Overview
The major in psychology requires 33 credit hours in PSY courses. AP Credit for Statistics (i.e., PSY 292) cannot count toward the psychology major. Students who declare the psychology major after they transfer credit for PSY 292 or complete PSY 292 can use PSY 292 as a substitute for PSY 291.
Only 6 credit hours of the following may count toward the psychology major:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 280 | Research Projects I | 1-3 |
| PSY 380 | Research Projects II | 1-3 |
| PSY 480 | Research Projects III | 1-3 |
| PSY 581 | Senior Honors in Psychology II * | 3 |
*PSY 580, the first course in the Honors Thesis sequence, does not count toward the major.
All psychology majors who pursue a B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete a minor from the list of acceptable minors published by the College.
All psychology majors who pursue a B.S. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete a minor in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geological Sciences, Marine Science, Mathematics, Microbiology and Immunology, or Physics.
Curriculum Requirements - BA
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 290 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 291 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| Select nine additional credit hours in 200 level PSY courses | 9 | |
| Select nine credit hours in 300 level PSY courses | 9 | |
| Select six credit hours in 400 or 500 level PSY courses | 6 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 108 or higher | 3 | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language in 200 level or above | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Minor | 9-20 | |
| Electives | 34-45 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Curriculum Requirements - BS
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 290 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 291 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 390 | Intermediate Research Methods and Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 490 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| Select nine additional credit hours in 200 level PSY courses | 9 | |
| Select three additional credit hours in 300 level PSY courses | 3 | |
| Select six additional credit hours in 400 or 500 level PSY courses 1 | 6 | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I 2 | 4 |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the STEM minor) | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Foreign Language in 200 level or above | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Minor in STEM | 9-20 | |
| Electives | 38-49 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Note: At least 3 of these credit hours must be in a 400 level PSY writing course.
- 2
Math course selections might vary depending on program, pre-requisites, or transfer status.
Other Requirements
- Students must earn a minimum grade of C- in a PSY course to count it toward the psychology major.
- Students must have a minimum 2.8 combined, UM, and psychology GPA to declare the psychology major.
- Students must earn a minimum 2.3 psychology GPA and a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate with the psychology major.
- Students must complete at least half of their psychology major in residence, including all 300, 400, and 500 level PSY courses.
- Only 6 PSY credit hours at the 300, 400, and 500 level may be taken through a UM Study Abroad Program with prior written approval.
- Students completing a B.S. in Psychology must complete a minor in one of the following programs: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geological Sciences, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Microbiology & Immunology, or Physics. Students who complete a second major in one of the mentioned fields are not required to complete a minor.
Suggested Plan of Study - BA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 108 | Precalculus Mathematics II | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 190 | Faculty Overview of Research and Undergraduate Mentoring (FORUM) | 1 |
| PSY 290 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 291 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 280 | Research Projects I | 3 |
| PSY 300 Level | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 300 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 300 Level | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 380 | Research Projects II | 3 |
| PSY 400 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 400 Level | 3 | |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 580 | Senior Honors in Psychology I | 3 |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 581 | Senior Honors in Psychology II | 3 |
| STEM Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - BS
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Minor course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 190 | Faculty Overview of Research and Undergraduate Mentoring (FORUM) | 1 |
| PSY 290 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 291 | Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 200 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 280 | Research Projects I | 3 |
| PSY 390 | Intermediate Research Methods and Biobehavioral Statistics | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 300 Level | 3 | |
| PSY 400 Level | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 380 | Research Projects II | 3 |
| PSY 400 Level (Writing) | 3 | |
| PSY 490 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 580 | Senior Honors in Psychology I | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 581 | Senior Honors in Psychology II | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
Mission
In accordance with the goals of the University of Miami, the mission of the Department of Psychology is to acquire, advance, and disseminate knowledge within the psychological and biobehavioral sciences. In order to achieve these goals, the Department seeks a balance among several academic endeavors, including basic scientific research, applied research, undergraduate teaching, graduate teaching, professional training and development, and service to the community. In pursuing these activities, the Department seeks to attract and retain the highest quality faculty and students, foster respect for differences among people, nurture curiosity, and insist upon high standards of thought, study, and communication that should characterize the ethical, educated person.
Goals
In its undergraduate program, the Department seeks to provide students with exposure to, and a fundamental understanding of, the psychological sciences and related skills. Upon graduation, psychology majors will be able to apply this foundation to a variety of careers including business, law, human resources, and medicine. A psychology major will also prepare students for careers in psychology that do not require an advanced degree. The program seeks to deliver an integrative educational experience by promoting interactions among faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students in basic and applied psychological inquiry, advising, mentoring, and community outreach.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop a fundamental knowledge base in psychology as a scientific discipline.
- Students will develop written communication skills related to the science of psychology.
- Students will develop research and quantitative skills through coursework and/or supervised laboratory experiences.
