Psychology Major

All new students who wish to major in psychology, and all current students who wish to switch to the Department of Psychology major will need to meet with an advisor in the Academic Affairs Office of the Department of Psychology (124 Heyne Building, 713-743-8508).

Any incoming freshman, college transfer student, international student, or current UH student with an overall GPA of 2.0 interested in majoring in psychology must apply first as a psychology pre-major.

Change of Major to Psychology

Upon completion of PSYC 1300, PSYC 2301, and PSYC 3301 with a grade of C or above in each course, students may then submit a general petition to the department to change their major from psychology pre-major to psychology. This requirement must be met no later than two semesters prior to your graduating semester.

Note:

  1. The psychology major requires a minimum of 33 credit hours in the major. Each major must complete 21 hours of required courses.
  2. Majors must earn at least a C grade in each of the required courses applied to the major and must have an overall GPA of 2.0 (there is no limit as to the number of required courses students may retake, but each required course may be retaken only two times).
  3. Students should plan to complete PSYC 1300, 2301, and 3301 by the end of their sophomore year.
  4. Majors file an official degree plan upon completion of 60 semester hours, have an overall and major minimum GPA of 2.0, and after having declared a minor, double major, or double degree. An undergraduate advisor in the Department of Psychology must approve the degree plan.
  5. All 3000- and 4000-level courses in Psychology may contain a significant writing component.
  6. Majors must complete with a minimum 2.0 GPA a minor, double major, or double degree in order to complete their degree requirements for either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in the Department of Psychology.
  7. Psychology majors may not use any course taken to satisfy major requirements to satisfy requirements in their minor, double major, or double degree.
Required Psychology Courses

PSYC 1300

 Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 2301 Introduction to Methods in Psychology (includes lab)
PSYC 3301 Introduction to Psychological Statistics
PSYC 2380 Social Psychology
PSYC 3350 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3341 Physiological Psychology
PSYC 3325 Psychology of Personality (formerly PSYC 4325)

Each major must choose 12 hours of psychology of which 6 hours must be advanced electives. In planning one's program, a student should note that some courses may be offered only annually or biennially. Majors are free to choose electives from one or several areas. Students should note that areas move from intermediate to advanced levels in the courses listed. Those majors planning to attend graduate or professional schools are strongly advised to participate in at least one Capstone experience in their senior year.

Typical Psychology Major Electives
PSYC 2335 Introduction to Health Psychology
PSYC 2344 Cultural Psychology (formerly PSYC 4344)
PSYC 2350 Child Development (formerly PSYC 3360)
PSYC 2351 Psychology of Adolescence (formerly PSYC 3361)
PSYC 3310 Industrial/Organizational Psychology

PSYC 3331

 Psychology of Gender (formerly PSYC 2340)
PSYC 3337 Psychology of Human Sexuality
PSYC 3338 Psychology of Older Adults
PSYC 3339 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
PSYC 3351 Health Psychology Research
PSYC 4320 Theories of Interventions
PSYC 4321 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 4347 Test and Measurements
PSYC 4354 Brain and Behavior

 

Senior Capstone Experiences

Capstone experiences are intended as integrative, intensive exercises in critical thinking and analysis of content. These are opportunities for student-focused initiative, creativity and productivity under the close mentorship of Department of Psychology faculty.

Senior Capstone Experiences

PSYC 4306

 Community Service Practica
(6 credit hour maximum):
Open to students with: PSYC 1300, PSYC 2301, minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and junior or senior standing in psychology.
PSYC 4307 Research Practica
(6 credit hour maximum):
Open to students with: PSYC 1300, PSYC 2301, and a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and junior or senior standing in psychology.
PSYC 4304 History and Systems in Psychology
(3 credit hours):
Approaches of major figures and schools to the abiding philosophical, theoretical, and conceptual issues in Psychology.
PSYC 3399, 4399 Senior Honors Thesis
(two semesters, 3 credit hours each semester):
Open to students with a minimum 3.00 grade point average based on a minimum of 90 semester hours and a psychology grade point average of 3.20. Qualified student selects faculty member to supervise the topic choice and writing of the thesis (see advising staff for information on the Honors Thesis Sequence).

For additional information, contact the department:

University of Houston
Department of Psychology
Academic Affairs
124 Heyne Building
Houston, Texas 77204-5022

Catalog Publish Date: August 22, 2012
This Page Last Updated: July 12, 2012