Psychological & Brain Sciences Major
Program Requirements
- Total units required: 43-46 units (34, at least 25 of which must be at the 300 level or above, for the major requirements plus 9-12 units for the specialization)
Required Courses
-
Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology is a prerequisite for all upper-level courses (300 level and above). Exemption from Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology is possible in the following circumstances:
-
Completion of an equivalent course transferred from another institution, if approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
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An AP psychology test score of 5, an IB score of 6 or 7, or a British A-Level grade of A.
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- Psych 300 Introduction to Psychological Statistics
- Psych 301 Experimental Psychology or Psych 3011 Experimental Psychology
In cases where an exemption is granted (e.g., Psych 100B, Psych 300), no credits are earned toward the major, so exempt courses must be made up with additional P&BS content electives (approved by the major advisor).
Core Requirements
Students must complete at least one course from each of the following five categories:*
Social/Personality:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Psych 305 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 315 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 353 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| Psych 396 | Psychological Dynamics of Empathy | 3 |
| Psych 4099 | Human Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
Mental Health/Affective:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Psych 3195 | Abnormal Child Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 354 | Psychopathology and Mental Health | 3 |
| Psych 3645 | Understanding Emotions | 3 |
| Psych 4765 | Inside the Disordered Brain: Biological Bases of the Major Mental Disorders | 3 |
Biological/Neurological Bases of Behavior:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Psych 330 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| Psych 3401 | Biological Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 345 | Genes, Environment, and Human Behavior | 3 |
| Psych 3604 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| Psych 4182 | Perception, Thought, and Action | 3 |
| Psych 4765 | Inside the Disordered Brain: Biological Bases of the Major Mental Disorders | 3 |
Behavior and Cognition:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Psych 360 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 361 | Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| Psych 358 | Language Acquisition | 3 |
| Psych 380 | Human Learning and Memory | 3 |
| Psych 4099 | Human Evolutionary Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 433 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
Lifespan Development:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Psych 219 | The Infant Mind: Sophomore Seminar (this course can fulfill the Lifespan Development Core, but the credit counts in the "6 units Rule") | 3 |
| Psych 321 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Psych 325 | Psychology of Adolescence | 3 |
| Psych 326 | Introduction to the Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| Psych 358 | Language Acquisition | 3 |
| Psych 427 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
- *
If a course falls into more than one category, it can be used to fulfill only one of those categories (i.e., no double-counting).
Elective Courses
Students must complete an additional 9 units of Psychology & Brain Sciences (P&BS) course work.
6-Units Rule
No more than 6 units from the following course types may be used to satisfy the minimum requirements for the P&BS major:
- 100-/200-level courses (other than Psych 100B Introduction to Psychology)
- Psych 333 Independent Study in Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Psych 444C Independent Study for a Concentration in Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Psych 498 Study for Honors and Psych 499 Study for Honors
- Approved School of Continuing & Professional Studies psychology classes
- Approved psychology study abroad courses from a non-psychology study abroad program
- Cross-listed courses not home-based in P&BS
- Approved transfer credits (students transferring from another college should refer to the Transfer Credit section below)
Additional Information
Transfer Credit
If accepted by the College of Arts & Sciences, transfer credits will be evaluated by the director of undergraduate studies in the P&BS department for their applicability toward either major in P&BS.
Senior Honors Program in Psychological & Brain Sciences
The primary goal of the honors program in P&BS is to provide students who have achieved a superior academic record with the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive empirical investigation under the direction of a faculty member.
To be admitted into the honors program, students must meet the following requirements:
- Have overall and P&BS grade point averages of at least 3.65
- Complete both Psych 300 and Psych 301 (or Psych 3011)
- Have an approved honors research advisor
Contact Info
| Contact: | Shelley Kohlman |
| Phone: | 314-935-5169 |
| Email: | skohlman@wustl.edu |
| Website: | https://psych.wustl.edu/undergraduate-program |