This page provides information about the Psychology BS Major requirements, including bulletin descriptions and supplemental notes.
NOTE: Information guides available on BC Knowledge do not substitute for requirements outlined in the relevant Bulletins available here.
Effective for Bulletin Years: 2018-2019 through 2024-2025
Department requirements
All of the following from A, B, and C.
A. All three courses below:
- PSYC 1000 Intro Psychology,
- PSYC 3400 Statistical Methods in Psychological Research, and
- Department Suggestion:
- PSYC 3400 is strongly recommended to be completed early on, preferably by the beginning of junior year.
- Department Suggestion:
- PSYC 3450W Experimental Psychology
- Department Suggestion:
- PSYC 3450W is strongly recommended to be completed early on, preferably by the end of junior year.
- Department Suggestion:
B. Three of the following courses, one from each set:
- I. One of: PSYC 2100 Social Psychology, PSYC 2200 Lifespan Development, OR PSYC 2210 Intro Child Psychology
- II. One of: PSYC 2300 Intro Personality OR 2810 Psychological Disorders I
- III. One of: PSYC 2530 Intro Cognitive Psychology OR PSYC 2600 Mind, Brain, and Behavior
- Clarifications and additional information:
- 2000-level courses usually act as prerequisites for the advanced elective course options below in C.
- More than the minimum of one course can be completed in each subset; and, the additional course will apply as and the additional course will apply towards the “36 Additional Credits BS Degrees” portion of the Additional BS Degree requirements or as an elective towards the minimum 120 credits, if needed.
- Clarifications and additional information:
C. Four additional advanced electives in Psychology*
- Advanced courses are numbered 3000 and above.
- Limitations:
- Clarifications and additional information:
- No 5000 series courses are required.
- However, the current standard for Graduating with Departmental Honors in Psychology eligibility criteria asks students to take TWO 5000 series courses.
- The BS Degree has additional Requirements that will necessitate taking more than the four advanced electives required in Group C. Refer to the “(Minimum) 24 Advanced Psychology Credits in Residence” section.
- No 5000 series courses are required.
Additional Requirements for BS Degree
Additional requirements for a B.S. degree are describe in the bulletin as:
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Candidates for a B.S. degree with a major in psychology must complete at least 60 credits in science and mathematics; a minimum of 24 of these 60 credits must be completed in advanced courses in the Psychology Department. These 24 credits must be completed at Brooklyn College with a grade of C- or higher in each course. Specific course requirements for a B.S. degree are described above.
The following courses may be applied toward the 60 credits in science and mathematics:
A) All courses in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
B) Courses marked with a # symbol in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences portion of the Bulletin.
C) —Anthropology 3199, 3230, 3240, 3250, 3260, 3440, and 4665.
—[Core Studies 5, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, and 8.2].
—[Core Curriculum 3301 through 3399]
—Economics 3400, 3410, 4410, and 4422.
—Philosophy 3203, 3204, and 3601.
—Kinesiology 3271, 3275, 4229, and 4251.
—Macaulay Honors College 2001
—Sociology 2701.
Clarifications on the 24 Advanced Psychology Credits in Residence requirement
The Psychology BS Residency Requirement requires a MINIMUM of 24 Advanced Psychology Credits (courses numbered 3000 or higher) completed at Brooklyn College with grades of C- or better.
- The most common way to complete the Psychology BS Residency Requirement is to complete PSYC 3400 (4 credits) + 3450W (4.5 credits) + SIX 3-credit advanced elective Psychology courses at Brooklyn College with grades of C- or better= 26.5 Advanced Psychology credits in residence.
- Sometimes advanced Psychology courses are completed outside of Brooklyn College or with grades of D-, D, or D+.
- In this case, additional advanced Psychology courses completed at Brooklyn College with grades of C- or better would be needed to fulfill the Psychology BS Residency Requirement.
- Students may complete more than 24 advanced Psychology credits in residence but cannot fall short (even by .5 credits). Excess advanced Psychology credits can be applied towards the “36 Additional Credits BS Degrees” section.
Clarifications about the 36 Additional Credits required for BS Degrees
- A) All courses in the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer and Information Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology*.
B) Courses marked with a # symbol in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences portion of the Bulletin.
C) —Anthropology 3199, 3230, 3240, 3250, 3260, 3440, and 4665.
—[Core Studies 5, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, and 8.2].
—[Core Curriculum 3301 through 3399]
—Economics 3400, 3410, 4410, and 4422.
—Philosophy 3203, 3204, and 3601.
—Kinesiology 3271, 3275, 4229, and 4251.
—Macaulay Honors College 2001
—Sociology 2701. - *NOTE: Excess credits in the 24 Advanced Psychology Credits in Residence section, advanced Psychology courses completed with D range grades or outside of BC, and Psychology courses numbered below 3000 (i.e. PSYC 1000 and any 2000 level courses) can apply here
IMPORTANT: Once a section has been fulfilled, additional courses that would have been applicable are considered elective.
How DegreeWorks Displays the Psychology BS Requirements
Requirements A through C are the same for a BA degree as they are for a BS degree with a major in Psychology.
DegreeWorks displays the Additional Requirements for a BS in two parts:
- “24 Advanced Psychology Credits in Residence,” which can also be referred to as the “Psychology BS Residency Requirement”
- “36 Additional Credits BS Degrees”
Department Recommendations
When to take PSYC 3400?
PSYC 3400 Statistical Methods in Psychological Research is strongly recommended to be completed early on, preferably by the beginning of junior year. Note that PSYC 3400 is a pre-requisite for PSYC 3450W Experimental Psychology which is also recommended to be completed early on.
When to take PSYC 3450W?
PSYC 3450W Experimental Psychology is strongly recommended to be completed early on, preferably by the end of junior year.
Clarifications and additional information
Grades of D- or better
Grades of “D-” or better and equivalent transfer/ E-Permit courses are applicable for Major Requirements A through C and the 36 Additional Credits required for BS Degrees.