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Psychology
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  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Psychology
  5. Major: Bachelor of Arts

Major: Bachelor of Arts

Major
  • Psychology opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
70 Units
University Minimum Units
180 Units
Interests
Helping Others, Literature & Culture
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Education, Humanities & Arts

Overview

The undergraduate program in Psychology aims to introduce students to the theories and empirical studies of human behavior. This includes the study of aging, achievement, child development, cognitive processes, conflict, culture, decision-making, emotion, group behavior, health, identity, infancy, language, learning and memory, morality, motivation, personality, psychopathology, race, self, social perception, visual perception, and other related topics. The major provides students with knowledge and skills relevant to professional careers in technology, business, counseling, education, public policy, law, medicine, and graduate studies in psychology.

Advising

Psychology supports a multiple mentorship model for advising majors. Within the department, students have the following advisors:

  • Faculty major advisor

  • Student services officer

  • Peer advisors

Psychology Department advising is supplemented by support from Undergraduate Advising and Research Academic Advising Directors, the Residential Education dormitory staff, and many other potential advisors. We encourage our students to reach out to advisors from across the university to develop a robust support network.

Answers to questions about major requirements can be found in Frequently Asked Questions opens in a new tab.

Requirements

Core Program Requirements

Introductory Courses

Complete all of the following course(s):
PSYCH 1

Introduction to Psychology

5 Units
PSYCH 10

Introduction to Statistical Methods: Precalculus

5 Units

Stanford’s PSYCH 1 is designed for students who may major or minor in Psychology and has also been carefully crafted to serve as an essential contribution to any liberal arts education. For this reason, the Department does not accept AP credit toward the major or minor requirements.

Students with multiple programs may substitute PSYCH10 with the following Statistics courses if that course is also required by their other program: STATS 131/BIO141, STATS 191, STATS 203, HUMBIO 88, HUMBIO 89, ECON 102A

Core Courses

Complete five of the following Core Courses, with a minimum of two each from Area A and Area B.

Complete all of the following requirements:
Area A Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
PSYCH 30

Introduction to Perception

4 Units
PSYCH 35

Minds and Machines

4 Units
PSYCH 45

Introduction to Learning and Memory

3 Units
PSYCH 50

Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

4 Units

Students must complete at least five core Psychology courses, with at least two from each area A and B.

and
Area B Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
PSYCH 60

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

3 Units
PSYCH 70

Self and Society: Introduction to Social Psychology

4 Units
PSYCH 80

Introduction to Personality and Affective Science

4 Units
PSYCH 90

Introduction to Clinical Psychology: A Neuroscience Perspective

3 Units
PSYCH 95

Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

3 Units
PSYCH 124

What Makes You Tick? An Introduction to Affective Science

3 Units

Students must complete at least five core Psychology courses, with a minimum of two from each area A and B.

The syllabi for these courses can be found on the Stanford Syllabus  opens in a new tabwebsite.

Except for summer 2021, summer quarter Psychology courses are not equivalent to courses given during the regular academic year and, while applicable toward the 70 units needed for the major, may not be used to fulfill core course requirements. Therefore, PSYCH 1, PSYCH 10, and the Area A and B courses cannot be taken during summer quarter to fulfill the major requirements. Additionally, a course taken during the summer quarter cannot replace the grade of a non-Summer Quarter course, even if the title and units of the two courses are the same.

Beyond the Minimal Requirements

The following recommendations may be helpful to students who wish to plan a program that goes beyond the minimal core major requirements:

  • Within the general major, the student may take advanced undergraduate or graduate courses (although some require the consent of the instructor), including seminars. The student may also take advantage of widespread opportunities for directed research, working closely with individual faculty and graduate students.

  • The student may apply to the senior honors program described below.

The training obtained from pursuing any of these options is valuable not only for students considering graduate work in Psychology but also for those thinking of professional careers outside of Psychology in fields such as technology, business, counseling, education, law, public policy, or medicine.

Electives

Psychology (PSYCH) Elective Courses

The remaining unit requirements can be fulfilled through elective PSYCH courses.

An elective Psychology course is any PSYCH course that is three units or more (excluding independent study, research, and practicum). There are also three cognate courses from other departments that count as PSYCH courses, not outside units. These courses are: BIO 150, PSYC 135, and PSYC 139 (all other PSYC courses may count as outside units). Students may count up to 10 units of Psychology research (PSYCH 195 and PSYCH 198), independent study (PSYCH 194), and practica (PSYCH 182 and PSYCH 281) toward the Psychology major.

