Academic Requirements
Effective for Students Entering the Program beginning Fall 2024
In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements, all psychology majors must meet the following requirements: (42-43 major credits)
- PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology (4 credits)
- PSY 2320/Behavioral Statistics (4 credits)
- 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.
- PSY3890/Psychology Junior Seminar (4 credits). Pre-requisites: C in PSY3350/Experimental Psychology and PSY2320/Behavioral Statistics and PSY1530/Introduction to Psychology)
- 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)
8. SPJ 4991/Senior Project II (4 credits)
Minimum Grade Requirements:
“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.
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 Purchase College 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)
- PSY 1530/Introduction to Psychology
- PSY 3560/Research Methods I: Statistics and Design*
- PSY 3561/Research Methods II: Application and Integration
- 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 Purchase College from another college should familiarize themselves with the degree requirements.