Undergraduate Degrees
Department Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
PSYC 100 Psychology and Human Behavior, MATH 116 Mathematics for the Social Sciences I or a higher level math course, PSYC 274 Statistics I, and eight other courses in the department numbered 300 or higher, are required. Five of the eight upper division courses must be at the 300-level and must include at least one course from five of the six topic areas listed below. Of the remaining three courses, two must be at the 400-level and may be any 400-numbered course other than 490x. The final course may be any other 300- or 400-numbered course.
The 300-numbered courses, listed by topic area are: Cognition and Learning: PSYC 301L, 304, 305; Research Methods: PSYC 314L, 315, 318L; Biological and Physiological: PSYC 320, 326; Developmental-Aging: PSYC 336L, 337L; Social Psychology: PSYC 355, 359; Clinical-Personality: PSYC 360 (with instructor's permission, 461 may be substituted for 360), 361, 366.
As early as possible, students planning to major in psychology should obtain a copy of the advisory booklet and meet with the student affairs assistant for psychology to discuss course selection.
Students considering graduate training in psychology are strongly advised to take a 300-numbered course from the Research Methods area, as well as to arrange for 490x Directed Research for at least one semester before graduation. Involvement in the departmental honors program (see below) is also strongly recommended for students contemplating graduate study.
Bachelor of Arts, Social Sciences, with an Emphasis in Psychology Requirements
The required courses are: PSYC 100, MATH 116 or higher level math course, PSYC 274, and eight upper division courses in departments in the social sciences, including five in the Department of Psychology and three outside the department but within the division. These may be any 300- or 400-numbered courses.
Department Minor Requirements
PSYC 100 and three 300-numbered courses with at least one from three of the six topic areas listed above and a fourth course which may be any 400-numbered course except 490x.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts with a Combined Major in Linguistics and Psychology
For the lower division: LING 210, PSYC 100 and PSYC 274 are required. For the upper division the following courses are required: LING 401a and 402a; PSYC 314L or 318L; three courses selected from LING 395, 396, 401b, 402b, 480, 485, LING 408/PSYC 406; three additional courses selected from PSYC 301L, 326, 336L, 337L, 348, 424, 433, PSYC 406/LING 408.
Honors Program
The department offers an exciting honors program for outstanding students who desire advanced research training in preparation for graduate work in the social sciences or in professional schools. The primary focus of the honors program is the completion of a significant research study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students are admitted to the program in the fall semester of their junior year. To be eligible for admission, a student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of application to the program. Students in the honors program complete all major requirements, including PSYC 380 Junior Honors Seminar during the spring semester of their junior year and PSYC 480 Senior Honors Seminar during the spring semester of their senior year. Students complete an honors thesis proposal as part of the Junior Honors Seminar and must submit a completed senior honors thesis by April 1 of the senior year. Students are also expected to have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of graduation. For further information, contact the undergraduate advisor.
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the national honor society in psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate men and women who meet the minimum qualifications. Psi Chi is a member of the Association of the College Honor Societies and is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.
Next Section
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
Joye Day
day@mizar.usc.edu