Psychology Major

Requirements for the Major

A major in Psychology requires a minimum of 8.5 upper-division courses plus a senior thesis. Upper-division psychology courses are those at Scripps above the 100 level and all those on other campuses requiring Introduction to Psychology as a prerequisite. PSYC052 SC  is prerequisite to all upper-division psychology courses. Students may petition the psychology faculty to fulfill this requirement by taking a suitable course elsewhere, by completion of a high school AP Psychology course and receiving a score of 4 or 5, or IB HL Psychology course and score of 5, 6, or 7, or by special examination.

In addition to taking PSYC052 or an approved equivalent, Psychology majors will:

• Demonstrate knowledge in research methods and statistics by taking the following courses at Scripps:
  • PSYC103 SC  and
  • PSYC104 SC  and PSYC104L SC  
• Take at least six upper-division courses in Psychology. Within those six courses, the following requirements must be met:
  • Take at least one upper-division course in each of the following two areas:
    1. Human function in a social context including courses such as: human development, personality, abnormal, cultural, or social psychology.
    2. Basic processes including courses such as: cognitive psychology, cognitive neuroscience, perception, psychopharmacology, learning, or physiological psychology.
  • At least two of the six upper-division courses must be taken at Scripps.
• Complete a senior thesis.

Honors Requirements

Outstanding senior psychology majors may be granted Honors in Psychology at graduation. To earn honors, students must have:

• Earned a major grade point average of at least 3.67;
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.5;
• Completed PSYC143 SC  or PSYC144 SC  or PSYC145 SC  or PSYC182 SC /NEUR182 SC ;
• Presented an exceptional senior thesis earning a grade of A or A- on a 1- or 2-semester thesis;
• Demonstrated breadth of study in psychology; and
• Mentored research and/or teaching experience in psychology.