Major & Minor

Major Requirements

The major in psychology requires a minimum of 40 credits. There are 8 psychology required courses (see below) and 5 psychology electives.

  • Requirement #1: Introduction to Psychology
  • Requirement #2: Statistics for Social Sciences
  • Requirement #3: Method & Theory in Psychology
  • Requirement #4: Take 1 Capstone, Engaged Civic Learning, or Experimental Psychology Course:
    Experimental Psychology, Independent study based on an approved research proposal, or other approved experiential courses.
  • Requirement #5: Take 1 Brain, Mind and Biology course:
    Learning and Memory, Perception, Behavioral Pharmacology, Animal Behavior, Human Emotions, Cognitive Processes, Psych of Consciousness
  • Requirement #6: Take 1 Developmental/Life Course Perspectives Course:
    Psychology of Adolescence, Psychology of Aging, Developmental Psychopathology, Child Development, Human Development
  • Requirement #7: Take 1 Society, Health, & Clinical Course:
    Social psychology, Abnormal, Intro to Clinical, Health Psych, Psych of Eating, Psych of strongly held beliefs, Theories of psychotherapy, Violence Against Women & Women’s Health, Human Emotions
  • Requirement #8 Take 1 Diversity Course:
    Psychology of Aging, Cultural Psychology, Black Mental Health: Resilience and Risk, Cultural Psychology and Food, Psychology of Gender, Religion & Psychology (Religion), Race and Ethnicity (Sociology), Intro to Latin American Studies (Latin American and Latino Studies), Childhood & Disabilities (Childhood Studies), Introduction to LGBTQUIA (Gender Studies), Confronting Anti-Black Racism (Social Work), Immigration and Families (Anthropology), Cultural competence (Health Sciences)

Graduating with a major in psychology requires at least a 2.5 grade-point average in the major and no more than two grades lower than a C in those psychology courses taken at Rutgers and presented to satisfy the major. Students may petition the department to request an exception to these requirements if they feel it is warranted.

During the third and fourth years, students may take 50:830:494 and 50:830:495-Research in Psychology. For these courses students may earn from one to three credits, depending upon the arrangement with the supervising faculty member. These courses may be repeated for up to 9 credits each, but no more than nine credits from either or both may be used for psychology electives. Students with more than nine credits in the two courses may use the balance for general electives.

Major requirements in psychology can be completed through either daytime or evening attendance. For more about Rutgers requirements, visit the Office of Academic Advising.

To declare a major in Psychology, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Not sure when to take what class? See our recommendations (PDF).

Minor Requirements

Students who wish to minor in psychology must fulfill the following general requirements: at least 18 credits in psychology courses, including six credits or more at or above the 300 level. Students must have at least a C+ (2.5) grade-point average for courses applied to the psychology minor; no more than one grade may be lower than a C. To declare a minor in Psychology, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Teacher Certification

For details regarding admission to the Teacher Preparation Program and its requirements, students should consult both their department adviser and the Teacher Preparation Program.

Preparation for Graduate Study

Students interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology should meet with a faculty member early to plan their course of study. Those who wish to specialize in particular areas of study should discuss their plans with faculty members whose expertise is most appropriate for those areas.

Although a number of courses may satisfy the major’s laboratory requirement, students planning to pursue graduate work in psychology are strongly advised to take Experimental Psychology. Such students should also include courses that provide training in research and/or theory, particularly in their tentative areas of specialization. In addition, they should include research activity in their programs of study by enrolling in Research in Psychology (50:830:495) and by taking other courses that include research projects. Students who wish to pursue clinical work should also enroll in Individual Supervision of Fieldwork in Psychology (50:830:493).