Psychology

Effective for Students Entering the Program Fall 2027

In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements, all psychology majors must meet the following requirements:

Choose from one of the following tracks in Research or General Psychology. 

Minimum Grade Requirements:

“C” or higher in all courses used to complete the psychology major excluding the senior project and Capstone (PSY4800).

Students who do not meet these standards are required to retake or substitute courses as needed.

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. Upper-level Psychology credits completed at other institutions can be transferred as lower-level Psychology electives only (not upper-level).

Students who plan to transfer to SUNY Purchase from another college should familiarize themselves with the degree requirements.

Effective for Students Entering the Program beginning Fall 2026

In addition to meeting  General Education requirements and other degree requirements,  all psychology majors must meet the following requirements: (42-43 major credits)

1. PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
2. PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics (4 credits)
3. PSY 3550/Experimental Psychology* (5 credits). Prerequisites: PSY1530/Introduction to Psychology with a C grade; any Psych elective with a B-; 50+ in progress credits. Can be taken at the same time as Behavioral Statistics though not recommended.
4. PSY3890/Psychology Junior Seminar (4 credits). Pre-requisites: C in PSY3350/Experimental Psychology and PSY2320/Behavioral Statistics and PSY1530/Introduction to Psychology)
5. Four electives in psychology  
   • At least 1 elective course from each of the following three categories below. Of those electives, a minimum of 3 must be upper level (3000-4989) that are completed at Purchase. Note: independent studies, tutorials, internships, learning assistantships, and PSY 3850/Practicum in Child Development do not fulfill the electives requirement.

6.   PSY4880 and 4890/Psychology Senior Seminar I (prerequisite) and Senior Seminar  II (1 credit each)
7. SPJ 4990/Senior Project I (4 credits) and SPJ4991/Senior Project II (4 credits) or PSY4800/Senior Capstone (4 credits) and a Psychology Elective (4 credits).* 

*Note: Effective Fall 2026, students have the option of either a full academic year Senior Project or a one semester Capstone plus a four credit Psychology elective. Learning Assistant, Independent Study, internships and Practicum in Developmental Psychology are excluded from the list of electives. Students must receive at least a C in the Psychology elective course.

Minimum Grade Requirements:

“C” or higher in all courses used to complete the psychology major excluding the senior project and Capstone (PSY4800). 

Students who do not meet these standards are required to retake or substitute courses as needed.

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. Upper-level Psychology credits completed at other institutions can be transferred as lower-level Psychology electives only (not upper-level).

Students who plan to transfer to SUNY Purchase from another college should familiarize themselves with the degree requirements.

For students who entered the program prior to Fall 2024, please see these curricular requirements:

In addition to meeting General Education requirements, all psychology majors must meet the following requirements: (46-48 major credits)

1. PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology
2. PSY 3560/Research Methods I: Statistics and Design*
3. PSY 3561/Research Methods II: Application and Integration
4. One of the following courses:
   PSY 3660/Physiological Psychology
   PSY3705/Special Topics in Neuropsychology
   PSY3715/Human Neuropsychology
   PSY3735/Cognitive Neuroscience
   PSY3780/Psychopharmacology
   PSY4180/Seminar on Neurocognitive Aging

5. Five electives in psychology (at least three upper-level)
The following do not fulfill the electives requirement: independent studies, tutorials, internships, learning assistantships, and PSY 3850/Practicum in Child Development. 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. PSY 4880 and 4890/Psychology Senior Seminar I and II
7. SPJ 4990/Senior Project I
8. SPJ 4991/Senior Project II

*Prerequisite: 40 credits, including PSY 1530 with a grade of C or higher

  Minimum Grade Requirement

“C” or higher in all courses used to complete the psychology major excluding the senior project.

Students who do not meet these standards are required to retake or substitute courses as needed. Students who earn a grade lower than C in PSY 3560 or 3561 must petition the Psychology Department faculty 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. Students who plan to transfer to SUNY Purchase from another college should familiarize themselves with the degree requirements.