The B.S. program requires 41 semester hours of psychology and is designed for students who intend to pursue graduate study in psychology or a closely related discipline. Students whose strengths lie in the natural sciences and mathematics are encouraged to choose the B.S. program. The B.S. program requires an introductory psychology course, a behavioral neuroscience course, two courses in research methods and data analysis, and lower and upper level courses in psychology. In addition, the B.S. program requires a laboratory course in experimental psychology and senior seminar as well as courses from outside the department in mathematics (calculus) and specified options for satisfying the natural science requirement of the General Education Program. Students entering the B.S. program must also complete at least one additional course in advanced mathematics, statistics, or computer science. Consequently, a first year or sophomore student who wishes to defer a decision between the B.A. and B.S. programs should elect courses in natural science and mathematics that will make it possible to choose either major as late as the junior year.

While any student may enter the B.A. program in psychology, admission to the B.S. program is restricted. To be eligible for admission to the B.S. program, students must have completed 30 s.h. of college course work (excluding any credit by exam), and they must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.67 or higher. Eligible students can request admission to the B.S. program by appearing in person at the Academic Programs and Student Development office, 120 Schaeffer Hall. There is no limit to the number of qualified students admitted to the B.S. program.

First-year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 s.h. of course credit who are interested in the B.S. program will be admitted to the psychology B.A. program until they satisfy the admission requirements for the B.S. program. New transfer students who meet the admission requirements for the psychology B.S. program may choose to enter the B.S. program directly. Any student in the B.A. program may switch to the B.S. program if they meet the admission requirements at the time of the request. Students may switch from the B.S. to the B.A. program at any time. Once a student is admitted to the B.S. program, their overall grade point average may drop below 2.67 without penalty. However, a student whose grade point average in psychology courses drops significantly below 2.67 will be advised to switch to the B.A. program.

Program Planning Information

Course Sequence for the B.S. Program

First year students should enroll in Elementary Psychology and General Education courses.  From there, students continue to work on General Education courses and a combination of Intro to Behavioral Neuroscience, the Research Methods and Data Analysis sequence, and lower level Psychology courses.  Finally, students complete upper-level Psychology electives. 

It is important for students to compete the Psychology Core as early as possible as it is not possible to move on to upper-level major coursework until these courses are completed.

Please note that students must earn a C- or better in Research Methods and Data Analysis II (PSY:2812) and the corresponding lower level elective plus complete the Psychology Core prior to enrolling in more advanced courses.

Students entering the B.S. program can complete their additional course in advanced mathematics, statistics, or computer science any time, subject to course prerequisites.