Psychology, Bachelor of Science College of Letters & Science
The Major Programs
The psychology program at UC Davis is broad and includes students and faculty with a variety of interests. The department has developed around five core areas of psychology:
Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience (PCCN) involves the study of awareness and thought, and includes such topics as perception, learning, memory, language and cognition.
Biological Psychology covers a broad spectrum of topics including evolutionary, neurobiological, and molecular mechanisms of behavior.
Social-Personality Psychology involves the study of the individual in their social environment and includes such topics as personality & individual differences, emotions, stereotyping & prejudice, intergroup relations, the psychology of religion and psychological health & dysfunction.
Developmental Psychology involves the study of changes in behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities that occur throughout the lifespan. Typical and atypical development is examined using a variety of methods including behavioral, neuroimaging, and physiological assessments.
Quantitative Psychology involves the study of linear & nonlinear models, psychometrics, mixed-effects models, and dynamic models, including experimental design, analysis of variance, regression, multivariate analysis, latent growth models, time series models, and factor analytic models.
The department offers the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) program for students interested in the liberal arts and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program geared for students with an interest in either biology or mathematics. The main objective of both programs is a broad introduction to the scope of contemporary psychology. In addition to completing a number of common core courses for their degree, students may take approved elective courses from a wide range of topics including Educational Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, and Psychological Anthropology, to name a few. The department strongly encourages students to become involved in individual research projects under the direction of faculty members and to participate in our internship program to broaden experience and understanding of the field of psychology.
Change of Major Process
Before declaring a major in Psychology, students must complete PSC 001 and PSC 041 with a combined grade point average of at least 2.500 in those two courses. Both courses must be taken for a letter grade. If a 2.500 GPA is not attained in these two courses, a 2.000 GPA in a minimum of three upper division Psychology courses is also acceptable for major declaration. Once students have completed these courses with the required GPA, they must save their progress toward the major on a Degree Worksheet in OASIS, and then submit a Change of Major Form in OASIS.
Career Pathways
A degree in psychology provides broad intellectual foundations that are useful to the graduate for the development of careers in a variety of areas, including social work, teaching, business, management, and counseling. An undergraduate education in psychology also provides excellent preparation for graduate study. Individuals with degrees in psychology may enter graduate programs to prepare for teaching, research, or clinical/counseling careers in psychology, or may go on to professional schools for training in veterinary and human medicine, law, and many other professions.
Honors & Honors Program
In order to be eligible for high or highest honors in Psychology, the student must both meet the college criteria for honors and complete a research project involving a minimum of 6 units of coursework over at least two quarters which represents an original analysis of data on psychological phenomena. Courses PSC 194HA-PSC 194HB or other approved courses can be used to satisfy the unit requirement. This project is to be written in thesis form and approved by the department. The quality of the thesis work will be the primary determinant for designating high or highest honors at graduation.
Recommended for All Majors
Students who plan to do graduate work in any area of psychology are strongly encouraged to gain experience through research and internship activities.
Major Advisor
Staff advisors are located in Young Hall. psychadvising@ucdavis.edu, schedule an academic advising appointment, or
Graduate Study
The Department offers programs of study and research leading to the Ph.D. degree in psychology. Detailed information regarding graduate study may be obtained on our website.
Graduate Advisor
See Graduate Students.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. Respective of the Emphasis, the minimum number of units required for the Psychology Bachelor of Science are 99 & 85.
