To declare a major in psychology: 
Jennifer Bragg 
524 Huntington Hall 
Monday-Thursday 
9:00-2:00 
jamcmaho@syr.edu 

or 

Email Linda Galbato 
Director of Undergraduate Development. 
*Plan to spend approximately 30 minutes do declare your major. At this time, all necessary paperwork will be completed and you will be assigned a psychology faculty advisor. 

For questions about Petitions see Jennifer Bragg in 524 Huntington Hall, or email Dr. Jerome Dusek, Director of Curricular Studies.

This is not an official document outlining the requirements for the major of psychology. Official information is published in the Syracuse University Bulletin.

1. Courses credited toward the major must be completed at Syracuse University unless the Department of Psychology grants a waiver. Be sure to get a waiver before taking any classes at another university. No more than three hours of experience credit (PSY 270 or 470) may be applied toward the minimum number of hours required for the major. Complete the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum (between 55-70 credits). Refer to the Liberal Arts Core Guidebook for detailed requirements, which is available from 329 Hall of Languages.

2. Arts & Sciences students must complete all Arts & Sciences requirements in addition to the requirements for the major. Students in other schools or colleges should see their recorder about the requirements they need to complete in addition to requirements for the major.

Four courses are required:

1. PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior (209 is the Honors equivalent)
2. PSY 313 Research Methods
3. and 4.Two-semester Statistics Sequence: Choose 1 of the following options:

*The MAT 221 - PSY 252 sequence is strongly recommended. It is also recommended that this sequence be completed as early as possible by prospective majors.

**When completing the College of Arts and Science's Quantitative Requirement, psychology majors should consider taking the two-semester statistics sequence.

One 3-credit course must be completed in each of the four areas of psychology:

• Cognitive / Neuroscience
• Developmental / Educational
• Social / Personality
• Clinical / Health

A course may be counted in only one area even if it is cross-listed

The remaining psychology credits can be chosen from any area of psychology or from the list of additional Psychology classes. Consult with your academic advisor to make choices that fit well with your academic and career goals.

A minimum of 30 credits in psychology courses, which includes PSY 205, PSY 313 and PSY 252 (if taken as the second statistics course). 18 of the 30 credits must be numbered above 299.

In order to receive a B.S. degree, students must complete courses in Psychology, mathematics, and the natural sciences.  Students must file a petition, signed by their advisor and the Associate Chair for Curriculum in the Department of Psychology.

Students of the Psychology Department, requesting a B.S. degree.
Students who officially declared the major after August 1, 2009 MUST complete the New Requirements.  Other students may complete either the old or the new requirements.

Psychology
Students are required to complete a minimum of 21 credits in psychology courses, including the required PSY 205 and PSY 313 Research Methods in Psychology. One 3-credit course is required in each of the four major areas described above in connection with the B.A. degree requirements. Two lecture-laboratory sequences (10 credits) are also required. One must be a traditional lecture/laboratory sequence taught by the Department of Psychology. The following courses qualify for this requirement:

    The second may be a traditional lecture-laboratory sequence or a comparable laboratory experience coupled to an appropriate lecture class (PSY 205,252, or 313 may not be the lecture class.) The comparable laboratory experience:

1. is an independent study experience (PSY 490) of at least 2 credits taught by a Department of Psychology faculty member that is completed in a single semester or over the course of two semesters;
2. involves all the components of a typical laboratory course, i.e., research design; coding, analysis; writing; and
3. is linked directly to a lecture course taught by a member of the Department of Psycho-logy faculty. Typically, the lecture will be completed prior to the independent study laboratory experience, which usually will be directed by the faculty member having taught the lecture component.

The student wishing to use this alternative for one of the required lecture-laboratory experiences must complete an independent study contract detailing the experience. The student must complete a petition requesting that a specific PSY course and the independent study labora-tory experience constitute one of the required lecture-laboratory experiences to be counted toward the B.S. degree. This petition, with the contract stating the specific experiences, must be submitted to the Director of Curricular Studies, Department of Psychology, prior to engaging in the independent study laboratory experience.

Mathematics
Students complete an approved sequence in calculus, such as MAT 285,286 or MAT 295,296, and a statistics sequence as described for the B.A. degree.