Students who are teaching assistants for a Psychology course or enrolled in the senior Honors Program are allowed up to 15 units in independent study and research. Any units beyond these limits may be counted toward the 180 units required for graduation. 

Writing in the Major (WIM)

WIM Requirement

Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
PSYCH 164

Brain decoding

3 Units
PSYCH 175

Developmental Science of Social Cognition

4 Units
PSYCH 180

Advanced Seminar on Racial Bias and Structural Inequality

4 Units

Capstone

Psychology Capstone Options

To complete the Capstone requirement, students should complete either the Psychology Honors option or Capstone: Psych Applied option below.

Complete any of the following requirements:
Psychology Honors

This is a year-long seminar taken in the senior year and built around an Honor’s thesis. Students may opt for 1-4 units in each of the three quarters. Applications are due in the junior year (June). For more information, see https://psychology.stanford.edu/academicsundergraduate-program/psychology-honors-program opens in a new tab

Complete all of the following course(s):
PSYCH 198

Senior Honors Research

1-4 Units
or
Psych Applied Course

Students will integrate and apply their learning in Psychology while exploring and preparing for a future career post-graduation. In their senior year, students will complete a seminar course (PSYCH 196) each quarter which at the end they will summarize and synthesize their experience in a final capstone project. 

Complete all of the following course(s):
PSYCH 196

Capstone: Psych Applied

1-3 Units

Honors

Optional
Students may choose to pursue department honors by completing a program of special advanced work, such as an honors thesis, in addition to their major requirements.

Honors

Honors Program Overview

The Honors Program in Psychology is designed for Psychology majors who wish to pursue a full year of intensive supervised independent research during their senior year. Students in the program will acquire a broad background in psychology as well as a deep background in their chosen area.

Students interested in the program should involve themselves in research as early as possible. They should acquire a broad general background in Psychology, including statistics, and a deep background in their chosen area. Typically, students work in their honor thesis advisor’s lab for at least one quarter. The honors program is particularly appropriate for students planning to go to graduate school in Psychology or in other social sciences, as well as in computer science, business, counseling education, law, public policy, and medicine.

Autumn quarter is devoted to a weekly seminar and developing a concrete research proposal. The seminar includes general discussions of research, oral presentations, and discussions of each student’s project. Students will meet regularly with their research sponsors during this time, read background material, and plan their research. At the end of autumn quarter, students submit written research proposals.

Winter quarter is devoted to data collection and initiation of data analysis. Weekly meetings are planned for students to update one another on their progress and review statistics and data analysis. At the end of winter quarter, students will complete a self-assessment of progress in the program. A significant portion of data collection will have been completed by this time.

Spring quarter is typically spent on data analysis, making sense of the findings, completing the paper, and preparing a brief talk. Completed theses are due mid-May. The program culminates in an Honors Convention held on Dead Day in June. Students present their research to an audience of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and family and friends. Upon successful completion of the program, students will graduate with Departmental Honors.

All Honors students must have a research advisor. Although students are allowed to have advisors from outside of the Department or Stanford, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Office’s grant requirements stipulate that at least one advisor for each Senior Honors research project must be a member of the Academic Council. Therefore, if a student has chosen an advisor who is not a member of the Academic Council, that student must also select a co-advisor who is. Additionally, Honors research supervised by faculty outside of the Psychology Department or individuals outside of Stanford must first be approved by the Honors Faculty Advisor.

Honors Program Requirements

Students who graduate with Honors in Psychology will have completed the following by the end of their final year at Stanford:

  1. All regular major requirements

  2. Three quarters of Honors Research*  

    • PSYCH 198 (Senior Honors Research) autumn, winter, and spring quarter

  3. Completion of the Honors Thesis

  4. Presentation at the Honors Convention

*All honors thesis research can only be counted under Psychology 198, not other research courses such as PSYCH 194 and PSYCH 195. Honors students may only count up to 15 units of independent research (including Psychology 194, 195, and 198) toward the psychology major.

Complete all of the following course(s):
PSYCH 198

Senior Honors Research

1-4 Units

How to Apply

Students may apply to the program at the end of their junior year. Admission to the program is based on academic performance, previous research experience, and faculty or graduate student recommendations. Applicants will be notified of acceptance during the summer before senior year.

Applicants will need the following materials:

  • Honors application

  • An unofficial transcript

  • A summary of your research idea/project (one to two pages max)

  • Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Stanford Psychology faculty member who will be your Honors Advisor