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.

Summary of Requirements
Major Requirements28
General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours92
Total Hours120

Major Requirements

Required Courses
PSCH 100Introduction to Psychology a4
PSCH 242Introduction to Research in Psychology3
PSCH 343Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science b4
Select at least one of the following to fulfill the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement: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
Select at least one of the following in addition to the course taken for Writing-in-the-Discipline:3
Behavioral Neuroscience
Sensation and Perception
Laboratory in Perception
Cognition and Memory
Laboratory in Cognition and Memory
Learning and Conditioning
Laboratory in Learning and Conditioning
Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
Select at least one of the following: c3
Theories of Personality
Community Psychology
Introduction to Psychological and Behavioral Disorders
Social Psychology
Laboratory in Social Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Laboratory in Developmental Psychology
Cultural Psychology
Laboratory in Community and Prevention Research
Additional Psychology courses for minimum of 28 semester hours8
Total Hours28
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

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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
Foreign Language 4
MATH 090
Intermediate Algebra
or Mathematical Reasoning
3-4
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours13-16
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
Foreign Language 4
PSCH 100 Introduction to Psychology 4
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours14-16
Second Year
Fall Semester
PSCH 242 Introduction to Research in Psychology 3
Psychology Elective a 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Psychology Elective b,c 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
Electives 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
PSCH 343 Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science d 4
Psychology Selective b,c 3
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3
Electives 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Psychology Elective d 3
Psychology Elective d 3
Electives 9
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
PSCH Selective - Lab Course (WID) e 3
Electives 12
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Electives 13-15
 Hours13-15
 Total Hours120
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

At least one course must be taken from PSCH 262, PSCH 350, PSCH 351, PSCH 352, PSCH 353, PSCH 360, PSCH 361, PSCH 363, and PSCH 366, in addition to courses taken to satisfy the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Consult a departmental advisor when choosing courses. 

c

At least one course must be taken from PSCH 210, PSCH 231, PSCH 270, PSCH 312, PSCH 313, PSCH 320, PSCH 321, PSCH 324, and PSCH 331, in addition to courses taken to satisfy the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. Consult a departmental advisor when choosing courses. 

d

A combined maximum of 8 hours of credit in PSCH 396, PSCH 397 and PSCH 399 can be applied toward the degree. 

e

At least one course must be taken from PSCH 313, PSCH 321, PSCH 331, PSCH 351, PSCH 353, PSCH 361, PSCH 363, or PSCH 367 in order to fulfill the Writing in the Discipline Requirement.