Behavior Analysis

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 Science in Psychology are widely sought in business, education, and 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.
Website

CONTACT

Email | 352.392.0601 (tel) | 352.392.7985 (fax)

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

 Curriculum

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.

Behavior Analysis

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

Required Coursework

Students in the behavior analysis 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.

The course listing below does not represent an ordered sequence.  Students can view more detailed Behavior Analysis curriculum course scheduling information on the department’s website.

Introductory level
PSY 2012General Psychology3
Laboratory course
PSY 3213LLaboratory Methods in Psychology3
Behavior Analysis courses
EAB 3002Principles of Behavior Analysis3
EAB 3764Applied Behavior Analysis3
EAB 4184Behaviorism and Contemporary Society3
EAB 4930Advanced Seminar in Behavior Analysis3
or EAB 4741 Organizational Behavior Management
Behavior Analysis Laboratory course
EAB 4714CLaboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis 14
Additional Psychology electives
3000/4000-level courses to meet the 36-credit minimum requirement. Three credits of 2000-level courses can count toward this requirement. Students can earn up to a maximum combined total of nine credits for Individual Work coursework in their undergraduate careers, which would apply to this requirement. 214
Total Credits36
1

There are two alternatives for the EAB 4714C Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis requirement. One is to take an additional 4000-level EAB course (listed above) as well as either PSY 4911 or PSY 4905 that is supervised or sponsored by a Behavior Analysis faculty member for one or more credits. The other opportunity is to take PSY 4905 for four credits (would require enrollment in PSY 4905 in two semesters) that is supervised or sponsored by a Behavior Analysis faculty member. Contact Psychology Advising at psych-advising@ufl.edu for more information.

2

Two courses from the Women's Studies department can also be utilized as part of the 14 additional psychology credits. These courses include, but might not be limited to, WST 3323, WST 3371, WST 4630, and WST 4704. Refer to the department's website for more information about courses that can count towards the Additional Psychology electives requirement.
More Info 

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.

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.

Research
PCO 4911Undergraduate Research in Psychology of Health Disparities3
PSY 4911Undergraduate Research in Psychology3
PSY 4905Individual Work1-3
PSY 4970Senior Thesis1-3
Teaching
PSY 4940Introduction to Teaching in Psychology3
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.
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.

The following critical-tracking courses are required:

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

Semester 2

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

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 two of the remaining EAB XXXX/4XXX required courses
  • Complete STA 3024

Semester 7

  • Complete two of the remaining EAB XXXX/4XXX required courses

Semester 8

  • Complete all remaining EAB 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 4-5
 Credits14-15
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
 Credits15-17
Semester Three
Select one: 3
Biological Sciences (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological Sciences)
Select one Behavior Analysis course: 3
Principles of Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis
PSY 3213L Laboratory Methods in Psychology (Critical Tracking) 3
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Electives (3 credits of foreign language if 4-3-3 option) 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
Quest 2 (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences) 3
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
Select one Behavior Analysis course: 3
Principles of Behavior Analysis
Applied Behavior Analysis
Psychology elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Five
Select one Behavior Analysis course: 3-4
Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis
Behaviorism and Contemporary Society
Gen Ed Biological or Physical Science (science category not taken as Quest 2 course in Semester Four ) 3
Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement 3
Psychology elective 3
Electives 4
 Credits16-17
Semester Six
Select one Behavior Analysis course: 3-4
Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis
Behaviorism and Contemporary Society
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 elective 3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 6
 Credits15-16
Semester Seven
Psychology electives 5
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) 6
Elective 4
 Credits15
Semester Eight
EAB 4930 Advanced Seminar in Behavior Analysis (Behavior Analysis course ) 3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) 3
Electives 9
 Credits15
 Total Credits120

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

  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 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