Curricula

To be awarded a bachelor’s degree, students must complete the basic degree requirements listed in the bulletin and specific major requirements. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree in the Department of Psychology must have a grade of C or better in each major course for that course to count toward major credit. Courses in which a grade of less than C may be repeated. Developmental courses will not count toward the 120-hour requirement for a bachelor’s degree in this department. The basic requirements include the cognate or minor. The cognate is a minimum of 12 hours with grades of C or better in coursework supporting the major. The cognate must be selected from specific upper-level courses in related areas and approved by the student’s advisor. However, it is the student’s responsibility to plan a suitable course of study for his/her goals and to consult frequently with a major advisor regarding the selection of courses. Requirements for a minor are specified within the department offering it. Each student is responsible for ensuring the completion of all degree requirements and the compilation of records of coursework. 

To be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology, the students must complete the University General Education Requirements, plus at least three additional hours in humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural/physical science, or mathematics. Cognate or minor requirements must be selected from humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics, and/or business courses. The cognate courses must be selected from specific upper-level courses in related areas and approved by the student’s advisor. At least one course numbered higher than MATH A108 must be taken as partial fulfillment of the general education math requirements. Psychology A101 must be completed toward fulfillment of the Social and Behavioral Sciences general education requirement. 

All psychology majors are required to take four core courses: 

Psychology A300, A325, A326 and A328; and choose one of three areas: 

Option 1: Neuroscience 

Option 2: Social/Developmental Psychology 

Option 3: Clinical/Applied Psychology 

Students planning to do graduate work should take as many 300-400-level courses as possible. Psychology students may take up to three hours of courses in PSYC A498 or A598 for major credit; an additional three hours of coursework for this type may be counted as elective credit. Students may not count more than 60 hours of psychology courses toward the 120 hours required for the baccalaureate degree. At least 12 hours of the required upper-level (300 and above) major credit for the Psychology B.S. must be earned in courses taken in the USC Aiken Psychology program.