Overview

for major declared Fall 2013 or later

The degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology can all be met online. Please see CU Denver Online for more information.The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology are designed to introduce you to the broad spectrum of interests in the field of psychology, including experimental psychology, biological psychology, animal behavior, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, health psychology, personality, and industrial/organizational psychology. Also included is an early exposure to research methods and inferential statistics in psychology. This degree program prepares you for employment and for graduate study in psychology and related fields.

If you declared your major before Fall 2013, you may find your degree requirements by clicking the following: BA Requirements - Old

General Requirements for the BA in Psychology

The general requirements for the BA in psychology include:

• a minimum of 37 credit hours in Psychology, comprising the following:
  • six required core courses (PSYC 1000, 1005, 2090, 2220, 3090 and 4511)
  • two Group A electives (including PSYC 3222 and/or PSYC 3144)
  • three Group B electives (including PSYC 3205, 3305 and/or 3415)
  • one additional upper division Psychology elective (any group)
• a minimum of 16 upper division credit hours in PSYC courses taken from UC Denver faculty

No more than 56 credit hours in psychology can count toward graduation.

Core Courses for the BA Degree in Psychology

The following five courses are required:

• PSYC 1000, Introduction to Psychology I
• PSYC 1005, Introduction to Psychology II
• PSYC 2090, Statistics and Research Methods and recitation (PSY 2090R)
  • PSYC 2090 and 2090R must be taken simultaneously
  • completion of intermediate algebra strongly recommended
• PSYC 2220, Biological Basis of Behavior
• PSYC 3090, Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYC 4511, History of Psychology (capstone course)
  • requires completion of 12 hours in psychology

Group A Electives for the BA Degree in Psychology

Two courses required, including at least one of the following: PSYC 3222, 3822, or 4144 

• PSYC 3104, Behavioral Genetics
• PSYC 3144, Human Cognition
• PSYC 3222, Principles of Learning and Behavior
• PSYC 3254, Introduction to Animal Behavior
• PSYC 3262, Health Psychology
• PSYC 3263, Hormones and Behavior
• PSYC 3265, Drugs, Brain, and Behavior
• PSYC 3724, Developmental Neuroscience
• PSYC 3810, Neuropsychology
• PSYC 3822, Aging, Brain, and Behavior
• PSYC 3832, Neural Basis of Learning
• PSYC 4054, Behavioral Neuroscience
• PSYC 4164, Psychology of Perception

Group B Electives for the BA Degree in Psychology

Three courses required, including at least two of the following: PSYC 3205, 3305, 4415

• PSYC 3145, Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• PSYC 3205, Human Development I: Child Psychology
• PSYC 3215, Human Development II: Adolescence and Adulthood
• PSYC 3235, Human Sexuality
• PSYC 3305, Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 3405, Family Psychology
• PSYC 3505, Psychology and the Law
• PSYC 3415, Experimental Social Psychology
• PSYC 3610, Psychological Trauma
• PSYC 3611, Psychology of Women
• PSYC 3612, Domestic Abuse
• PSYC 4455, Theories of Personality
• PSYC 4485, Psychology of Cultural Diversity
• PSYC 4500, Psychotherapy 
• PSYC 4645, Industrial Psychology
• PSYC 4730, Clinical Psychology: Ethics and Issues

Policies Governing the BA Degree Requirements

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  Psychology courses in which a student earns a D or lower do not count toward the major requirements. In addition, students must maintain a 2.00 average in their Psychology courses.
• Pass/fail grades do not count toward the major requirements.
• Internship/Cooperative Education credits (PSYC 3939) will not be counted toward the 37 hour minimum, but can count as elective credit in psychology.
• MSCD/MSUD psychology courses will not be included in the 15 upper division credit hour requirement for a UC Denver degree in psychology.
• Psychology courses taken at other colleges and universities (including other CU campuses) must be approved by the CU Denver Psychology advisor or department chair before they can be counted toward the major requirements.