Psychology

major | UF Online

Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. Psychology majors receive a broad science-based liberal arts education. As a result, those with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology are widely sought in business, education, and certain mental health fields. For a professional career in psychology, a graduate degree is needed.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Department of Psychology is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the generation of psychological science and to its application and dissemination. The department is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory environment.
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CONTACT

Email | 352.392.0601 (tel) | 352.392.7985 (fax)

P.O. Box 112250
114 PSYCHOLOGY BUILDING
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-2250
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 Curriculum

The Psychology curriculum provides a strong background to pursue careers in psychology, business, education, or health-related fields. The curriculum emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science and as a social science. The BA in Psychology requires courses in four core areas within the discipline as well as elective psychology courses.

Coursework for the Major

A BA in Psychology consists of a minimum of 30 credits in psychology plus related coursework in biological science, mathematics, and statistics. At least 18 of the 30 credits must be taken at UF, and at least 24 of the 30 credits must be at the 3000-level or above. Courses used toward the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.

The course listing below does not represent an ordered sequence. More detailed Psychology Bachelor of Arts curriculum course scheduling information is available on the department’s webpage.
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Required Coursework

Introductory Level
PSY 2012General Psychology3
Laboratory Course
PSY 3213LLaboratory Methods in Psychology3
Foundation Level Core
Select at least one course from each of the four foundation areas:12
Biological Bases of Psychology
Comparative Psychology
Sensory Processes
Physiological Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Learning and Cognition
Principles of Behavior Analysis
Cognitive Psychology
Sociocultural / Individual Differences Approaches
Abnormal Psychology
Psychology of Personality
Social Psychology
Additional Psychology Electives12
3000/4000-level psychology courses to meet the 30 credits minimum requirement. Three credits of 2000-level courses may count toward this requirement. Up to six credits of individual work courses will count toward the 30-hour minimum requirement.
Related Coursework
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 1 (required; prerequisite for some 4000-level psychology courses)3
Select one to achieve proficiency through precalculus:4-5
Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (or higher course)
Trigonometry
and Precalculus Algebra
BSC 2005Biological Sciences3
Total Credits40-41

Students who wish to transfer courses in psychology toward the major must see an advisor in the department for approval. 

Recommended Coursework

In addition to regularly scheduled courses, the department offers six individual work courses. Students can earn up to a maximum combined total of nine credits for IW coursework in their undergraduate careers.

Research
PCO 4911Undergraduate Research in Psychology of Health Disparities3
PSY 4905Individual Work1-3
PSY 4911Undergraduate Research in Psychology3
PSY 4970Senior Thesis1-3
Teaching
PSY 4940Introduction to Teaching in Psychology3
Community Work
PSY 4949Internship in Psychology1-3

In each case, a psychology faculty member must supervise the student’s work. In cases where the student is working with (being supervised by) a faculty member or professional that is not in Department of Psychology, then a psychology faculty member must sign on as a sponsor. Students can earn up to a maximum combined total of six credits for individual work coursework in their undergraduate careers.
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Research

Research in Psychology means asking questions about behavior, designing and running experiments and collecting data regarding those questions, analyzing and interpreting the results, and communicating these results to colleagues. Developing research skills is encouraged, especially if students anticipate graduate school in psychology or in other professional areas.

SONA: Research Participation Requirement

One of the Psychology Department’s goals is to familiarize students with the research process in psychology. Toward meeting this goal, students enrolled in PSY 2012, CLP 2001, and any 3000-level psychology course must participate in experimental research studies (Option 1) or critically analyze scientific research articles (Option 2). This is done through a system called SONA. Specific requirements are posted in the course CANVAS and syllabus.

Advising Note

The SONA requirement is an important factor to consider when planning each semester. It's recommended that students take no more than two psychology courses requiring research participation each semester.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

The following critical-tracking courses are required:

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Students should take PSY 3213L in semester 3 or 4 before taking any additional 3000-level or above psychology courses.

