Bachelor of Science in Psychology
A research-focused and quantitative approach to studying human behavior.
About this Program
The Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.S. 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.
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.
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Program Information
Program Type
Major
Area of Study
Social Sciences, Law, and Policy
School
Duration
4 years
Degree
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
120
Related careers in psychology include:
- Healthcare
- 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
- Public Relations
Academic Requirements
Students in the B.S. in Psychology complete 39 credit hours of psychology courses, including
- Psy 201: Introduction to Psychology
- Psy 202: Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- Psy 205: Research Methods in Psychology
- Psy 303: Intermediate Statistical Methods for Psychology
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 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 420: Readings and Research in Psychology I
- Psy 421: Readings and Research in Psychology II
- Psy 422: Research Experience
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 415: Introduction to Clinical Psychology
- Psy 417: Disasters and Mental Health
- Psy 419: Psychology of Parenting
- 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. See all psychology courses in the online catalog.
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Meet Our Students
Grace Weldon
What would you tell a high school student about your major?
See Grace’s Answer
Rebecca Tse
What are your 3 favorite things about your major/department at UM?
See Rebecca’s Answer
Philip Beloate
When and how did you choose your major?
See Philip’s AnswerWelcome 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
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
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