The Psychology Major :Click here to download proposal form to declare major
Unit Requirements
All students declaring a major in Psychology must complete a minimum of 70 units of course work in Psychology, 60 of which must be taken in the Psychology department. The remaining 10 units must be pre-approved by your faculty advisor. These courses should represent a coherent thematic focus. One way to achieve this focus is through a specialization track.
All courses taken to satisfy the 70 unit requirement must be taken for a grade of C- or better, except for courses offered only on a S/NC (Satisfactory/No Credit) basis. Advanced placement (AP) credit may no longer be used toward the Psychology major requirements.
Required Courses
- The following two introductory courses:
Psych 1 Introduction to Psychology
Psych 10 Introduction to Statistical Methods (or a comparable Statistics course)
- Five of the following ten core courses, with a minimum of two from each area A and B:
Area A Courses:
BioSci 20 Introduction to Brain and Behavior (formerly PSYCH 20)
Psych 30 Introduction to Perception
Psych 45 Introduction to Learning and Memory
Psych 55 Introduction to Cognition and the Brain
Area B Courses:
Psych 60 Introduction to Developmental Psychology
Psych 70 Introduction to Social Psychology
Psych 75 Introduction to Cultural Psychology
Psych 80 Introduction to Personality Psychology
Psych 90 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Psych 95 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
Students who declared the Psychology major prior to the 2002-2003 academic year may choose any five of the ten core courses. Students who declare a major in Psychology prior to the 2005-2006 academic year may choose to adhere to the 55 unit major requirement, taking PSYCH 1, PSYCH 10, five core courses, and elective courses totaling 55 units.
- Students must take one Writing in the Major course (designated WIM) in Psychology, and should check the Stanford Bulletin yearly as these courses may change.
Additionally, the department strongly recommends that all majors take at least one advanced seminar.
Students may count up to 10 units of independent study, research, and practica (including but not limited to PSYCH 194, 195, 281) toward the Psychology major. Students who are teaching assistants for a Psychology course or who are enrolled in the senior honors program are allowed up to 15 units in independent study, research, and practica. Any units beyond the limit of 10 or 15 may be counted toward the 180 required for graduation.
Please note that Summer Quarter Psychology courses are not equivalent to courses given during the regular academic year and, while applicable toward the 70 units needed for the major, may not be used to fulfill the core course requirement. Additionally, a course taken during the Summer Quarter cannot be used to replace the grade of a non-Summer Quarter course, even if the title and units of the two courses are the same.
Psychology Major Declaration Process
To declare a psychology major, first obtain a Proposed Program Form from our website at http://psychology.stanford.edu/undergraduate_forms.html . Fill out the form, making sure to meet with and have your Psychology faculty advisor sign it. Next, acquire your student file from your freshman advisor or get a copy from your first major. Bring the Proposed Program Form and your student file to the SSO for approval. Your final step is to declare psychology as your major on Axess.
Advising
A student's primary resources in preparing a study program are the faculty advisors, other faculty members working in areas related to the student's interests, and the Student Services Offices. Other resources may include the SUPA Peer Advisors and other psychology students.
|