Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
The undergraduate Psychology program at Temple University provides a modern curriculum covering a breadth of content, ranging from the biological bases of cognition and behavior to sociocultural influences on human interactions and psychological disorders. The curriculum is designed to develop students' critical thinking skills through an emphasis on the scientific basis of Psychology and through courses in statistics and research methodology.
Who should consider majoring in Psychology?
Majoring in Psychology is obviously an excellent choice for students interested in pursuing a career in clinical, counseling, research, or applied psychology. In addition, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a popular and versatile degree that can help prepare students for careers in many other areas. Some examples of fields that are well suited for psychology majors are:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Research
- Social Services
Internship & Research Opportunities
Psychology students have the opportunity to gain real-world experiences and course credit through Internship and Practicum classes. A list of internship sites and more information can be found at the Internship and Practicum Site.
For students interested in research opportunities, many of the Temple Psychology faculty have active research laboratories on a wide range of research topics. Students can apply to work as research assistants in a laboratory and can also earn Collaborative Research credit for doing so. More information on collaborative research can be found at the Collaborative Research Site.
The Psychology Honors Program
Students who major in Psychology are encouraged to participate in the Psychology Honors Program. A main goal of the Psychology Honors program is to provide each student with an individualized experience that will prepare them for psychological research in the future. This program is designed as a two-year study that begins with critical thinking, writing, and the study of methodology. Grade requirement is a 3.5 GPA across all courses. Upon completion of this program, students will have produced a senior thesis and presented their work at a student poster session. Some students present research at regional or national meetings.
Students earn Distinction in Major upon completion of the Psychology Honors program.
For more information, refer to the Psychology Honors Program section of the Psychology Undergraduate site.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 2991 | Honors Research I | 4 |
| PSY 3991 | Honors Research II | 3 |
| PSY 4991 | Honors Research III | 3 |
| PSY 4996 | Honors Capstone | 4 |
Student Organizations & Honor Societies
Joining a student organization can provide opportunities for leadership experience, career development, and service. Some of the student organizations that are of particular interest for psychology majors are:
- Psychology Majors Association (PMA)
- Psychology Majors of Color (PMC)
- Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology
More information on student organizations for psychology majors can be found at Psychology's Student Life.
The Undergraduate Psychology Majors Association
The goal of the Psychology Majors Association (PMA) is to provide opportunities for students to apply their appreciation of psychology through activities outside of the classroom. PMA also promotes networking between students and faculty members within the psychology department. PMA members participate in a variety of opportunities including volunteer work, field trips, workshops on graduate school, and current topics in psychology, and career development. More information is available at Psychology Majors Association.
Psychology Majors of Color
Psychology Majors of Color bridges the gap between psychology students of color (and other related fields) by providing a common place to convene to create a sense of community. We touch upon mental wellness issues within communities of color as well as making sure that our members are able to thrive within their career paths post-Temple by providing them with the necessary skill sets. By creating this common space, we provide a supportive environment for our members to uplift each other's professional goals. For more information, contact templepmc@gmail.com.
Psi Chi - The National Honor Society in Psychology
Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, has an active chapter at Temple University. The minimum requirements for membership in Psi Chi are a 3.20 cumulative GPA and a 3.50 GPA in Psychology courses. Psi Chi members are given opportunities for growth and development within the field of psychology. Psi Chi encourages students to engage in research opportunities within psychology as well as continue their education in graduate studies. For more information, contact psichi@temple.edu.
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest honor society in the United States. It was developed to foster and recognize excellence in the humanities and sciences. More information about Phi Beta Kappa requirements and activities is available at Honor Societies.
Summary of Degree Requirements
University Requirements:
- MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are PSY 3096 Conducting Psychological Research and one of the following capstone courses: PSY 4696 or PSY 4996.
- Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.
College of Liberal Arts Requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
- 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
- 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
- For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
- A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
- Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
- Professional Development Requirement
- All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. PSY 1002 Careers in Psychology is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
- Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
- All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
- All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
- All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
- Third semester of a foreign language;
- Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
- Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
- Study Abroad at an approved program; or
- Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
- Notes on Foreign Language Study
- The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
- Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
- See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.
General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.