Biological Emphasis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Psychology 1 | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| General Psychology | ||
or PSC 001V | General Psychology | |
or PSC 001Y | General Psychology | |
OR | ||
The equivalent. | ||
| Statistics 1 | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Data Visualization in the Social Sciences | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | ||
| Research Methods 1 | ||
| PSC 041 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| Choose one series: | 6-8 | |
| Short Calculus and (Discontinued) | ||
OR | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
OR | ||
| Calculus and Calculus | ||
| Physics | ||
| Choose (PHY 007A & PHY 007B) or (PHY 010 or PHY 010C or PHY 010CY): | 3-8 | |
| General Physics and General Physics | ||
OR | ||
| Topics in Physics for Nonscientists | ||
or PHY 010C | Physics of California | |
or PHY 010CY | Physics of California | |
| Biological Science | ||
| BIS 002A | Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth 2 | 5 |
| BIS 002B | Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | 5 |
| BIS 002C | Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life | 5 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHE 002A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHE 002B | General Chemistry | 5 |
| Choose one series: | 6-8 | |
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 52-61 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| BIS 101 | Genes & Gene Expression | 4 |
| NPB 101 | Systemic Physiology | 5 |
| Core Group A: Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience; choose two: | 8 | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | ||
or PSC 100Y | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | |
| Human Learning & Memory | ||
| Perception | ||
| Language & Cognition | ||
| Neuroeconomics/Reinforcement Learning & Decision Making | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind | ||
| Psychology of Music | ||
| Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Core Group B: Psychobiology; choose three: | 10-12 | |
| Introduction to Biological Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychobiology | ||
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Advanced Animal Behavior | ||
| Hormones & Behavior (3 units) 3 | ||
| Comparative Neuroanatomy (3 units) 3 | ||
| Behavioral Epigenetics | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Neurobiology of Learning & Memory | ||
| Gender & Human Reproduction | ||
| Core Group C: Social/Personality; choose one: | 4 | |
| Social Psychology | ||
or PSC 151V | Social Psychology | |
| Social Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Emotion | ||
or PSC 154V | Psychology of Emotion | |
| Sexual Orientation & Prejudice | ||
| Psychology of the Self | ||
| Introduction to Personality Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Psychology | ||
| Mental Health, Mental Illness, & Problems in Living | ||
| Core Group D: Developmental; choose one: | 4 | |
| Developmental Psychology 4 | ||
or PSC 140V | Developmental Psychology | |
or PSC 140Y | Developmental Psychology | |
or HDE 100A | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
or HDE 100AV | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
or HDE 100B | Middle Childhood & Adolescence | |
| Cognitive Development | ||
| Social & Personality Development | ||
| Infant Development | ||
| Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| The Development of Memory | ||
| Developmental Disorders | ||
| Approved Major Electives | ||
| Additional units to achieve a total of 40 units of approved upper division major elective coursework. 3 | 12-14 | |
Can include: | ||
• Any upper division PSC classes that are not already satisfying a Core Area. | ||
• Any classes from our list of approved electives (See "Approved Major Electives" Section below). | ||
• PSC 192 (max of 6 units). | ||
Note that tutoring (PSC 197T) cannot satisfy major requirements. | ||
| Recommended Coursework for Those Interested in Graduate Programs in Biological Psychology | ||
| Research in Psychobiology (on a Biological Psychology topic) | ||
| Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates (May be taught abroad) | ||
| The Evolution of Primate Behavior | ||
| Principles of Environmental Science | ||
| Introduction to Evolution | ||
| Introduction to Ecology | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 47-51 | |
| Total Units | 99-112 | |
- 1
Strongly recommended that PSC 041 and PSC 012Y or STA 013 or STA 013Y or STA 100 be completed in the first year.
- 2
- 3
If you take one or more 3-unit course(s), you will need additional PSC Major Elective units to fulfill the 40 total units of upper division PSC required in the major.
- 4
Students who have completed HDE 100A or HDE 100AV or HDE 100B prior to PSC 140 or PSC 140V or PSC 140Y will receive 2 units of credit for PSC 140 or PSC 140V or PSC 140Y.
