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The Psychology BA Program:
Academic Requirements and Concentrations

In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all psychology majors (except those concentrating in cognitive neuroscience) must meet the following requirements:

1. PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology
2. PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics
3. PSY 3550/Experimental Psychology*
4. PSY 3660/Physiological Psychology
5. Five electives in psychology (at least four upper-level)
   The following do not fulfill the electives requirement: independent studies, tutorials, internships, teaching assistantships, and PSY 3850/Practicum in Child Development. BPS 3000-level courses, offered by the School of Liberal Studies & Continuing Education, cannot be counted as upper-level electives (but one can be counted as the lower-level elective). Students may petition their academic advisor to have one upper-level psychology elective replaced by an upper-level elective in the liberal arts and sciences that is programmatically relevant.
6. One of the following biology courses:
   BIO 1510/Human Anatomy and Physiology I
   BIO 1550/General Biology I
   BIO 1560/General Biology II
7. One course in philosophy
8. One course in anthropology or sociology
9. PSY 3890/Psychology Junior Seminar*
10. PSY 4880 and 4890/Psychology Senior Seminar I and II
11. PSY 4990/Senior Project

*Prerequisite: Advanced standing

Academic Requirements for the Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience

In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all psychology majors concentrating in cognitive neuroscience must meet the following requirements. Students who complete this concentration simultaneously earn a minor in biology.

1. PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology
2. PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics
3. PSY 3550/Experimental Psychology*
4. PSY 3660/Physiological Psychology
5. PSY 3745/Human Memory or
   PSY 3770/Cognitive Psychology
6. Two upper-level electives in psychology, chosen from the following:
   PSY 3405/Psychology of Music
   PSY 3715/Human Neuropsychology
   PSY 3845/Gender Development
   PSY 4180/Seminar on Neurocognitive Aging
   PSY 4680/Seminar on the Psychobiology of Mental Disorders
7. BIO 1510/Human Anatomy and Physiology I
8. BIO 1550/General Biology I
9. BIO 1551/General Biology I Lab
10. BIO 3250/Animal Physiology
11. BIO 3530/Cell Biology
12. CHE 1550/General Chemistry I
13. CHE 1551/General Chemistry I Lab
14. One course in philosophy
15. One course in anthropology or sociology
16. PSY 3890/Psychology Junior Seminar*
17. PSY 4880 and 4890/Psychology Senior Seminar I and II
18. PSY 4990/Senior Project

*Prerequisite: Advanced standing

For additional information:
Overview of typical progress through the psychology major
Detailed explanation of requirements for the psychology major

Advanced Standing and Minimum Grade Requirements
Advanced standing is a prerequisite for PSY 3550/Experimental Psychology and PSY 3890/Psychology Junior Seminar. Psychology majors achieve advanced standing when they have completed three courses—PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology, PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics, and one psychology elective (lower or upper level)—with a grade of C+ or higher in each course.

Once advanced standing is achieved, psychology majors must earn:

1. a grade of C or higher in all required psychology courses, excluding the senior project, and in electives that are used to fulfill requirements other than advanced standing, and
2. a grade of C- or higher in the biology course

Students who do not meet these standards are required to retake or substitute courses as needed. Students who earn less than a C in PSY 3550/Experimental Psychology or PSY 3890/Psychology Junior Seminar must petition the Psychology Board of Study for permission to retake the course.

Transfer Students
The psychology program is carefully structured to prepare students to carry out their senior projects, and all students must complete a four-semester sequence of required courses after achieving advanced standing. Students who plan to transfer to Purchase College from another college should familiarize themselves with the degree requirements and the requirements for advanced standing and should meet with a member of the psychology faculty as early as possible during the application process.

Updated Feb. 19, 2013

Updates
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