UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Undergraduate Advising
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
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MAJOR DECLARATION and ADVISING
_____ Students can declare the major ONLINE, after reviewing major information on our Psychology Advising Canvas course site,
OR by attending an on-campus OR in-person by scheduling an advising appointment. Intro Psychology (Psych 202) must be
successfully completed prior to declaration. Directions for how to sign-up for the Canvas course are found at: psych.wisc.edu >
Undergraduate Program > Major > Requirements. Students interested in Psychology, and declared Psychology majors, can
schedule advising appointments using STARFISH. Instructions available at: psych.wisc.edu > Undergraduate Program > Schedule
an appointment with an Advisor.
FOUNDATION COURSES
These courses provide a grounding in basic psychological facts and an understanding of the methodologies used to produce those
facts. Students are strongly encouraged to complete Intro Psych and a Breadth course (see below) BEFORE taking statistics.
_____ Introduction to Psychology, Psych 202. GPA Requirement: ≥2.0
_____ Basic Statistics for Psychology, Psych 210. Prerequisite: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR)-A requirement AND Psych
202 or concurrent enrollment. Accepted substitutes include: Statistics 302, 324, OR 371. [Sociology 360 accepted through
Summer 2019]. GPA Requirement: ≥2.0
_____ Research Methods, Psych 225.
Prerequisite: Must have completed Comm-A; must earn a grade of C or better in Introduction to Psychology AND Statistics.
GPA Requirement: ≥2.0
_____ Biology: Students may choose from one of four Biology Paths: Zoology 101 AND 102; OR Zoology 151; OR Biocore 381-
384; OR IB higher level Biology or AP Biology exam score of 4 or better. GPA Requirement: ≥2.0 in each course.
BREADTH COURSES
These courses are meant to familiarize students with the breadth of psychology. Choose THREE courses from THREE DIFFERENT
TOPIC GROUPS listed below. Students are strongly encouraged to take a Breadth course BEFORE taking statistics.
Biological
_____ Psychology 449 Animal Behavior
_____ Psychology 450 Primates and Us: Insights into
Human Biology and Behavior
_____ Psychology 454 Behavioral Neuroscience
_____ Psychology 523 Neurobiology
Cognitive and Perceptual Sciences
_____ Psychology 406 Psychology of Perception
_____ Psychology 413 Language, Mind and Brain
_____ Psychology 414 Cognitive Psychology
Clinical
_____ Psychology 405 Abnormal Psychology [previously 509]
_____ Psychology 401 Psychology of Law and Social Policies
[previously 311]
Social and Personality
_____ Psychology 403 Psychology of Personality [previously 507]
_____ Psychology 522 Psychology of Women
_____ Psychology 428 Cultural Psychology [previously 528]
_____ Psychology 456 Social Psychology [previously 530]
Developmental
_____ Psychology 460 Child Development [previously 560]
_____ Psychology 464 Adult Development and Aging [previously 564]
_____ Psychology 453 Human Sexuality [previously 350]
Undergraduate Psychology Advisors: [email protected].edu Advising Suite, room 438 Psychology bldg
DEPTH COURSES
These courses are meant to develop a deeper understanding of particular areas of psychology through both a lecture and discussion
format. Choose any TWO courses. Classes are 4 credits and prerequisites vary (specific Breadth courses OR Sophomore standing and
completion of Intro Psych or Intro Bio; please refer to The Guide for details). Different 501/505 Topics count as separate courses.
_____ Psychology 501 Depth Topics
_____ Psychology 502 Cognitive Development
_____ Psychology 503 Social Development
_____ Psychology 505 Depth Topics in Biological Science
_____ Psychology 508 Psychology of Human Emotions:
From Biology to Culture
_____ Psychology 510 Child Psychopathology [prev. 501]
_____ Psychology 513 Hormones, Brain and Behavior
_____ Psychology 520 How We Read: The Science of
Reading and Its Educational Implications
_____ Psychology 521 The Structure of Human Thought:
Concepts, Language and Culture
_____ Psychology 525 Cognition in Health and Society
_____ Psychology 526 The Criminal Mind: Forensic and
Psychobiological Perspectives
_____ Psychology 532 Psychological Effects of the Internet
CAPSTONE COURSE
These courses help students to develop a deeper understanding of particular areas of psychology in a seminar format. ONE course is
required. Capstone courses require senior standing and completion of Psychology 225; other pre-requisites vary depending on topic.
Capstone courses are small (25 - student limit), include discussion, papers, and readings from original sources.
_____ Psychology 601 Current Topics [previously 411]
(Many separate lectures and topics are offered each semester. Check enroll.wisc.edu for listings.)
_____ Psychology 602 Intermediate Statistics for Psychology [previously 410]
_____ Psychology 606 Hormones and Behavior [previously 556]
_____ Psychology 607 Introduction to Clinical Psychology [previously 517]
_____ Psychology 610 Statistical Analysis of Psychological Experiments [graduate course; requires instructor consent to enroll]
TOTAL PSYCHOLOGY CREDITS
_____ STUDENTS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 33 CREDITS WITHIN THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
(excludes Biology coursework).
ADDITIONAL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
_____ MINIMUM AVERAGE GPA OF 2.0 in all DEPT/major courses and in all upper level Psychology Courses (courses
numbered 300 and above) is required.
_____ TRANSFER STUDENTS: You must take at least 15 credits of upper level coursework within the Psychology
Department, In-Residence (Courses numbered 300 or above count towards these 15 credits).
_____ L&S STUDENTS: Students need 60 credits of upper level coursework (I, A, or D in the Enroll App).
_____ STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS: You must have at least 15 credits in the Psychology Department ON CAMPUS.
_____ ALL STUDENTS: CHECK YOUR DARS AND MEET WITH AN ADVISOR TO ENSURE YOU ARE ON
TRACK FOR A TIMELY GRADUATION!
QUESTIONS related to the Psychology major may be sent to: advisor@psych.wisc.edu
Any advising e-mails must be sent from your wisc.edu e-mail and include your student ID number.
TO SIGN UP FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS LISTSERV, send a blank email to: join-psych_major[email protected]
