Psychology
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
or
PSY 1001H - Honors Introduction to Psychology
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
Distribution Area Courses
Students are required to take at least five courses from the Distribution Area Courses. Students should take additional Psychology courses from the Distribution Areas lists or the list of "Additional Elective Options" to reach the 36 credit minimum for the major.
Take 5 or more course(s) from the following:
Distribution Area A: Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Take 2 or more course(s) from the following:
·
PSY 3011 - Introduction to Learning and Behavior
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3031 - Introduction to Sensation and Perception
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3051 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3061 - Introduction to Biological Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4011 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4016 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 4032 - Psychology of Music
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4036 - Perceptual Issues in Visual Impairment
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5012 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 5014 - Psychology of Human Learning and Memory
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5015 - Cognition, Computation, and Brain
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5018H - Mathematical Models of Human Behavior
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5031W - Perception
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5036W - Computational Vision
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5037 - Psychology of Hearing
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5038W - Introduction to Neural Networks
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5054 - Psychology of Language
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5062 - Cognitive Neuropsychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5063 - Introduction to Functional MRI
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5064 - Brain and Emotion
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5065 - Functional Imaging: Hands-on Training
(3.0 cr)
·
Distibution Area B: Clinical, Personality, and Social
Take 2 or more course(s) from the following:
·
CPSY 3301 - Introduction to Developmental Psychology
[SOCS]
(4.0 cr)
·
CPSY 4303 - Adolescent Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3201 - Introduction to Social Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3206 - Introduction to Health Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3301 - Introduction to Cultural Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3604 - Introduction to Psychopathology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3617 - Introduction to Clinical Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3633 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3666 - Human Sexuality
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5202 - Attitudes and Social Behavior
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5204 - Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5205 - Applied Social Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3101 - Introduction to Personality
(3.0 cr)
or
PSY 5101H - Honors: Personality: Current Theory and Research
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4207 - Personality and Social Behavior
(3.0 cr)
or
PSY 5207 - Personality and Social Behavior
(3.0 cr)
·
Distribution Area C: Individual Differences, Quantitative, and Applied
Take 1 or more course(s) from the following:
·
PSY 3121 - History and Systems of Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3511 - Introduction to Counseling Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3711 - Psychology in the Workplace
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4501 - Psychology of Women and Gender
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5136 - Human Abilities
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5137 - Introduction to Behavioral Genetics
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5501 - Self, Society and Health - What's Work Got To Do With It?
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5707 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 5708 - Organizational Psychology
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5862 - Psychological Measurement: Theory and Methods
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5865 - Advanced Measurement: Theory and Application
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 4521 - Psychology of Stress and Trauma
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3135 - Introduction to Individual Differences
(3.0 cr)
or
PSY 5135 - Psychology of Individual Differences
(3.0 cr)
·
Additional Elective Options
Students may count up to 6 combined credits of PSY
3960/4960/5960, 3993, 4993/5993, 3996 and 4996H; OR up to 9 combined credits of PSY 4993/5993 toward this sub-requirement.
Take at most 6 credit(s) from the following:
·
PSY 3960 - Undergraduate Seminar in Psychology
(1.0-5.0 cr)
·
PSY 3993 - Directed Study
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
PSY 3996 - Undergraduate Fieldwork and Internship in Psychology
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
PSY 4960 - Seminar in Psychology
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
PSY 4993 - Directed Research: Special Areas of Psychology and Related Sciences
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
PSY 4996H - Honors Internship/Externship
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
PSY 5960 - Topics in Psychology
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
PSY 5993 - Research Laboratory in Psychology
(3.0 cr)
Senior Project
Students completing a double major in another CLA department who choose to complete that department's major project must complete 36 total credits in psychology, using additional electives to replace credits that would have been earned through psychology's major project.
General Sequence
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
PSY 3901W - Capstone in Psychology - Research Laboratory
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3902W - Capstone in Psychology - Individual Interests
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3903W - Capstone in Psychology - Community Engagement
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
Honors Sequence
Honors students must take PSY 4994V prior to taking PSY 4902V. PSY 4994V is typically taken in the Spring semester of Junior year. Students should plan this sequence with Psychology Advising and Psychology Honors faculty. Students must enroll in PSY 4902V for a minimum of 3, but no more than 6 credits.
To complete the Honors Senior Project, take the following 2 courses for 7-10 credits:
PSY 4994V - Honors Research Practicum
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
PSY 5994 - Directed Research: Psy Honors Thesis
(1.0-6.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
PSY 3001W - Introduction to Research Methods
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 3001V - Honors Introduction to Research Methods
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
PSY 3901W - Capstone in Psychology - Research Laboratory
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3902W - Capstone in Psychology - Individual Interests
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 3903W - Capstone in Psychology - Community Engagement
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5994 - Directed Research: Psy Honors Thesis
(1.0-6.0 cr)
·
PSY 5031W - Perception
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5036W - Computational Vision
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
PSY 5038W - Introduction to Neural Networks
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PSTL 1281/Psy 1001/Psy 1001H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PSTL 1281/Psy 1001/Psy 1001H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3801/Psy 3801H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3801/Psy 3801H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3001W/Psy 3001V/3005W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3001W/Psy 3001V/3005W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Madr 3031/Psy 3031 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3051 / CGSC 5051 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3061/5061 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | NSc/Psy 5031 |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | NSc 5037/Psy 5037 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CPsy 2301/ 3301/ H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Madr 3206/Psy 3206 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Argn 3301/Madr 3301/Psy 3301 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Madr 3604/Psy 3604/Psy 5604 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 4207/Psy 5207 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 4207/Psy 5207 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Madr 3711/Psy 3711 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 5702/5705/5708 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EPsy 8222/Psy 5865 |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3135/Psy 5135 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3135/Psy 5135 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -5.0 [max 45.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 24.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 48.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 8.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 48.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 18.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3001W/Psy 3001V/3005W |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3001W/Psy 3001V/3005W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Psy 3901W/Psy 3902W/Psy 3903W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | NSc/Psy 5031 |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |