Psychology Major & Minor

Psychology is a popular major at many universities across the country, largely because psychological issues permeate our everyday lives; an understanding of how and why humans are affected by mental processes can benefit graduates in a variety of career fields. Psychology majors become adept professionals in clinical and counseling settings, medicine, law, politics, education and business.

The psychology major offers a challenging curriculum that integrates theoretical study, empirical investigation and practical application. Because faculty members have a wide range of expertise in adulthood and aging, child development, clinical psychology, cognition and emotion, history, neuroscience, psycholinguistics, social psychology and women’s studies, students receive a comprehensive education that prepares them well for careers or post-graduate study.

Richmond psychology graduates are routinely admitted to excellent graduate programs, both in psychology and other fields in which students have developed interests.

The Department of Psychology offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science degree in psychology in addition to an interdisciplinary major in cognitive science. There is also an interdisciplinary concentration in neuroscience.

  • Bachelor of Science

    The Bachelor of Science Degree

    Note: The grade point average of the department-specific and related-area coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

    14 units, including:

    • PSYC100 Introduction to Psychological Science

    • PSYC200 Methods and Analyses

    • PSYC299 Integrated Topics

    • PSYC300 Methods and Analyses Core Project

    • One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329

    • One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349

    • One course in the Psychology 444-Psychology 449 series

    • Three electives at the 300 or 400 level

    • MATH211 Calculus I

    • MATH212 Calculus II

    • One unit, chosen from:

    • One unit, chosen from:

      • CHEM141 Chemistry: Structure, Thermodynamics, and Kinetics

      • PHYS127 Algebra-Based General Physics 1 with Lab- PHYS128 Algebra-Based General Physics 2 with Lab

      • PHYS131 Calculus-Based General Physics 1 with Lab - PHYS132 Calculus-Based General Physics 2 with Lab

    Note: No more than one unit of PSYC299 may be applied to the 10 units required in psychology. No more than one unit of internship and two units of 300-level research coursework (PSYC300 and/or PSYC361) may be applied to the major.

  • Bachelor of Arts

    The Bachelor of Arts Degree

    Note: The grade point average of the department-specific and related-area coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

    10 units, including:

    • PSYC100 Introduction to Psychological Science

    • PSYC200 Methods and Analyses

    • PSYC299 Integrated Topics

    • PSYC300 Methods and Analyses Core Project

    • One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329

    • One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349

    • One course in the Psychology 444-Psychology 449 series

    • Three electives at the 300 or 400 level

    Note: No more than one unit of PSYC299 may be applied to the 10 units required in psychology. No more than one unit of internship and two units of 300-level research coursework (PSYC300 and/or PSYC361) may be applied to the major.

  • Minor

    The Psychology Minor

    Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the minor must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

    Seven units, including:

    • PSYC100 Introduction to Psychological Science

    • PSYC200 Methods and Analyses

    • PSYC299 Integrated Topics

    • One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329

    • One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349

    • Two electives at the 300 or 400 level

    Note: No more than one unit of 300-level research coursework (PSYC300 and/or PSYC361) may be applied to the minor.