The psychology major provides a fundamental understanding of the principles of human cognition, emotion, behavior, social interactions and mind-brain relationships. Our distinguished faculty also teach specialized upper-division courses in behavioral genetics, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, child development, social psychology, and judgment and decision making.

Requirements

Prerequisites

It is policy to enforce the course prerequisites listed in the course descriptions. If you have not either taken and passed (C- or better) the prerequisites for a course or obtained permission from the instructor to take the course based on equivalent preparatory coursework, you may be administratively dropped from the course.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the requirements for the major, listed below.

A major in psychology requires a minimum of 36 credit hours in psychology courses. At least 20 of these credit hours must be in upper-division PSYC or NRSC coursework that includes a minimum of 10 credit hours at the 4000 level. Students must complete a minimum of 12 upper-division credit hours of psychology coursework on the Boulder campus with a C- or better. Of those 12 credit hours, one laboratory and methods course must be included.

All required major courses and all required ancillary courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail.  Students must have a GPA of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate, and no more than 45 credits in PSYC may be applied to overall graduation requirements. 

Required Courses and Credits

Psychology Core
PSYC 1001General Psychology3
PSYC 2111Psychological Science I: Statistics4
PSYC 3111Psychological Science 2: Research Methods in Psychology4
Required Courses
Select 4 out of 5 from the following options:12
Biological Psychology
Introductory Cognitive Psychology
Social Psychology
Behavioral Genetics
Clinical Psychology: Psychological Disorders
Laboratory and Methods Course
Select at least one upper-division course from the following:4
Judgment and Decision Making
Advanced Cognitive Psychology
Research Methods in Behavioral Genetics
Cognitive Neuroscience/Neuropsychology
Psychology of Perception
Research Methods in Social Psychology
Research Methods in Clinical Psychology
Upper-Division Major Electives
Complete 9 credits of applicable electives, including: 9
3 credits of upper-division elective in PSYC or NRSC (3000 or 4000-level)
3 credits of 4000-level elective in PSYC or NRSC
3 credits of 4000-level elective either in PSYC/NRSC or from an approved list of external elective courses, including SOCY 4014, SOCY 4031, SOCY 4024, SOCY 4086, SOCY 4063. A maximum of one (3 credit) external elective can be counted toward the PSYC major requirements and hours.
Total Credit Hours36
Ancillary Natural Science sequence (some courses may have required labs):
Select one of the following natural science sequences: 16-10
Environmental Chemistry 1
and Environmental Chemistry 2
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 2
Foundations of Chemistry
and Foundations of Chemistry 2
General Biology 1
and General Biology 2
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
and Principles of Genetics
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
and General Biology 2
General Physics 1
and General Physics 2 (calculus based)
General Physics 1
and General Physics 2 (algebra based)
Ancillary Math requirement:
Select one of the following courses: 13-5
College Algebra
Precalculus Mathematics
Data and Models
Calculus 1

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The department recommends taking  PSYC 1001, PSYC 2111 and three of the four required courses (select from PSYC 2012PSYC 2145PSYC 2606, PSYC 3102 and PSYC 3303) by the end of the sophomore year. It is recommend that the math prerequisite for PSYC 2111 be taken by the end of the first year. It is also recommended that the two-part sequence, PSYC 2111 and PSYC 3111 , be taken in consecutive semesters if possible, although completing the two classes over three semesters is also acceptable. It is recommended that PSYC 3111 be completed by the end of the fifth semester.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

This is a sample four-year plan. Consulting with a departmental advisor every semester is recommended to create a four-year plan most applicable to students' individual circumstances and goals.
 

Note: Wherever "elective" is listed, students may take coursework that applies to a second major, minor or certificate program instead. Work with an advisor to help plan for additional academic credentials.

Through the required coursework for the major, students will complete at least 7 credits in the Social Sciences area and all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement.  This may include the lab component (PSYC 2111 meets the Gen Ed Natural Science lab requirement) as well as the Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills (QRMS) component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.  

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
PSYC 1001 General Psychology 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/US Perspective) 3
Psychology approved Ancillary Natural Science sequence part 1 (example: EBIO 1210; also partially fulfills Gen. Ed.: Natural Sciences) 1 3
Gen. Ed. Skills or Distribution course (example: Foreign Language or Arts & Humanities) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
Required Psychology Course 1 of 4 (e.g. PSYC 2012, PSYC 2145, or PSYC 2606) 3
MATH Ancillary course (MATH 1212, MATH 1011, MATH 1150, or MATH 1300, also fulfills Gen. Ed. Skills: QRMS) 3
Psychology approved Ancillary Natural Science sequence part 2 (example: EBIO 1220; also partially fulfills Gen. Ed.: Natural Sciences) 1 3
Gen. Ed. Skills or Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities or lower-division Written Communication) 3-5
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15-17
Year Two
Fall Semester
PSYC 2111 Psychological Science I: Statistics 4
Required Psychology Course 2 of 4 (e.g. PSYC 2012, PSYC 2145, or PSYC 2606) 3
Gen Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences) 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring Semester
PSYC 3111 Psychological Science 2: Research Methods in Psychology 2 4
Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/Global Perspective) 3
Required Psychology Course 3 of 4 (PSYC 2012, PSYC 2145, PSYC 2606, PSYC 3102, or PSYC 3303) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
Required Psychology Course 4 of 4 (PSYC 2012, PSYC 2145, PSYC 2606, PSYC 3102, or PSYC 3303) 3
PSYC Elective: 3000 level 3
Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
PSYC Elective: 4000 level (or external elective from approved list) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year Four
Fall Semester
PSYC Approved Laboratory and Methods course (or PSYC Elective: 4000 level) 4
Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
PSYC Elective: 4000 level (or PSYC Approved Laboratory and Methods course if not taken in 7th semester) 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
Upper-division Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120-122

Learning Outcomes 

Upon completing the program, students will:

  • Achieve a fundamental understanding of the principles of human cognition, emotion, behavior, social interactions and mind-brain relationships; including the scientific basis for this knowledge and methods by which this knowledge is obtained.
  • Learn the principles and application of psychological statistical analysis including how to analyze and report experimental results.
  • Learn the principles and application of psychological research design.
  • Learn how to evaluate and interpret relevant primary literatures.
  • Learn how to apply knowledge of psychological principles and the study of human behavior.