Semester 4

  • Complete BSC 2005 and STA 2023 (if not previously taken) with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
  • 2.5 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete PSY 3213L (if not previously taken) with 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
  • 2.5 UF GPA required

Semester 6

  • Complete 2 of the remaining PSY 3XXX/4XXX required courses

Semester 7

  • Complete 2 of the remaining PSY 3XXX/4XXX required courses

Semester 8

  • Complete all remaining PSY 3XXX/4XXX required courses

Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
MAC 1147 Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
Gen Ed Physical Sciences 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits15
Semester Two
PSY 2012 General Psychology (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
State Core Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement) 3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits14
Semester Three
BSC 2005 Biological Sciences (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences) 3
PSY 3213L Laboratory Methods in Psychology (Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Electives 6
 Credits15
Semester Four
Quest 2 Course (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences OR Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
Foundation-level psychology course 3
Foundation-level psychology course (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences; area not taken in Semester 2 or 3) 3
Elective (or Gen Ed Physical Science if Quest 2 course is not Physical Science) 3
 Credits15
Semester Five
Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement) 3
Foundation-level psychology course (Gen Ed Biological Sciences) 3
Select one foundation-level psychology course (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
Psychology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above) 6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 9
 Credits15
Semester Seven
Psychology course (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above) 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
Electives 9
 Credits15
Semester Eight
Psychology course (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above) 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
Electives 10
 Credits16
 Total Credits120

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology enables students to achieve a high level of proficiency in the science of psychology, including the core natural and social science areas of psychology. Laboratory courses emphasize students' understanding of the design, analysis and critical interpretation of psychological research. Students will also refine their core knowledge and understanding of psychological research with advanced coursework in statistics, biology and mathematics.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Demonstrate satisfactory (minimum grade of C) performance on exams, papers and other coursework for six credits in core psychology natural sciences (course prefixes CBH, EAB, EXP and PSB), six credits of core psychology social sciences (course prefixes CLP, DEP, SOP and PPE) and three or four credits of psychological research methodology, design and analysis, as graded by department rubric.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Critical knowledge of basic and applied aspects of core natural science areas within psychology as well as core social science areas within psychology.
  2. Knowledge of the design, analysis and interpretation of psychological research.

Critical Thinking

  1. Review, interpret and analyze the literature in psychological science.

Communication

  1. Clearly and effectively present ideas in speech and in writing that contribute to the dissemination of advances in research in psychological science.

Curriculum Map

All courses available to students are listed in the table; however, students select six credits in core psychology natural sciences, six credits of core psychology social sciences and three to four credits in psychological research methodology, design and analysis.

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4
DEP 4115 R
DEP 4163 R
DEP 4305 R
DEP 4464 R
DEP 4930 R
EAB 4184 R
EAB 4704 R
EXP 4504 R
PCO 3320 R
PCO 4104 R
PCO 4272 R
PCO 4930 R
PSB 3842 R
PSB 4240 R
PSB 4342 R
PSB 4434 R
PSB 4504 R
PSB 4654 R
PSB 4810 R
PSB 4823 R
PSB 4934 R
PSY 4604 R R R
PSY 4930 R
SOP 3842 R
SOP 4444 R
SOP 4504 R
SOP 4704 R
STA 3024 I, R
Natural Sciences
CBH 3003 I, R, A
EAB 3002 I, R, A
EAB 3764 I, R, A
EXP 3104 I, R, A
EXP 3604 I, R, A
PSB 3002 I, R, A
PSB 3340 I, R, A
Social Sciences
CLP 3144 I, R, A
DEP 3053 I, R, A
PPE 3003 I, R, A
SOP 3004 I, R, A
Laboratories
DEP 4704C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
EAB 4022C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
EAB 4714C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
EXP 4174C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
EXP 4934C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
PPE 4324C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
PSY 3213L I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
SOP 4214C I, R, A I, R, A I, R, A
Individual work in research, teaching, or community service
PSY 3912 R R R
PSY 4905 R
PSY 4940 R
PSY 4949 R
PSY 4970 R R R

Assessment Types

  • Exams
  • Papers