Approved Major Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Any upper division Psychology (PSC) course(s). 1 | 1-14 | |
| AAS 141 | Psychology of the African American Experience | 4 |
| ANT 132 | Psychological Anthropology | 4 |
| CHI 120 | Chicana/o Psychology | 4 |
| CHI 121 | Chicana/o Community Mental Health | 4 |
| CHI 122 | Psychology Perspectives Chicana/o & Latina/o Family | 4 |
| CHI 123 | Psychological perspectives on Chicana/o & Latina/o Children & Adolescents | 4 |
| CMN 120 | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| or CMN 120V | Interpersonal Communication | |
| CMN 122 | Nonverbal Communication | 4 |
| CNS 100 | Consumer Behavior 2 | 3 |
| EDU 110 | Educational Psychology: General | 4 |
| EXB 102 | Introduction to Motor Learning & the Psychology of Sport & Exercise | 4 |
| HDE 100A | Infancy & Early Childhood | 4 |
| or HDE 100AV | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
| HDE 100B | Middle Childhood & Adolescence | 4 |
| HDE 100C | Adulthood & Aging | 4 |
| HDE/ENT 117 | Longevity | 4 |
| HDE 163 | Cognitive Neuropsychology in Adulthood & Aging | 4 |
| LIN 171 | Introduction to Psycholinguistics | 4 |
| NPB 102 | Animal Behavior 2 | 3 |
| NPB 168 | Neurobiology of Addictive Drugs | 4 |
| POL 170 | Political Psychology | 4 |
| SOC 126 | Social Interaction | 4 |
| SOC 135 | Social Relationships | 4 |
| SOC 152 | Juvenile Delinquency | 4 |
| SOC 171 | Sociology of Violence & Inequality | 4 |
- 1
Except PSC 197T.
- 2
-
If you take one or more 3-unit course(s), you will need additional PSC Major Elective units to fulfill the 40 total units of upper division PSC required in the major.
Quantitative Emphasis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Psychology 1 | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| General Psychology | ||
or PSC 001V | General Psychology | |
or PSC 001Y | General Psychology | |
or the equivalent | ||
| Statistics 1 | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Data Visualization in the Social Sciences | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | ||
| Research Methods 1 | ||
| PSC 041 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MAT 021A | Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 021B | Calculus | 4 |
| MAT 021C | Calculus | 4 |
| Computer Science Engineering | ||
| ECS 032A | Introduction to Programming | 4 |
| or ECS 032AV | Introduction to Programming | |
| or ECS 036A | Programming & Problem Solving | |
| Chemistry | ||
| Choose (CHE 002A & CHE 002B) or (CHE 002AH & CHE 002BH) or CHE 010: | 4-10 | |
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry | ||
OR | ||
| Honors General Chemistry and Honors General Chemistry | ||
OR | ||
| Concept of Chemistry | ||
| Physics | ||
| Choose (PHY 007A & PHY 007B) or (PHY 010 or PHY 010C or PHY 010CY): | 3-8 | |
| General Physics and General Physics | ||
OR | ||
| Topics in Physics for Nonscientists | ||
or PHY 010C | Physics of California | |
or PHY 010CY | Physics of California | |
| Biology | ||
| Choose BIS 002A or a combination, as below: | 5-8 | |
| Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth 2 | ||
OR a combination of: | ||
| Everyday Biology | ||
AND | ||
| Human Evolutionary Biology | ||
or ANT 001Y | Human Evolutionary Biology | |
or MCB 010 | Introduction to Human Heredity | |
or NPB 010 | Elementary Human Physiology | |
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 40-54 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Psychology Statistical Analysis and Applied Psychometrics Courses | ||
| PSC 103A | Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data | 5 |
| PSC 103B | Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data | 4-5 |
| or PSC 104 | Applied Psychometrics: An Introduction to Measurement Theory | |
| Statistics | ||
| Choose one series: | 8 | |
| Applied Statistical Methods: Analysis of Variance and Applied Statistical Methods: Regression Analysis | ||
OR | ||
| Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course and Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course | ||
OR | ||
| Introduction to Probability Theory and Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | ||
| Core Group A: Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience; choose two: | 8 | |
| Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | ||
or PSC 100Y | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | |
