Psychology, B.S.
A research-focused and quantitative approach to studying human behavior.
About the Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.S. in Psychology. It offers students a focused curriculum on the scientific and statistical aspects of psychology. This degree emphasizes the scientific approach to studying human and animal behavior, equipping students with the skills to design, conduct, and analyze research. B.S. students explore subfields like social, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral neuroscience, gaining a strong foundation in data analysis and methodology. Students are encouraged to engage in experiential learning, work closely with faculty on research projects, and explore various career paths through internships and service-learning.
B.S. vs B.A. Degree in Psychology
- The Bachelor of Science in Psychology provides a curriculum tailored to those students wishing to conduct psychological research, , including additional coursework in research methods and statistical analysis. It offers students the opportunity to engage deeply with data-driven approaches to understanding behavior. This pathway is ideal for those with a strong interest in utilizing psychology as a basis for future professions focused on scientific inquiry and quantitative analysis.
- The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology offers a broad and flexible curriculum, allowing students to combine psychology with other fields of study. This pathway encourages exploration across disciplines and the development of a well-rounded academic experience, making it an excellent choice for students interested in diverse career paths or interdisciplinary applications of psychology.
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.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.S. in Psychology
Emphases
Behavioral Analysis
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.S. degree have a common set of 36-38 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
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Mathematics
- 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.S. in Psychology complete 39 credit hours of psychology courses. 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.
- Psy 201: Introduction to Psychology
- Psy 202: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- Psy 205: Research Methods in Psychology
- One advanced statistical courses from:
- Psy 303: Intermediate Statistical Methods for Psychology
- Psy 503: Adv. Topics in Statistics for Psychology
- Psy 530: Single Subject & Small Group Research Design
- Five 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 Cultural Perspectives course from:
- Psy 340: Multicultural Psychology
- Psy 350: Ecopsychology and International Youth
- Psy 353: Black Psychology
- Psy 365: Environmental Psychology
- Psy 425: Depictions of Psychopathology in Culture
- Psy 565: Psychology of Gender
- One Experiential Learning Research course from:
- Psy 390: Lab in Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psy 392: Lab in Psychology: Experimental Social Psychology
- Psy 394: Lab in Psychology: Cognition and Perception
- Psy 405: Research Problems I
- Psy 406: Research Problems II
- Psy 408: Research Internship in Behavior Analysis
- Psy 420: Readings and Research in Psychology I
- Psy 421: Readings and Research in Psychology II
- Psy 422: Research Experience
- Psy 506: Clinical Internship in Applied Behavior
- 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 Psychology
- 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: Behaviorism: History & Theory
- Psy 430: Positive Psychology
- Psy 451: History and Systems of Psychology
- Psy 456: Integrative Special Topics
- Psy 457: Integrative Special Topics
- Psy 470: Children and Families: Community Work
- Psy 475: Topics in Psychology Abroad
- Psy 565: Psychology of Gender
- One psychology elective course
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
Department Opportunities
Video: Get to Know the Department of Psychology
Learn more about the Psychology program from our faculty and students.
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.
Next Steps
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