Psychology, B.A.
Understand what motivates people and why people behave the way that they do.
"With every course, research lab, presentation, etc., faculty and peers cheer you on, offering words of encouragement and advice. It is really comforting to know you have so many people in your corner as you take on those endeavors."
Rebecca Tse ('25)
B.A. in Psychology
About this Program
The Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in Psychology. Psychology is the study of the basic laws and principles of human and animal behavior; it seeks to understand what motivates people and why people behave the way they do.
Psychology majors take courses in a variety of subfields, such as social, cognitive, personality, abnormal, developmental, and behavioral neuroscience. They also learn the research process: experimental design, data collection, analysis, and communication. Students gain experience in the field through service-learning, internships, and experiential courses. They can work with faculty on research or as teaching assistants. Faculty specializations include clinical, cognitive, developmental, experimental, health, neuroscience, and social psychology.
B.A vs B.S. Degree Options
- The Bachelor of Science in Psychology requires additional coursework in psychology, as well as more quantitative psychology classes. It is a more quantitative degree that is more suitable for those preparing for graduate study and/or careers in which an understanding of human behavior and psychological research is beneficial. Students learn the scientific approach to the study of human and animal behavior, engage in experiential learning, gain an understanding of cultural perspectives, and practice using statistical tools.
- The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is more flexible to allow for combining the study of psychology with other areas, and includes a requirement for a minor field of study. It prepares students for a wide variety of careers such as law or medicine.
Behavioral Analysis Emphasis
Both the B.A. and B.S. degrees offer an emphasis in Behavior Analysis, which provides students with a strong foundation in both general psychology and specialized behavior-analytic training. This curriculum aligns with the requirements for certification as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), equipping students with skills to engage in clinical practice in settings such as schools, centers, and communities.
The Value of a Psychology Degree
Psychology is an excellent major for a wide variety of potential career paths where an understanding of human behavior and motivation is valuable. Psychology majors gain skills in statistical analysis, research, testing, writing, observation, record keeping, surveying, scientific reasoning, and scientific methodology. Related careers in psychology include health care, behavior analysis, education, counseling and therapy, rehabilitation services, business management, social work, drug/alcohol education, human resources, advertising and marketing, law, systems analysis, sales, urban planning, and public relations.
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Program Information
Degree
B.A. in Psychology
Emphases
N/A
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements from the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.A. in Psychology complete 10 psychology courses (30 credit hours). Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all course work counted for the major in psychology. Psychology courses require a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments. Students earning the B.A. in the College of Liberal Arts complete a minor field of study (or double major).
- Psy 201: Introduction to Psychology
- Psy 202: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- Psy 205: Research Methods in Psychology
- Three core courses from:
- Psy 301: Developmental Psychology
- Psy 309: Learning
- Psy 311: Psychopathology: Integrative Approaches
- Psy 319: Brain and Behavior
- Psy 320: Cognitive Psychology
- Psy 321: Social Psychology
- One capstone course from:
- Psy 340: Multicultural Psychology
- Psy 360: Psychology of Human Sexuality
- Psy 365: Environmental Psychology
- Psy 390: Lab in Psy: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psy 392: Lab in Psy: Experimental Social Psy
- Psy 394: Lab in Psy: Cognition and Perception
- Psy 396: Laboratory in Psychology
- Psy 410: Health Psychology
- Psy 411: Memory
- Psy 412: Sports Psychology
- Psy 415: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Psy 417: Disasters and Mental Health
- Psy 419: Psychology of Parenting
- Psy 423: Applied Behavior Analysis
- Psy 430: Positive Psychology
- Psy 451: History and Systems of Psychology
- Psy 456: Integrative Special Topics
- sy 457: Integrative Special Topics
- Psy 470: Children and Families: Community Work
- Psy 475: Topics in Psychology Abroad
- Psy 565: Psychology of Gender
- Three psychology elective courses.
Students pursuing this optional emphasis in Behavioral Analysis complete the following 7 courses as part of the requirements.
- Psy 309: Learning
- Psy 313: Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Psy 323: Applied Behavior Analysis
- Psy 328: Ethics of Behavioral Practice & Research
- Psy 423: Behaviorism: History & Theory
- Psy 408 or 506: Research Internship or Clinical Internship
- Psy 530: Single Subject & Small Group Research Design
A minor in psychology consists of 6 courses of psychology (18 credit hours), including Psy 201: Introduction to Psychology.
Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all coursework counted for the minor in psychology. Psychology courses require a grade of C or better in all prerequisite courses, including those prerequisite courses from other departments.
Department Opportunities
Watch the Video
What can I do with a psychology degree?
- Business Analyst, JP Morgan Chase
- Division Manager, Nordstrom
- Research Analyst, Google
- Human Resources Consultant, Nestle
- Addiction Therapist, Oxford Treatment Center
- Agent, US Department of Justice
- Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Texas Children's Hospital
- Ophthalmologist, Florida Eye Care
- Area Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Assistant Attorney General, State of Tennessee
- Professor, Emory University
- Clinical Social Worker, Delta Community Mental Services
- Pastor, First Baptist Church
- Legislative Liaison, Office of the MS Lieutenant Governor
- Psychologist, Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Psychologist, Self-employed
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.