BS with a Major in Psychology
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Psychology degree requirements for the Major in Psychology are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Major Requirements | 33 | |
| General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours | 87 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology a | 4 |
| PSCH 242 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 4 |
| PSCH 343 | Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science b | 4 |
| Select at least one Cognition and the Brain course: c,d | 3 | |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Cognition and Memory | ||
| Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Select at least two Psychology in Society courses: c,d | 6 | |
| Theories of Personality | ||
| Community Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Psychological and Behavioral Disorders | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Cultural Psychology | ||
| Select at least one depth course to prepare for a Research Application or Laboratory Skills course: c | 3 | |
| Social Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| Cultural Psychology | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Cognition and Memory | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Select at least one Research Application or Laboratory Skills course: | 3 | |
| Laboratory in Social Psychology | ||
| Laboratory in Developmental Psychology | ||
| Laboratory in Community and Prevention Research | ||
| Laboratory in Clinical Psychology | ||
| Laboratory in Perception | ||
| Laboratory in Cognition and Memory | ||
| Laboratory in Learning and Conditioning | ||
| Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Psychology Electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- a
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
- b
PSCH 343 (with a C or better) fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement.
- c
A single course may count toward only one requirement (for example, PSCH 350 can count toward Cognition and the Brain requirement OR the depth requirement, not both).
- d
Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog to determine which of these courses are approved General Education courses.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| MATH 105 or MATH 108 |
Mathematical Reasoning or Intermediate Algebraic Concepts |
4 |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 14-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| PSCH 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 14-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCH 242 | Introduction to Research in Psychology | 4 |
| Psychology in Society course a,b | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCH 343 | Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science c | 4 |
| Psychology in Society course b | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Cognition and the Brain course d | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective f | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Preparation for Research Application or Lab Skills course e | 3 | |
| Psychology Elective f | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 9-10 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Psychology Research Application or Lab Skills course g | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 12-13 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Electives | 15-16 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
Psychology electives taken at this time are restricted to the 200 level, as 300-level PSCH courses cannot be taken until PSCH 242 is completed with a C or better.
- b
Psychology in Society courses include PSCH 210, PSCH 231, PSCH 270, PSCH 312, PSCH 320, or PSCH 324. Consult a departmental advisor when choosing courses.
- c
A grade of C or better in PSCH 343 satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning requirement
- d
Cognition and Brain courses include PSCH 262, PSCH 350, PSCH 352, PSCH 360, and PSCH 366.Consult a departmental advisor when choosing courses.
- e
Depth courses to prepare for a Research or Application or Laboratory Skills course include PSCH 312, PSCH 320, PSCH 324, PSCH 350, PSCH 352, and PSCH 366.
- f
A combined maximum of 8 hours of credit in PSCH 396, PSCH 397 and PSCH 399 can be applied toward the degree.
- g
Research Application or Lab Skills courses include PSCH 313, PSCH 321, PSCH 331, PSCH 333, PSCH 351, PSCH 353, PSCH 361, PSCH 363, and PSCH 367.