Experimental psychology uses scientific tools and concepts: knowledge of formal systems such as logic or calculus, probability theory, computer science, chemistry, biology, physics, and statistics. Accordingly, students in upper-division (UD) courses must have an adequate background in these topics.

Lower-division (LD) courses for the major should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. These requirements will guarantee an adequate background for the topics of the upper-division (UD) psychology courses.

3 Natural Science Courses (choose three of the following)

• BILD 1, 2, 3, 10, 12**, 20, 26 (BILD 22 is NOT accepted)
• CHEM 4*, 6A, 6B, 6C, 11*, 12, 13
• COGS 17**
• PHYS 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 2C, 10, 11
• PSYC 2**

*Only one of CHEM 4 or 11 can be taken for credit.
**Only one of BILD 12, COGS 17, or PSYC 2 may be counted towards this requirement.

2 Formal Skills Courses

• Choose one Math course: MATH 10A or 20A, MATH 10B or 20B, or MATH 18
• Choose one course from the list below that has not already been completed:
  • MATH 10A or 20A
  • MATH 10B or 20B
  • MATH 18
  • PHIL 10
  • PHIL 12

1 Computer Programming Course (choose one of the following)

• COGS 18*
• CSE 6R, 8A, 8B, 11, 12
• CSS 1*
• DSC 10
• ECE 15*
• MAE 5, 8*
• BILD 62^

*Students who plan to pursue research careers in Psychology or related fields will find these courses critical to their success.

^Students who take BILD 62 need to send a VAC message to Psych Advising to apply it to their degree audit.

1 Statistics Course (choose one of the following) - Statistics must be taken for a letter grade.

• PSYC 60 (preferred)
• BENG 100
• BIEB 100
• COGS 14B
• ECON 120A
• MATH: 11, 181A, 183, 186

1 Research Methods Course (choose one of the following) 

• PSYC 70 (preferred)
• COGS 14A

2 Research Courses (choose two of the following courses)
Students may complete the required 8 units of research for the major using any combination of courses below:

• PSYC 71^
• PSYC 81^
• PSYC 112^
• PSYC 113^
• PSYC 114^
• PSYC 118^
• PSYC 193L^
• PSYC 115 A-B Laboratory in Cognitive Psychology Series*
• PSYC 116 A-B-C Laboratory in Clinical Psychology Research Series*
• PSYC 194 A-B-C Honors Program Series*
• PSYC 99**  (Independent Research)
• PSYC 199** (Independent Research)

B.S. Research Paper (may be titled "Research Experience")

^ Students who use at least one of the research lab courses from the list above do not have to submit a B.S. Research paper to the Psychology Advising Office.

* Students must complete the full sequence within a designated research lab series to fulfill the B.S. Research Paper requirement.

** Students who satisfy their research requirement using 8 units of PSYC 99 or PSYC 199 credit only are required to submit a B.S. Research Paper to the Psychology Advising Office to fully satisfy their B.S. major requirements. Students can learn more about the B.S. Research Paper guidelines by visiting the  Psychology B.S. Research Paper Guidelines site. 

The B.S. Research Paper section on your Degree Audit must be manually cleared by a Psychology advisor; therefore, even if you are not required to write a B.S. Research paper, this section will not be marked complete until after one of the advisors reviews and approves your Degree and Diploma Application (DDA).

4 PSYC Core Courses (choose four of the following)

• PSYC 100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 108 

8 PSYC Elective Courses (choose eight of the following)

• PSYC 100-111, 122-193
• PSYC 195P (one 4-unit course) 
• PSYC 199 (4 units maximum)

*Students may use one 4-unit AIP 197 course toward the Upper-Division (UD) Psychology Elective requirement. Pre-approval from the Psychology Advising Office is required to count the course toward the Psychology Major.