Program: Psychology, B.S. - University of Kentucky

Apr 02, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

120 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete a minimum of 60 hours in natural, physical, mathematical, and computer science. Please note: with the exception of PSY 215 , PSY 216 , PSY 312 , PSY 393 , PSY 456 , PSY 459 , and PSY 565 , courses with a PSY prefix are generally not accepted towards fulfilling this 60-hour requirement. Therefore, be sure to keep this requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree , including a specific listing of courses applicable to the 60-hour requirement.

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirement

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

Choose one course from approved list
Credit(s): 3

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

Choose one course from approved list
Credit(s): 3

III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences

PSY 100 - INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 4
or approved equivalent transfer course Credit(s): 3-4

UK Core hours: 35-36

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

Select one of the following (completed by Advanced Lecture/ Lab):

PSY 495 - SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR Credit(s): 4
AND
PSY 496 - SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH Credit(s): 4
or one of the following:
PSY 499 - SENIOR INTERNSHIP IN PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 500 - HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 534 - CHILD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 535 - PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Credit(s): 3
PSY 561 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY:(SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 562 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 563 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 564 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN LEARNING (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 565 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN NEUROSCIENCE (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 566 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3-8

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science

(completed by PSY 312 )

b. Social Science

(completed by Premajor Requirement)

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work

(completed by Premajor Requirement)

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 9-26

Premajor Requirements

PSY 100 - INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 4 *
OR
PSY 11– Credit(s): 3 ^
PSY 195 - ORIENTATION TO PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 1
PSY 215 - EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 4 * †

Premajor hours: 8-9

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.
^This requirement is fulfilled for students who have completed a 3-credit introductory psychology course at an accredited college or university, or who have scored a 3 on the Advance Placement Psychology Test.

Major Core Requirements

PSY 216 - APPLICATIONS OF STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGY. Credit(s): 4
PSY 310 - COGNITION Credit(s): 3
PSY 312 - BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR Credit(s): 3
PSY 314 - SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CULTURAL PROCESSES Credit(s): 3
PSY 323 - DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3

Major Core hours: 16

Other Course Work Required for the Major

From the Major Department:

Students must complete Option A or Option B plus the capstone course.

Option A - Breadth

Students must take 6 credit hours of PSY electives from the list below.
PSY 302 - PSYCHOLOGY IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY Credit(s): 3
PSY 305 - INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCE TECHNIQUES Credit(s): 4
PSY 313 - PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES Credit(s): 3
PSY 315 - THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND MISINFORMATION Credit(s): 3
PSY 320 - INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS: PSYCHOLOGY AND LEGAL ISSUES Credit(s): 3
PSY 321 - PSYCHOLOGY OF RACISM AND ANTI-RACISM Credit(s): 3
PSY 325 - CONTROVERSIES IN DRUG ADDICTION AND ITS TREATMENT Credit(s): 3
PSY 330 - THE NEUROSCIENCE OF SERIAL KILLERS Credit(s): 3
PSY 331 - THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADJUSTMENT Credit(s): 3
PSY 333 - ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 343 - THE SCIENCE OF SELF-REGULATION AND MOTIVATION Credit(s): 3
PSY 350 - CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 360 - BEHAVIORAL GENETICS Credit(s): 3
PSY 375 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN PSYCHOLOGY: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
PSY 424 - HUMAN SENSES AND PERCEPTION Credit(s): 3
PSY 459 - NEUROPHARMACOLOGY: DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR Credit(s): 3

Subtotal Option A: 6

Option B -Depth

Students must complete one advanced lecture/lab course from the list below.
PSY 427 - COGNITIVE PROCESSES Credit(s): 4
PSY 430 - RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY Credit(s): 4
PSY 440 - RESEARCH IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 4
PSY 450 - LEARNING Credit(s): 4
PSY 456 - BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE Credit(s): 4
PSY 460 - PROCESSES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT Credit(s): 4
PSY 552 - EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 4

Subtotal Option B: 4

Capstone

PSY 495 - SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR Credit(s): 4
AND
PSY 496 - SENIOR THESIS RESEARCH Credit(s): 4
or one of the following:
PSY 499 - SENIOR INTERNSHIP IN PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 500 - HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 534 - CHILD PSYCHOPATHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PSY 535 - PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING Credit(s): 3
PSY 561 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY:(SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 562 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 563 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 564 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN LEARNING (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 565 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN NEUROSCIENCE (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PSY 566 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3

Subtotal Capstone: 3-8

From Outside the Major Department

Choose 14-16 hours outside Psychology at the 300+ level. 200+ level courses used to satisfy College requirements can also be counted here.

Subtotal: 14-16

Electives

Choose electives to lead to the minimum total of 120 hours required for graduation

Option A Electives: 9

Option B Electives: 7

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120

†Course used toward completion of the College 60-hour requirement.

††Course used toward completion of the College Natural Science requirement.

Psychology, B.S.