Psychology

College: Liberal Arts and Sciences

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Hours for the Degree: 120

Minor: No

Combined-Degree Program: No

Website: www.psych.ufl.edu See also www.psych.ufl.edu/~undergrad/

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 B.S. in psychology are widely sought in business, education and mental health fields. For a professional career in psychology, a graduate degree is needed.

The psychology curriculum at UF provides the student with a strong background to pursue that career path, as well as an entry into advanced professional schools such as law or medicine.

The curriculum for the major in psychology emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science and as a social science. Students interested majoring in psychology should take: PSY 2012; at least one of the 3000-level courses in psychology; STA 2023; BSC 2007, BSC 2008 or BSC 2010; and either MAC 1147 or both MAC 1140 and MAC 1114. For more information contact psychology advising, psyadv@grove.ufl.edu, or refer to the department website.

• PSY 2012 General Psychology
• One additional psychology course
• One of the foundation-level courses listed below (i.e., Group A or B)
• STA 2023
• One of BSC 2007, 2008 or 2010
• Either MAC 1147 or both MAC 1140 and MAC 1114

• An undergraduate psychology major consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours in psychology. At least 30 of the 36 hours must be in upper-division (3000-level or above) courses. At least 18 of the 36 hours must be taken at the University of Florida. To count toward the 36-hour total, a grade of C or better must be earned in a course, including critical-tracking courses.
• Introductory level: PSY 2012 (or its equivalent, such as a general psychology course taken elsewhere or a score of 3 or above on the AP psychology exam) is required.
• Foundation level: These courses form the core of the major. Each is an introduction to one of the substantive areas of psychology. You must choose at least two courses from Group A and two courses from Group B. Group A consists of CBH 3003 and EAB 3002 or EAB 3764 (but not both); EXP 3104, EXP 3604 and PSB 3004 or PSB 3340 (but not both). Group B consists of CLP 3144, DEP 3053, PPE 3004 and SOP 3004.
• Laboratory courses: Either the 3-credit general laboratory course (PSY 3213L) or one of the 4-credit specialized laboratory courses (DEP 4704C, EAB 4022C, EAB 4714C, EAB 4724C, EXP 4174C, EXP 4934C, PPE 4324C, PSB 4104C, SOP 4214C) are required. Both the general and a specialized laboratory course may be taken. Students considering continuing in graduate school are strongly encouraged to take one of the specialized laboratory courses.
• Additional courses: Students must choose enough additional courses from the 3000-, 4000- and 5000-level courses in psychology to meet the 36-hour minimum requirement (with the exception that three credits of 2000-level courses can count toward this requirement). Courses listed under Group A and B that are not used to count for the foundation-level requirement can be taken. In addition, up to nine credits of individual work courses (see below) will count toward the 36-hour minimum requirement.
• Individual work courses: In addition to regularly-scheduled courses, the department offers five individual-work courses, three involving research (PSY 3912, PSY 4905 and PSY 4970), one involving teaching (PSY 4940) and one involving community work (PSY 4949). In each case, a psychology faculty member or other approved professional serves as a supervisor. For more information about these courses, visit the psychology advising website or see an adviser in the psychology advising office.
• Statistics: Two statistics courses,STA 2023 and STA 3024, are required. STA 2023 is a prerequisite for some 4000-level courses in psychology as well as the laboratory courses. STA 3024 must also be taken either before or concurrently with any specialized psychology laboratory.
• Mathematics: Proficiency up through pre-calculus is required. One math course, MAC 1147 (Algebra and Trigonometry) or higher, will meet this requirement. The combination of MAC 1114 and MAC 1140 may be substituted for MAC 1147.
• Biological Science: Completion of BSC 2007, 2008 or 2010 is required.
• Developing Writing Skills: Although not required, it is strongly recommended that majors considering graduate school take PSY 3220, Communicating Psychological Science, which provides important preparation for writing research reports in the required laboratory courses and enhances application to graduate and professional schools (e.g., writing an effective essay on the application form). Students are encouraged to take the course as a junior or first-semester senior. Students who do not meet the prerequisites must contact the instructor for permission to take the course.

All majors are encouraged to see a psychology adviser in 135 Psychology Building. No appointments are necessary; students can walk in during hours that the psychology advising office is open.

Courses: Most of the foundation-level courses and the general laboratory course are offered each semester. Special topic and other advanced courses are offered less frequently. Fewer courses, especially laboratory courses, are offered in summer.

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

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

• 2.6 UF GPA required.
• Complete at least 1 additional critical-tracking course: PSY 2012, (BSC 2007 or BSC 2008 or BSC 2010), STA 2023 or an additional psychology course. If MAC 1140 is taken in semester 1, MAC 1114 must be taken in semester 2.

• 2.7 UF GPA required
• Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with a 2.6 GPA on all critical-tracking courses

• 2.8 UF GPA required
• Complete STA 2023 with a 2.75 on all critical-tracking courses

• Maintain 2.8 UF GPA
• Complete 1 additional psychology course (1 of the 3 psychology courses must be from a foundation-level course) with 2.75 GPA on all critical-tracking courses

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Semester 1	Credits
MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry	4
Foreign language	4-5
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Physical Science (GE-P)	3
Total	14-15
Semester 2	Credits
PSY 2012 General Psychology (GE-S)	3
Composition (GE-C, WR)	3
Electives	3
Foreign language	3-5
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Total	15-17
Semester 3	Credits
BSC 2007 Biological Sciences: Cells, Organisms and Genetics or BSC 2008 Biological Sciences: Evolution, Ecology and Behavior or BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1 (all GE-B)	3
Electives (3 credits of foreign language if 4-3-3 option)	6
Humanities (GE-H)	3
Psychology course	3
Total	15
Semester 4	Credits
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M)	3
Electives	6
Physical Sciences (GE-P)	3
Psychology course	3
Total	15
Semester 5	Credits
PSY 3220 Communicating Psychological Science (WR) (recommended)	3
STA 3024 Introduction to Statistics 2 (GE-M)	3
Biological Science (if not met through psychology courses [GE-B])	3
General or specialized psychology laboratory course (meets CLAS laboratory requirement)	3-4
Total	15-16
Semester 6	Credits
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Foundation psychology courses	6
Psychology course (3000 level or above)	3
Total	15
Semester 7	Credits
PSY 4905 Individual Work (optional) or psychology course at 3000 level or above	3
Elective	3
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)	6
Foundation psychology course	3
Total	15
Semester 8	Credits
PSY 4970 Senior Thesis (optional) or psychology course at 3000 level or above	3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)	3
Electives	8-10
Total	14-16

Electives: Consider minors in other social, natural or computer sciences and business, etc.