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.

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

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. 

Required Coursework

Students in the Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience specialization are required to complete 36 credits of coursework with related coursework in biological science, mathematics, and statistics.  Courses used toward the major must be earned with minimum grades of C. At least 22 credits must be taken in psychology. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be taken at the University of Florida.

The course listing below does not represent an ordered sequence. View more detailed Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience curriculum course scheduling information on the department’s website.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Introductory level
PSY 2012	General Psychology	3
Laboratory course
PSY 3213L	Laboratory Methods in Psychology	3
Foundation core
Each foundation core course is an introduction to the substantive areas of behavioral and cognitive neuroscience.		6
Biological Bases of Neuroscience
PSB 3340	Behavioral Neuroscience
Learning and Cognition
EXP 3604	Cognitive Psychology
Advanced BCN Laboratory
Select one 2		4
EAB 4714C	Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis
EXP 4174C	Laboratory in Sensory Processes
PSB 4343C	Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
PSY 4905	Individual Work
PSB or EXP Prefixed Psychology Electives at the 4000-level
4000-level psychology courses with a PSB or EXP prefix or approval of the undergraduate coordinator. These courses must be taken in addition to the required laboratory course and do not include individual work courses. 3		6
Additional BCN electives
Psychology courses or approved neuroscience-relevant courses outside psychology to meet the 36- credit minimum requirement. 3 credits may be at the 2000 level or higher. The remaining 11 or more credits must be at the 3000/4000 level. PSB 3002 is not accepted toward the Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience specialization. 1		14
Total Credits		36

¹

Refer to the department’s website for a list of courses that will count towards this requirement. Students who enroll in non-Psychology courses may need to contact Psychology Advising at psych-advising@ufl.edu for degree audit adjustments.

²

Non-Psychology courses taken at UF can be substituted for the BCN Advance Lab Requirements. For a complete list of 4-credit lab-based courses that can be used as substitutes refer to the department’s website. Students who enroll in substitute courses will need to contact Psychology Advising at psych-advising@ufl.edu for degree audit adjustments.

³

Refer to the department’s website for a list of courses that will count towards this requirement. Students who enroll in non-Psychology courses may need to contact Psychology Advising at psych-advising@ufl.edu for degree audit adjustments.

 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 counts as a 3000-level elective not in the major.

Mathematics

Proficiency is required. MAC 2311 meets this requirement.

Biological Science

BSC 2010 and BSC 2011 are required.

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.

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.

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 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.
More Info

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. We recommend that you 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 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.

These critical-tracking courses are required: BSC 2010, MAC 2311, PSY 2012, PSY 3213L, PSB 3340, 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 1147 or MAC 2311
• 2.4 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete MAC 2311
• Complete PSY 2012
• 2.6 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 2 of the following critical-tracking courses with a 2.6 critical-tracking GPA: BSC 2010, PSB 3340, or PSY 3213L
  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 1 tracking course from BSC 2010, PSB 3340, PSY 3213L or STA 2023 with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.8 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete the final tracking course (BSC 2010, PSB 3340, PSY 3213L or STA 2023) with a 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
• Complete neuroscience lab: PSB 4343C, EAB 4714C, EXP 4174C

Semester 8

• Complete all remaining PSY 3XXX/4XXX required courses and/or neuroscience relevant 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).

STA 3024 and approved 3000 level or above neuroscience-relevant courses outside the psychology department may count towards the 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.

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 2311	Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 1	4
Gen Ed Physical Sciences		3
Foreign language		4-5
	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
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
Foreign language		3-5
Elective		3
	Credits	15-17
Semester Three
BSC 2010	Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences)	3
PSB 3340	Behavioral Neuroscience (Critical Tracking)	3
PSY 3213L	Laboratory Methods in Psychology (Critical Tracking)	3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
Elective (3 credits of foreign language if 4-3-3 option)		3
	Credits	15
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological Science, Physical Science, or Social and Behavioral Science)		3
BSC 2011	Integrated Principles of Biology 2 (Gen Ed Biological Sciences)	3
EXP 3604	Cognitive Psychology (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences)	3
STA 2023	Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics)	3
Gen Ed Physical Sciences or Elective (if Quest 2 course is a Physical Science)		3
	Credits	15
Semester Five
STA 3024	Introduction to Statistics 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 3	3
Psychology course (3000-level or above)		3
Approved neuroscience-relevant course outside psychology		3
Electives		6
	Credits	15
Semester Six
Select one:		3
Approved neuroscience-relevant course outside psychology
Psychology course (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences; 3000 level or above)
Psychology course (Critical Tracking; PSB or EXP prefix; 4000 level)		3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
Select one specialized psychology laboratory elective:		4
EAB 4714C	Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis (Critical Tracking)
EXP 4174C	Laboratory in Sensory Processes (Critical Tracking)
PSB 4343C	Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience (Critical Tracking)
PSY 4905	Individual Work (Critical Tracking)
Psychology course (Critical Tracking; PSB or EXP prefix; 4000 level)		3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
Elective		3
	Credits	16
Semester Eight
Select 8 credits:		8
Approved neuroscience-relevant course outside psychology
Psychology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000 level or above)
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)		3
Elective		4
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	120

¹

Take MAC 1147, if needed.

²

Must be Quest 2 if not taken Semester 2 or 3.

³

Counts as a 3000-level or above elective, not in the major.

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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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