Psychology Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
- OSU-Cascades
Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Encompassing biological, social, and environmental influence on human and animal cognition, emotion, and behavior, from neurons to neighborhoods, Psychological Science is a hub science that overlaps with a range of biological, social, and other sciences. Psychological scientists are united to “better understand and improve the human condition, using scientific and rigorous methods" (Association for Psychological Science, 2021).
The Psychology major is designed to provide a foundation of core knowledge covering the major areas of psychology, and also to acquaint students with the research methods psychologists use. The program allows students to specialize in preparation for graduate work in research, clinical, counseling, I/O and other areas of psychology or related fields (e.g., neuroscience, education, law), or to prepare for BA/BS-level positions including those in social sciences, mental health, corrections, rehabilitation, developmental disability centers, and business (management, insurance, opinion polls). Majors are also encouraged to become actively engaged in research activities, including laboratory courses, research seminars, and independent study experiences, as well as volunteer, paid work, and internships related to students’ career goals.
Major Code: 965
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
-
- Describe key concepts, principles, and theories in psychological science.
- Develop a working knowledge of psychology’s major subfields.
- Portray significant aspects of the history of psychological science.
- Apply psychological content to solve practical problems.
-
- Exercise scientific reasoning to investigate psychological phenomena.
- Interpret, design, and evaluate psychological research.
- Incorporate sociocultural factors in scientific research practices.
- Use statistics to evaluate quantitative research findings.
-
- Employ ethical standards in research, practice, and academic contexts.
- Develop and practice interpersonal and intercultural responsiveness.
-
- Write and present effectively for different purposes.
- Provide evidence of psychological literacy.
- Exhibit appropriate technological skills to improve communication.
-
- Apply psychological content and skills to meaningful career goals.
- Refine project management skills.
- Demonstrate appropriate workforce technological skills.
BA Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ed 1 | 36 | |
| College of Liberal Arts BA | 24 | |
| College of Liberal Arts Core 2 | 9 | |
| Psychology Major | 72 | |
| Electives | 39 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- 1
The Core Education Curriculum requires at least 42 credits total, but two courses required in the Core Ed (Social Science and Difference, Power, and Oppression Advanced) are embedded in the Psychology major required courses. An additional 14-16 of the remaining 36 credits may double count toward Lower Division Psychological Science Core the Psychology major.
- 2
The Liberal Arts core requires at least 15 credits total, but two categories in Liberal Arts core (Social Science and One additional course) are embedded in the Psychology major required courses.
BS Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ed 1 | 36 | |
| College of Liberal Arts Core 2 | 9 | |
| Psychology Major | 72 | |
| Electives | 63 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- 1
The Core Education Curriculum requires at least 42 credits total, but two courses required in the Core Ed (Social Science and Difference, Power, and Oppression Advanced) are embedded in the Psychology major required courses. An additional 14-16 of the remaining 36 credits may double count toward Lower Division Psychological Science Core the Psychology major.
- 2
The Liberal Arts core requires at least 15 credits total, but two categories in Liberal Arts core (Social Science and One additional course) are embedded in the Psychology major required courses.
Psychology Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Psychological Science Core 1 | ||
| PSY 201Z & PSY 202Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I and +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | 8 |
| Select foundational knowledge courses from the following: | 16 | |
Any WR course higher than WR 121Z | ||
BI 101 or higher | ||
MTH 105Z or higher | ||
ST 243Z or higher | ||
Any COMM course | ||
| Psychological Science Methods Sequence | ||
| PSY 297 & PSY 298 | THINKING LIKE A PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENTIST and QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 8 |
| or ST 351 & ST 352 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS and INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | |
| PSY 301 | ^RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core | ||
| PSY 330 | BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR | 4 |
| or PSY 340 | COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | |
| PSY 350 | HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT | 4 |
| or PSY 360 | SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| PSY 370 | PERSONALITY | 4 |
| or PSY 381 | ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| Select one additional course from the following (cannot double-count with the upper-division core): | 4 | |
| BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR | ||
| COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT | ||
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PERSONALITY | ||
| ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| Difference, Power, and Oppression - Advanced | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 4 | |
| +*PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF RACE AND RACISM | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF DISABILITY | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF TRAUMA, OPPRESSION, AND RESILIENCE | ||
| Upper-Division Specialized Electives | ||
| Select three courses from the following (including variable credit courses): | 12 | |
| +*PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER (if not used above) | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF RACE AND RACISM (if not used above) | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW | ||
| PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY | ||
| MOTIVATION | ||
| ^COGNITION RESEARCH | ||
| PERCEPTION | ||
| LEARNING AND MEMORY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION | ||
| CONSCIOUSNESS | ||
| EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
| AUTISM AND NEURODIVERSITY | ||
| LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | ||
| ^ADVANCED SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF DISABILITY (if not used above) | ||
| JUDGMENT AND DECISION MAKING | ||
| SOCIAL COGNITION | ||
| POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS | ||
| NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| STRESS AND COPING | ||
| ^CLINICAL RESEARCH METHODS | ||
| PSYCHOTHERAPY | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY | ||
| ^PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTION | ||
| BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION | ||
| +PSYCHOLOGY OF TRAUMA, OPPRESSION, AND RESILIENCE (if not used above) | ||
| CONSERVATION PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| ENGINEERING PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF MEDITATION | ||
| INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| Variable Credit Courses 2 | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | ||
| THESIS | ||
| READING AND CONFERENCE | ||
| PROJECTS | ||
| SEMINAR | ||
| WORKSHOP | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP | ||
| Capstone | ||
| PSY 411 | +PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE | 4 |
| Remaining Core Ed and Electives | 108 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
Students must receive a grade of C– or better in any course applied toward the major. Such courses cannot be taken with S/U grading
- 2
A maximum of 4 credits of individualized course work (PSY 401–PSY 410) can be applied to the major
Major Code: 965
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| PSY 201Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 202Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | 4 |
| Foundational BI Course (Core Ed Scientific Inquiry & Analysis) | 4 | |
| Foundational COMM Course (Core Ed Communication, Media & Society) | 3-4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foundational MTH Course (Core Ed Quantitative Literacy & Analysis) | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Foundational WR Course (Core Ed Writing Elevation) | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 297 | THINKING LIKE A PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENTIST | 4 |
| Foundational ST Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Art & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 298 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Foundational PSY Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 301 | ^RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 426 | +*PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER or +PSYCHOLOGY OF RACE AND RACISM or +PSYCHOLOGY OF DISABILITY or +PSYCHOLOGY OF TRAUMA, OPPRESSION, AND RESILIENCE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 411 | +PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| PSY 201Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 202Z | +*INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | 4 |
| Foundational BI Course (Core Ed Scientific Inquiry & Analysis) | 4 | |
| Foundational COMM Course (Core Ed Communication, Media & Society) | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foundational MTH Course (Core Ed Quantitative Literacy & Analysis) | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Foundational WR Course (Core Ed Writing Elevation) | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Foundational ST Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| PSY 297 | THINKING LIKE A PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENTIST | 4 |
| Foundational PSY Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Art & Humanities Global | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 298 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 301 | ^RESEARCH METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division Psychological Science Core Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 426 | +*PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER or +PSYCHOLOGY OF RACE AND RACISM or +PSYCHOLOGY OF DISABILITY or +PSYCHOLOGY OF TRAUMA, OPPRESSION, AND RESILIENCE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Specialized Elective | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 411 | +PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE | 4 |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course