The Psychology curriculum provides a strong background to pursue careers in Psychology or to prepare students for entry into advanced professional schools such as law or medicine. The curriculum emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science and as a social science.

SPECIALIZATIONS

Students in the Psychology major can specialize in General Psychology, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, or Behavior Analysis. All specializations require coursework in psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology, and all offer the option to conduct a senior honors thesis if desired. The specializations vary in the specific courses necessary to complete the degree requirements.

General Psychology 

Requires courses in four core areas within the discipline as well as elective psychology courses.

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

Focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and allows students to take limited approved non-psychology courses relevant to contemporary neuroscience. This specialization also requires more math and biology courses than General Psychology. 

Behavior Analysis

Also focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and how the environment around an organism can be modified to change behavior.

COURSEWORK FOR THE MAJOR

A psychology major consists of a minimum of 36 credits with related coursework in biological science, mathematics, and statistics. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be taken at the University of Florida. Courses used toward the major must be earned with minimum grades of C.

Required Coursework

Required coursework will depend on the program the student chooses. Coursework for each specialization can be found below.

Recommended Coursework

In addition to regularly scheduled courses, the department offers six individual work courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Research
PCO 4911	Undergraduate Research in Psychology of Health Disparities	3
PSY 4911	Undergraduate Research in Psychology	3
PSY 4905	Individual Work	1-3
PSY 4970	Senior Thesis	1-3
Teaching
PSY 4940	Introduction to Teaching in Psychology	3
Community Work
PSY 4949	Internship in Psychology	1-3

In each case, a psychology faculty member or other approved professional serves as supervisor. A maximum of nine credits of individual work courses from the following can count toward the major:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CLP 3911	Introduction to Clinical Research	1-3
PCO 4911	Undergraduate Research in Psychology of Health Disparities	3
PSY 4911	Undergraduate Research in Psychology	0-3
PSY 4905	Individual Work	1-3
PSY 4940	Introduction to Teaching in Psychology	3
PSY 4949	Internship in Psychology	0-3
PSY 4970	Senior Thesis	1-3

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.

The Bachelor of Science 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

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

Communication

4. 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

Academic Learning Compact 4

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 3220		R	R	R
PSY 3443	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

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