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.

General Psychology

Required Coursework

Students in the general psychology specialization are required to complete 36 credits of psychology coursework with minimum grades of C. At least 30 of the 36 credits must be at the 3000-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Introductory level
PSY 2012	General Psychology (or equivalent, such as a general psychology course taken elsewhere or credit by exam for this course via AP, IB, AICE.)	3
Foundation level core
Each of the four foundation areas is an introduction to a substantive area of psychology. Select at least one course from each:		12
Biological Bases
CBH 3003	Comparative Psychology
EXP 3104	Sensory Processes
PSB 3002	Physiological Psychology 1
PSB 3340	Behavioral Neuroscience 1
Developmental Changes
DEP 3053	Developmental Psychology
Learning and Cognition
EAB 3002	Principles of Behavior Analysis
EAB 3764	Applied Behavior Analysis
EXP 3604	Cognitive Psychology
Sociocultural / Individual Differences Approaches
CLP 3144	Abnormal Psychology
PPE 3003	Psychology of Personality
SOP 3004	Social Psychology
Laboratory course
PSY 3213L	Laboratory Methods in Psychology	3
Psychology courses
4000-level courses (does not count individual work courses)		6
Additional Psychology courses
3000/4000-level courses to meet the 36-credit minimum requirement (with the exception that three credits of 2000-level courses can count toward this requirement) 2, 3		12
Total Credits		36

¹

Students may not take both PSB 3002 and PSB 3340 under any circumstances.

²

In addition, up to nine credits of individual work courses will count toward the 36-credit minimum requirement.

³

Two courses from the Women’s Studies department can also be utilized as part of the 12 additional psychology credits (WST 3371; WST 4704, WST 3323, WST 4XXX).

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

Related Coursework

Statistics

STA 2023 and STA 3024 are also required. STA 2023 is a prerequisite for some 4000-level psychology and laboratory courses. STA 3024 must be taken before or concurrently with any specialized psychology laboratory, and it also counts toward the CLAS requirement of 3000-level electives not in the major.

Mathematics

Proficiency through precalculus is required. MAC 1147 (or higher course) will meet this requirement. The combination of MAC 1114 and MAC 1140 may be substituted for MAC 1147.

Biological Science

BSC 2005 or BSC 2010 is required.

All majors are encouraged to see a psychology advisor in 135 Psychology Building. No appointments are necessary and walk-ins are welcome.

Most of the foundation-level courses and the laboratory methods course are offered each semester. Special topic and other advanced courses are offered less frequently. Fewer courses are offered in Summer.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward 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: BSC 2005 or BSC 2010, MAC 1147 or MAC 1140 and MAC 1114, PSY 2012, PSY 3213L, and STA 2023.

Although not required in the first five semesters, additional psychology courses taken in semesters 1-5 count toward the critical-tracking GPA for the major.

Semester 1

• Complete MAC 1140 or MAC 1147
• 2.4 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete PSY 2012; if MAC 1140 is taken in semester 1, MAC 1114 must be taken semester 2
• 2.6 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 2 critical-tracking courses from BSC 2005 or BSC 2010, STA 2023 or PSY 3213L with a 2.6 critical-tracking GPA
  Students should take PSY 3213L in semester 3 or 4 before taking any additional 3000-level or above psychology courses.
• 2.7 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete BSC 2005 or BSC 2010 and STA 2023 (if not previously taken) with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.8 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete PSY 3213L (if not previously taken) with 2.75 critical-tracking GPA. Additional Psychology courses taken in semesters 1-5 are included in the critical-tracking GPA.
• 2.8 UF GPA required

Semester 6

• Complete 2 of the remaining PSY 3XXX/4XXX required courses
• Complete STA 3024

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 One		Credits
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities)		3
MAC 1147	Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics)	4
Foreign language		4-5
Gen Ed Physical Sciences		3
	Credits	14-15
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
Elective		3
Foreign language		3-5
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
	Credits	15-17
Semester Three
Select one:		3
BSC 2005	Biological Sciences
BSC 2010	Integrated Principles of Biology 1
PSY 3213L	Laboratory Methods in Psychology (Critical Tracking)	3
Electives (3 credits of foreign language if 4-3-3 option)		6
Gen Ed Humanities		3
	Credits	15
Semester Four
Quest 2 course (Gen Ed Biological, Physical, or 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) 1		3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences or Elective (if Quest 2 course is a Physical Science)		3
	Credits	15
Semester Five
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
Foundation-level psychology course (Gen Ed Biological Sciences)		3
Foundation-level psychology course (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) 1		3
Electives		6
	Credits	15
Semester Six
STA 3024	Introduction to Statistics 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics; counts as a 3000-level or above elective, not in the major)	3
Psychology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above, at least one 4000-level)		6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
Psychology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above, at least one 4000-level)		6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
Elective		3
	Credits	15
Semester Eight
Psychology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)		6
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)		3
Electives		7
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	120

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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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