Attention!

Portfolio is being decommissioned. This portfolio page will be available to view until July 2024, but will no longer be updated. For the most updated information, please go to our new Digication page at https://du.digication.com/cahss-psych

These resources are intended to help current and prospective psychology students understand our degree requirements and experiential opportunities.

You can access our anonymous input survey here.

Advising Overview for Psychology Majors

You are responsible for understanding major, minor and degree requirements. If you do not follow these advising activities, you risk not graduating on time.

Using sample course plans, your degre audit, the bulletin, and other advising information, you should become familiar with the requirments for the psychology major in your first year. At least once a year, you should review your academic schedule, Degree Audit (PDF), which outlines the degree requirementes in the bulletin, and your plans with a Department of Psychology academic adviser. If you attend an information session, such as the college reception during Discoveries Orientation, and plan to complete PSYC 1001, Foundations of Psychological Science, during your first year, you are on track for the psychology major. You may wish to discuss other plans with your Office of Academic Advising (OAA) and/or FSEM advisor in your first year.

ADVISING GUIDELINES 

Although you are not required to meet with a major adviser until your sophomore year, we strongly recommend attending a group or individual advising session during your first year.

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Autumn quarter

• Check your understanding of your degree requirements and progress with an advisor during an appointment or drop-in hours.
• Attend Research Night to hear about research opportunities.

Winter quarter

• Apply for the Cherrington Global Scholars program if you want to study abroad.

Spring quarter

• Apply for the Departmental Distinction Program, if applicable.
• Attend Graduate School and Career Night to learn about post-graduation options.

JUNIOR YEAR
Spring quarter

• Apply for Field Experiences, if interested.
• Apply for the dual degree MA program, if interested.

SENIOR YEAR
Autumn quarter

• Complete the Senior Assessment (required for graduation; taken online any quarter of your senior year).

In addition to these deadlines, see our recommendations for planning for your career or graduate school.

TYPICAL MAJOR SCHEDULE:

Psychology is one of the most popular majors at DU! We offer enough sections of our courses to accommodate students who planning ahead to graduate in four years. Students concerned with their major progress should make an advising appointment to review their degree progress after checking their own progress against the typical schedule below.

Four-year schedule of courses for the psychology major:

First year:

Foundations of Psychological Science (PSYC 1001)

Intro to Statistics (PSYC 2300) – if possible, pending availability

Second year:

2000-level content courses -3 or 4 of: Adult Psychopathology, Social, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental

Intro to Statistics (if not taken previously)

Research Methods (PSYC 3050) – if possible, pending availability

Third year:

2000-level content courses not taken previously (3 or 4 of: Adult Psychopathology, previously Abnormal, Social, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental)

Additional 2000-level elective courses

Research Methods (PSYC 3050) – if not taken previously

Any psychology courses taken abroad

If interested, research apprenticeship by working in a lab (PSYC 2112)

Any special opportunities classes (Junior Honors)

Fourth year:

Any required courses not completed below

Any 3000-level electives

Cog Neuro Seminar (Cog Neuro concentration only) - Winter

Any 2- credit Topics seminars

Any special opportunities classes (Field Experiences, Senior Honors).

All courses in italics are specifically required courses. All other requirements can be met with any combination of courses with the PSYC prefix to meet the minimum number of credit hours for the major.