| Human Learning & Memory | ||
| Perception | ||
| Language & Cognition | ||
| Neuroeconomics/Reinforcement Learning & Decision Making | ||
| Cognitive Neuroscience: The Biological Foundations of the Mind | ||
| Psychology of Music | ||
| Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Core Group B: Psychobiology: choose two: | 6-8 | |
| Introduction to Biological Psychology | ||
| Developmental Psychobiology | ||
| Physiological Psychology | ||
| Advanced Animal Behavior | ||
| Hormones & Behavior (3 units) 3 | ||
| Comparative Neuroanatomy (3 units) 3 | ||
| Behavioral Epigenetics | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Neurobiology of Learning & Memory | ||
| Gender & Human Reproduction | ||
| Choose one course from Group C or Group D: | 4 | |
| Core Group C: Social/Personality | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Social Cognition | ||
| Psychology of Emotion | ||
or PSC 154V | Psychology of Emotion | |
| Sexual Orientation & Prejudice | ||
| Psychology of the Self | ||
| Introduction to Personality Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Psychology | ||
| Mental Health, Mental Illness, & Problems in Living | ||
| Core Group D: Developmental | ||
| Developmental Psychology 4 | ||
or PSC 140V | Developmental Psychology | |
or PSC 140Y | Developmental Psychology | |
or HDE 100A | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
or HDE 100AV | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
or HDE 100B | Middle Childhood & Adolescence | |
| Cognitive Development | ||
| Social & Personality Development | ||
| Infant Development | ||
| Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| The Development of Memory | ||
| Developmental Disorders | ||
| Approved Major Electives | ||
| Additional units to achieve a total of 40 units of approved upper division major elective coursework. 3 | 10-13 | |
Can include: | ||
• Any upper division PSC classes that are not already satisfying a Core Area. | ||
• Any classes from our list of approved electives (See "Approved Major Electives" Section below). | ||
• PSC 192 (max of 6 units). | ||
| Note that tutoring (PSC 197T) cannot satisfy major requirements. | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 45-51 | |
| Total Units | 85-105 | |
- 1
Strongly recommended that PSC 001, PSC 041, and PSC 012Y or STA 013 or STA 100 be completed in the first year. Recommended to take Statistics before taking PSC 041.
- 2
- 3
-
If you take one or more 3-unit course(s), you may need additional PSC Major Elective units to fulfill the 40 total units of upper division PSC required in the major.
- 4
Students who have completed HDE 100A or HDE 100AV or HDE 100B prior to PSC 140 or PSC 140V or PSC 140Y will receive 2 units of credit for PSC 140 or PSC 140V or PSC 140Y.
Approved Major Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Any upper division Psychology (PSC) course(s). 1 | 1-13 | |
| AAS 141 | Psychology of the African American Experience | 4 |
| ANT 132 | Psychological Anthropology | 4 |
| CHI 120 | Chicana/o Psychology | 4 |
| CHI 121 | Chicana/o Community Mental Health | 4 |
| CHI 122 | Psychology Perspectives Chicana/o & Latina/o Family | 4 |
| CHI 123 | Psychological perspectives on Chicana/o & Latina/o Children & Adolescents | 4 |
| CMN 120 | Interpersonal Communication | 4 |
| or CMN 120V | Interpersonal Communication | |
| CMN 122 | Nonverbal Communication | 4 |
| CNS 100 | Consumer Behavior 2 | 3 |
| EDU 110 | Educational Psychology: General | 4 |
| EXB 102 | Introduction to Motor Learning & the Psychology of Sport & Exercise | 4 |
| HDE 100A | Infancy & Early Childhood | 4 |
| or HDE 100AV | Infancy & Early Childhood | |
| HDE 100B | Middle Childhood & Adolescence | 4 |
| HDE 100C | Adulthood & Aging | 4 |
| HDE/ENT 117 | Longevity | 4 |
| HDE 163 | Cognitive Neuropsychology in Adulthood & Aging | 4 |
| LIN 171 | Introduction to Psycholinguistics | 4 |
| NPB 102 | Animal Behavior 2 | 3 |
| NPB 168 | Neurobiology of Addictive Drugs | 4 |
| POL 170 | Political Psychology | 4 |
| SOC 126 | Social Interaction | 4 |
| SOC 135 | Social Relationships | 4 |
| SOC 152 | Juvenile Delinquency | 4 |
| SOC 171 | Sociology of Violence & Inequality | 4 |
- 1
Except PSC 197T.
- 2
If you take one or more 3-unit course(s), you will need additional PSC Major Elective units to fulfill the 40 total units of upper division PSC required in the major.