Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Psychology
See here for more information on the difference between a BA and a BGS.
Psychology examines all aspects of human behavior: Why do people behave the way they do? What makes people happy or unhappy? What are the relationships between the mind and the brain? Majoring in psychology allows you to explore the behavior of people and how their minds work, and then apply that knowledge to the modern world.
Students have many reasons for wanting to major in psychology. Some are simply fond of observing the behavior of others around them, fascinated with the results of their observations and curious to learn why people behave as they do. Some plan to become psychologists themselves or to enter one of the many professions where a background in psychology can be useful -- such as, business, teaching, medicine, nursing, law, social work, the ministry, counseling, student services, child development, administration, or human resources.
Our department offers a wide variety of psychology courses from which to choose and additional experiences and opportunities are available beyond the classroom. There are many chances to engage in extracurricular enrichment, including Psi Chi, a research-focused Honors Program, research assistantships and volunteer opportunities in faculty labs.
Our scientific approach to understanding human behavior equips students with a solid foundation of analytical, research and interpersonal skills for careers in many fields with a human service emphasis.
Learn more about career paths available to psychology majors:
What are you going to do with that degree?
Where do college graduates work?
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
B.A. or B.G.S. Major in Psychology
Psychology Major Course Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| |
| PSYC 102 | Orientation Seminar in Psychology | 1 |
| |
| PSYC 104 | General Psychology | 3 |
| or PSYC 105 | General Psychology, Honors |
| |
| PSYC 200 | Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| |
| PSYC 210 | Statistics in Psychological Research | 3 |
| 3 |
| Stereotyping and Prejudice Across Cultures | |
| Psychology and Social Issues | |
| Culture and Psychology | |
| Psychological Significance of Physical Illness and Disability | |
| 9 |
| Internship Exploration | |
| Honors Thesis | |
| Experimental Psychology: Sensation, Perception, and Cognition | |
| Experimental Psychology: Social Behavior | |
| Experimental Psychology: Methods in Psychophysiology and Neuroscience | |
| |
Psychology Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 37 hours of major courses. Note: No more than 3 hours of PSYC 480, PSYC 481, or PSYC 483 may count toward the minimum hours required for the major. (No more than a 6-hour combination of these courses may be counted toward the major.)
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 24 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Psychology can be found here: Psychology, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Psychology can be found here: Psychology, or by using the left-side navigation.
Departmental Honors
Students may inquire about departmental honors as soon as they are admitted to the undergraduate major. This program is distinct from College Honors. A student may earn College Honors, Psychology Honors, neither, or both. The Psychology Honors program requires students to have a faculty research mentor, take two semesters of PSYC 460 Honors Thesis, complete a research project, and present their findings in a public forum (including in the PSYC 460 course). Per the college rules, students must complete the course with a grade of B or higher. Per the college rules, the completion of these requirements must be certified to the departmental honors director by at least three members of the college faculty who have read the report of the independent research. Please reference the department website for specific details.