Natural Sciences
At least 24 credits in the natural sciences are required, including a one-year laboratory experience such as BIO 121,123. Students choose at least four courses from biology, chemistry, and physics in any combination. Courses for non-science majors and certain other courses (such as CHE/STS 205, PHY 209) may not be included. Students may include a maximum of two lecture/ laboratory sequences in psychology (10 credits) in the 24 credits, but these courses may not also be counted in the 21-credit requirement below.
    If there is any question concerning the appropriateness of a course to count toward the B.S. degree requirements, the student should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Psychology Department.

NEW REQUIREMENTS
Although many students successfully enter graduate training with the B.A. degree, the new B.S. degree is designed for the truly exceptional student who is interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology. 
    Because the B.S. degree involves obtaining a faculty sponsor in the Department of Psychology in addition to working with a faculty member on research and taking traditional courses, it is essential that the student interested in the B.S. degree become familiar with, and known to, the faculty. This can be accomplished through taking courses, getting involved in research projects early in one’s career, and otherwise taking part in opportunities within the department (e.g., attending Research Night, Psych Club, Psi Chi). The student interested in the B.S. degree is encouraged to meet with the Director of Curricular Studies or the Director of Student Development to discuss the various opportunities available.
    In order to receive a B.S. degree, students must first obtain a faculty sponsor who will direct the student’s required research experience courses and advise about and approve the student’s required 9 credits (3 courses) in the mathematics and science areas. Students must obtain a Department of Psychology B.S. Degree Declaration Form from the Director of Curricular Development, complete it, and have the faculty sponsor sign it before the last class day in September of the student’s junior year. 

Psychology Requirements
Required Courses in Psychology
Students are required to complete PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior and PSY 313 Introduction to Research Methodology and a total of at least 30 credits in PSY courses. PSY 205, PSY 313, and the PSY classes taken to meet the lecture laboratory, Research In…, and elective requirements as described below count toward the 30 required credits. If PSY 252 is taken to complete the required statistics sequence described below it also counts as part of the 30 required credits.
    Students are required to complete one lecture-laboratory sequence (5-6 credits) from among the offerings of the Department of Psychology. The following courses qualify for this requirement.

PSY 321-331    Introduction to Sensation and Perception
PSY 322-332    Cognitive Psychology
PSY 324-334    Developmental Biopsychology
PSY 382-400*    Health Psychology
PSY 442-443    Research Methods in Child Psychology
PSY 471-472    Experimental Social Psychology
*PSY 400 Section titled Laboratory in Health Psychology only.

    Since not all these courses are taught every year students need to plan ahead to be certain they complete one of these sequences. There are no substitutions for this requirement. 
    Students must complete 4 credits of directed research experience by enrolling in courses titled Research In (PSY 291-294 and PSY 491-494). These 4 credits are directed by the student’s B.S. degree sponsor. There are no substitutions for this requirement. 

Elective Courses in Psychology 
One 3-credit course is required in each of the four major areas described above in conjunction with the B.A. degree requirements. A minimum of one additional elective course in psychology also is required as part of the psychology electives. A lecture course used to complete the required lecture-laboratory sequence in psychology, as described below, MAY NOT be used to complete any course in this
requirement. 

Mathematics and Natural Sciences Requirements
The requirements in this area include coursework in psychology, the natural sciences, and mathematics.
    Students must complete a two-semester statistics sequence. MAT 221 and PSY 252 is the recommended, but not only, sequence. 
    A one-year lecture-laboratory sequence in the natural sciences is required. It must be from among the offerings in biology (BIO 121 and BIO 123), chemistry (CHE 106/116 and CHE 107/117; CHE 109/119 and CHE 129/139), or physics (PHY 101 and PHY 102; PSY 211/221 and PHY 212/222; PHY 215/221 and PHY 216/222). If there is any question concerning the appropriateness of a course to count toward the B.S. degree requirements, the student should consult the Director of Curricular Development of the Psychology Department.
    In addition, students must select, in consultation with their sponsor, three courses (9 credits) in the mathematics and sciences areas, outside the Psychology Department, that will enhance the student’s research experience. These courses must be approved by the student’s B.S. degree sponsor.

Transfer Credit/AP Credit/CLEP Credit
Students who wish to fulfill any of the above requirements with transfer, AP, or CLEP credit should consult the Director of Curricular Studies in the Psychology Department, who will determine if the transfer, AP, or CLEP credit meets the requirements.