Major Requirements (minimum 44 credits; 40 credits in Psychology plus 4 credits in a designated science area):
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses Required | ||
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| or PSY 1901 | Honors: Introduction to Psychology | |
| PSY 1002 | Careers in Psychology | 1 |
| PSY 1003 | Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 1004 | Critical Thinking in Psychology | 3 |
| Psychology Science Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Human Biology | ||
| General Biology I | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry I and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Applications of Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Introduction to General Physics I | ||
| Physical Geology | ||
| Developmental/Clinical/Social (DCS) Foundation Courses 1 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Foundations of Psychopathology | ||
| Foundations of Developmental Psychology | ||
| Foundations of Social Psychology | ||
| Foundations of Industrial and Organizational Psychology | ||
| Foundations of Health Psychology | ||
| Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) Foundation Courses 1 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Foundations of Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Foundations of Learning and Behavior Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Sensation and Perception | ||
| Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience | ||
| Required Methods Course | ||
| PSY 3096 | Conducting Psychological Research | 3 |
| Advanced Courses (3000-3620) | ||
| Select three of the following: 2 | 9 | |
| Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology | ||
| Advanced Undergraduate Statistics | ||
| Affective Neuroscience | ||
| Topics: Brain, Behavior and Cognition | ||
| Direct Applications of Behavioral Principles | ||
| Topics: Clinical | ||
| Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice | ||
| Child Psychopathology and Treatment | ||
| Phases of Development: Infancy | ||
| Psychological Testing: Measuring IQ, Thoughts, Feelings, and Attitudes | ||
| Personality, Social and Emotional Development | ||
| Cognitive and Language Development | ||
| Neuroscience of Development and Aging | ||
| Social Cognition | ||
| Personnel Psychology | ||
| Human Performance Improvement | ||
| Psychopharmacology | ||
| Neurobiology of Learning and Memory | ||
| Advanced Topics in Health Psychology | ||
| Social Health Psychology | ||
| Clinical Neuropsychology | ||
| Clinical Applications of Health Psychology | ||
| History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Topics in Psychology | ||
| Forensic Psychology | ||
| Psychology Elective | ||
| One additional course at the Foundation Level or the Advanced Level (2000-3620). | 3 | |
| Capstone Course 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Capstone in Psychology | ||
| Honors Capstone | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 44-45 | |
| 1 | Foundation courses are prerequisites for the advanced (3000-level) areas. |
| 2 | Select three from any of the advanced courses (3000-3620) for which you have completed the prerequisite foundation course. These courses cover specialty areas within particular fields of psychology. Note: PSY 3096 does not count toward the requirement. |
| 3 | Seniors only - minimum of 90 credits completed and completion of PSY 3096. |
See the Psychology "About" page for more information on combining the various programs offered by Psychology and Neuroscience. Some programs cannot be combined; others permit a degree of overlap. All restrictions are listed in detail on that page.
Individual Study Courses
Permission of the instructor is required to register for these courses. For all Psychology majors and minors.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 4182 & PSY 4282 | Independent Study in Cognitive Neuroscience I and Independent Study in Cognitive Neuroscience II | 6 |
| Select one of the following: | 1-4 | |
| Collaborative Research I | ||
| Collaborative Research II | ||
| Collaborative Research III | ||
| Collaborative Research IV | ||
| PSY 3785 | Psychology Internship | 3 |
| PSY 3787 | Practicum | 3 |
Distinction in Major
Students earn Distinction in Major upon completion of the Psychology Honors program.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 1001 - first level | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1002 - second level | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| PSY 1001 or 1901 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| PSY 1002 | Careers in Psychology1 | 1 |
| PSY 1003 | Statistics for Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Foreign Language - third level | ||
GenEd Global/World Society course | ||
Internationally Focused Course From Approved List | ||
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| PSY 1004 | Critical Thinking in Psychology | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course | 3 | |
| One Psychology Science course from approved list | 4 | |
| One Psychology 2000-level BCS Area Foundation Course | 3 | |
| One Psychology 2000-level DCS Area Foundation Course | 3 | |
| One Psychology 2000-level DCS or BCS Area Foundation Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course | 3 | |
| PSY 3096 | Conducting Psychological Research [WI] | 3 |
| One Psychology 2000-level DCS or BCS Area Foundation Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Psychology 3000-3620 - One Advanced Course | 3 | |
| Psychology 3000-3620 - One Advanced Course | 3 | |
| Psychology 2000-3620 - One Foundation or Advanced Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Psychology 3000-3620 - One Advanced Course | 3 | |
| CLA/CST 2000+ Course | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Capstone in Psychology [WI] | ||
| Honors Capstone [WI] | ||
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 123 | |
| 1 | PSY 1002 Careers in Psychology completes the CLA Professional Development requirement. |