The psychology curriculum at UF 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.

Students in the psychology major can specialize in general psychology, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, and 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:

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:

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.

Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

Required Coursework

Students in the behavioral and cognitive neuroscience specialization are required to complete 36 credits of coursework with minimum grades of C. At least 22 credits must be taken in psychology.

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.

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.

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.

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 choose 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

Assessment Types

• Exams
• Papers