Psychology BA

Overview

The Psychology major is the most general of the three majors and offers both broad and in-depth coverage of the fundamental and traditional areas of psychology. It provides students with a strong foundation for postgraduate education in psychology and can serve as excellent background to prepare them for further training in such fields as law, education, government and public policy, business, and many of the health-related professions. Its basic liberal-arts orientation also provides students with an excellent foundation for immediate postbaccalaureate careers in many areas, particularly ones in which an understanding of human behavior and its diversity of expression would be an asset.

The requirements described below represent the minimum requirements in satisfaction of the preparation and the major. Additional courses in psychology, statistics, and related sciences, as well as other types of research and fieldwork experiences, are highly recommended if students plan to pursue graduate work in psychology and related fields. Under special circumstances, graduate-level courses can be taken by undergraduate students, although such courses may not be applied toward degree requirements for the major. For additional information, contact the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Entry to the Major

Pre-Major

Students need to file a petition in the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the Psychology pre-major. Psychology pre-majors can petition to declare the Psychology major once they have (1) satisfied all the preparation for the major requirements and (2) are accepted into the major through a competitive application process (for students who entered UCLA as first years) or file a petition to declare the Psychology major (for students who entered UCLA as transfers).

First-Year Students

Students may declare the Psychology pre-major once they have established a 2.5 grade-point average in at least one preparation for the major course.

Students must petition to declare the Psychology major and can do so once they complete all seven preparation for the major courses and submit an application to enter the major by the end of the fall quarter of their third year at UCLA. Admission into the major is based on student academic performance in the preparation courses. Students who have a grade-point average of 2.9 or higher in the preparation coursework and have met all other Psychology pre-major requirements are guaranteed entry into the major after they submit the application by the above deadline. Students with a grade-point average between 2.5 and 2.89 in the preparation coursework enter a competitive application pool and are admitted only if there is space available in the major. Students with a grade-point average below 2.5 in the preparation coursework are not eligible to apply for admission to the major.

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Psychology major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one biology course equivalent to Life Sciences 7A or 15 or Physiological Science 3, one general chemistry or general physics course, one philosophy course, one introduction to psychology course, and one course from statistics (recommended), finite mathematics, calculus, computer science theory, or computer programming in C++.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

After satisfying the preparation for the major requirements, students need to petition to enter the major at the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Entry to the Major Policies

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Complete seven courses as follows:

Chemistry or Physics

Life Sciences or Physiological Science

Philosophy

Select one course from:

PHILOS 1 - Beginnings of Western Philosophy PHILOS 2 - Introduction to Philosophy of Religion PHILOS 3 - Historical Introduction to Philosophy PHILOS 4 - Philosophical Analysis of Contemporary Moral Issues PHILOS 5 - Philosophy in Literature PHILOS 6 - Introduction to Political Philosophy PHILOS 7 - Introduction to Philosophy of Mind PHILOS 8 - Introduction to Philosophy of Science PHILOS 9 - Principles of Critical Reasoning PHILOS 21 - Skepticism and Rationality PHILOS 22 - Introduction to Ethical Theory PHILOS 22W - Introduction to Ethical Theory PHILOS 23 - Meaning and Communication PHILOS 31 - Logic, First Course

Program in Computing or Statistics

Psychology

The Major

Ten courses as follows:

Core Courses

Complete five core courses, with at least two from each category and a fifth course from either category:

Category A

Select from the following list or options:

PSYCH 110 - Fundamentals of Learning PSYCH 115 - Principles of Behavioral Neuroscience PSYCH 120A - Cognitive Psychology PSYCH 120B - Sensation and Perception

Substitution for Psych 115

Psychology 115 may be substituted with Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C. Students who complete Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and two upper-division psychology electives. All three courses must be completed to receive psychology elective credit.

PSYCH M117A - Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Cellular and Systems Neuroscience PSYCH M117B - Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience PSYCH M117C - Neuroscience: From Molecules to Mind—Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

Category B

Select from the following list or options. Only one course from Psychology 127A, 127B, or 127C may be applied.

PSYCH 127A - Clinical Psychological Science PSYCH 127B - Clinical Psychological Science: Biological Bases PSYCH 127C - Clinical Psychological Science: Developmental Perspectives PSYCH 130 - Developmental Psychology PSYCH 135 - Social Psychology PSYCH 150 - Introduction to Health Psychology

Substitution for Psychology 130

Psychology 130 may be substituted with one course from 133A through 133I or 161.

PSYCH 161 - Behavior and Brain Development

Psychology 133A through 133I

Psychology 133A through 133I

Laboratory/Fieldwork

Select one course from:

PSYCH 101 - General Psychology Laboratory PSYCH 111 - Learning Laboratory PSYCH M116A - Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory PSYCH 116B - Human Neuropsychology Laboratory PSYCH 121 - Laboratory in Cognitive Psychology PSYCH 126 - Clinical Psychology Laboratory PSYCH 131 - Research in Developmental Psychology PSYCH 136A - Social Psychology Laboratory PSYCH 136B - Nonexperimental Methods in Social Psychology PSYCH M136C - Experiments in Racial and Ethnic Politics PSYCH 151 - Research Methods in Health Psychology PSYCH 186A - Cognitive Science Laboratory: Introduction to Theory and Simulation PSYCH 186B - Cognitive Science Laboratory: Neural Networks PSYCH 186C - Cognitive Science Laboratory: Psychophysical Theories and Methods PSYCH 186D - Laboratory in Functional Neuroimaging

Upper-Division Psychology Electives

Honors Program

Students work for one year (fall through spring quarters) with a Psychology Department faculty sponsor on a research project that is the basis of a formal honors thesis. During that year they also participate in a weekly seminar (Psychology 191AH, 191BH, 191CH) in which thesis projects are presented and discussed and other topics of interest are explored with invited faculty members and other guests. Other requirements may apply.

PSYCH 191AH - Departmental Honors Research Seminars PSYCH 191BH - Departmental Honors Research Seminars PSYCH 191CH - Departmental Honors Research Seminars

Policies

Preparation for the Major Policies

Each of the courses must be taken for a letter grade (C or better in Psychology 10, 100A, and 100B, C– or better in the remaining courses).

Students cannot take Psychology 100B until they have passed course 100A with a grade of C or better. Psychology 100A and 100B are only open to students who have declared the Psychology pre-major before the term in which they plan to enroll. It is recommended that students with no background in introductory statistics take Statistics 10 before enrolling in course 100A.

The Major Policies

Students who complete Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and two upper-division psychology electives. All three courses must be completed to receive psychology elective credit.

Each upper-division course must be taken for a letter grade. A C– or better is required in each core course and in at least one laboratory/fieldwork course. Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average in all upper-division courses selected to satisfy major requirements.

Honors Program