To earn a BA or BS degree in Psychology at UW, you’ll complete a combination of major-specific courses and university-wide general education requirements. For students who have 60 or more quarter credits, you may have completed a number of the Social Sciences (SSc), Natural Science (NSc), and Reasoning (R) requirements, but be sure to plan for the following:
- English Composition (C) – 5 credits
- Additional Writing (W) – 10 credits
- Diversity (DIV) – 5 credits
- Arts & Humanities (A&H) – 20 credits
- Foreign Language – Third-year level in high school or third-quarter level in college
If you are completing courses at a Washington State Community College, use the course equivalency guide to see how they transfer to UW. For out-of-state schools or Washington State universities compare course descriptions directly.
The information below outlines the degree requirements and can help you plan your path to graduation. For course details listed below, see the Psychology course descriptions.
Bacheolor of Arts
Minimum of 53 credits
Admission Courses
- Psych 101 Introduction to Psychology (5 credits)
- Psych 202 Biopsychology (5 credits)
- Psych 209 Fundamentals of Psychological Research (5 credits)
- One math course (5 credits):
- Math 111 Algebra with Applications
- Math 112 Application of Calculus to Business and Economic
- Math 120 Precalculus
- Math 124 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, or Higher
Statistics Courses
- Psych 315 Understanding Statistics in Psychology (5 credits)
or - Psych 317 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Psychology and Psych 318 Statistical Inference in Psychological Research (10 credits)
Core Courses
- One course from List A (5 credits):
- Psych 300 Animal Behavior
- Psych 302 Neuroscience of the Mind
- Psych 333 Sensory and Perceptual Processes Sensory
- Psych 355 Cognitive Psychology
- One course from List B (5 credits):
- Psych 303 Personality
- Psych 305 Psychological and Behavior Disorders
- Psych 306 Developmental Psychology
- Psych 345 Social Psychology
- Psych 357 Psychobiology of Women
-
One additional course from List A or B (5 credits)
Upper Division Elective Courses
- One course at a 300 or 400-level (3-5 credits)
- Two courses at a 400-level (6-10 credits)
*excludes PSYCH 350, 450, 491-499
Specialized Experience
- One or more from the following courses (3 credits):
- Psych 496 Undergraduate Teaching Experience in Psychology
- Psych 497 Undergraduate Fieldwork
- Psych 498 Directed Reading in Psychology
- Psych 499 Undergraduate Research
- a UW study abroad experience approved by the Psychology Advising Office
Note: To earn a minimum of 53 credits, students may need to take additional 200/300/400 level Psych courses. Courses can include 491-499 and CR/NC courses; the exact number of credits depends on the number completed to meet the major requirements above. MAXIMUM 6 CREDITS OF ELECTIVES APPLY
Related Fields Courses
- One math course from the list in admissions requirement
- One biology course (5 credits):
- Biol 118 Survey of Physiology
- Biol 161 Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 1
- Biol 162 Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 2
- Biol 180 Introductory Biology
- Biol 200 Introductory Biology
- Biol 220 Introductory Biology
- One social science course-Anthropology or Sociology (3-5 credits)
***See below for additional requirements
Bachelor of Science
Minimum of 66 credits
Admission Courses
- Psych 101 Introduction to Psychology (5 credits)
- Psych 202 Biopsychology (5 credits)
- Psych 209 Fundamentals of Psychological Research (5 credits)
- One math course (5 credits):
- Math 111 Algebra with Applications
- Math 112 Application of Calculus to Business and Economic
- Math 120 Precalculus
- Math 124 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, or Higher
Statistics Courses
- Psych 317 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Psychology (5 credits)
- Psych 318 Statistical Inference in Psychological Research (5 credits)
*Students must earn a 2.0 or better in Psych 317 to proceed to Psych 318. Students can only take this class once.
Laboratory Course
- One course from (5 credits):
- Psych 330 Animal Behavior
- Psych 331 Human Performance Lab
- Psych 332 Neurobehavior Lab
- Psych 334 Social Psychology Lab
- Psych 419 Behavior Studies of Zoo Animals
Core Courses
- One course from List A (5 credits):
- Psych 300 Animal Behavior
- Psych 302 Neuroscience of the Mind
- Psych 333 Sensory and Perceptual Processes Sensory
- Psych 355 Cognitive Psychology
- One course from List B (5 credits):
- Psych 303 Personality
- Psych 305 Psychological and Behavior Disorders
- Psych 306 Developmental Psychology
- Psych 345 Social Psychology
- Psych 357 Psychobiology of Women
- One additional course from List A or B (5 credits)
Upper Division Elective Courses
- One course at a 300 or 400-level (3-5 credits)
- Two courses at a 400-level (6-10 credits)
*excludes PSYCH 350, 450, 491-499
Research Experience
-
Psych 499 Undergraduate Research (3 credits)
Specialized Experience
- One or more from the following courses (3 credits):
- Psych 496 Undergraduate Teaching Experience in Psychology
- Psych 497 Undergraduate Fieldwork
- Psych 498 Directed Reading in Psychology
- Psych 499 Undergraduate Research
- a UW study abroad experience approved by the Psychology Advising Office
Note: To earn a minimum of 66 credits, students may need to take additional 200/300/400 level Psych courses. Courses can include 491-499 and CR/NC courses; the exact number of credits depends on the number completed to meet the major requirements above. MAXIMUM 6 CREDITS OF ELECTIVES APPLY
Related Fields Courses
- One math course from the list in admissions requirement
- One biology course (5 credits):
- Biol 118 Survey of Physiology
- Biol 161 Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 1
- Biol 162 Advanced Placement (AP) in General Biology 2
- Biol 180 Introductory Biology
- Biol 200 Introductory Biology
- Biol 220 Introductory Biology
- One social science course-Anthropology or Sociology (3-5 credits)
- One philosophy course (5 credits:
- Phil 120 Introduction to Logic
- Phil 160 Why do we believe in Quarks, Evolution, and Other Crazy Things? Perspectives on Science, Reason, and Reality
***See below for additional requirements
Other Requirements that pertain to BA and BS
- Admission to the Department of Psychology
- A minimum grade of 2.0 in each psychology and related fields course used to satisfy a requirement for the major.
- A 2.5 GPA in all psychology courses taken (UW and transfer), excluding 496-499.
- A 2.0 UW GPA is required for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences
- Transfer students must meet all of the above requirements including at least 15 graded credits at the 300 and 400 level in psychology at the University of Washington.
- Courses taken to satisfy requirements for the major (including related fields) may NOT be taken on a Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory basis.
- Students must also complete all degree requirements of the University and all general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.
- A student may earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in psychology, but not both.