U-PSY-BS - Psychology (BS)

The BS degree requires completion of all requirements for the AB degree plus additional courses in the Quantitative Studies (QS) and/or Natural Sciences (NS).

The major is devised to provide breadth, a small group course in psychology, one additional upper-level course, and familiarity with the quantitative techniques and research methods used in the field. Neither AP nor IB credit will allow students to place out of Psychology 101 (Introductory Psychology). 

For breadth, the student is required to take Psychology 101 (Introductory Psychology) and at least three survey courses that cover major areas of the field. One of these survey courses must be Psychology 106/107 (Biological Bases of Behavior) or Psychology 102 (Cognitive Psychology), and one must be Psychology 105 (Clinical Psychology and Mental Health), Psychology 103 (Developmental Psychology), or Psychology 104 (Social Psychology). Students seeking additional breadth may count up to four of these survey courses toward the major. Psychology 101 is strongly recommended as the first course taken in the major as it provides a foundation for all other courses; the survey courses should be taken next as they provide a foundation for upper-level courses in each area.

For instruction in small groups, the student is to take at least one seminar. It is recommended that the seminar be taken in an area where a survey course was completed.

For one additional upper-level course, the student is to take a course at the 300 level or above. It is recommended that this course be taken in an area where a survey course was completed. Please note that neither Independent study courses (Psychology 391, 392, 491, and 492) nor Research Independent Study courses (Psychology 393, 394, 493, and 494) may be used to satisfy this requirement. In addition, the Distinction Thesis Workshop (Psychology 496) may not be used to satisfy this requirement

In order to satisfy the requirements for coursework in quantitative techniques and research methods in psychology, each student will take Psychology 204L (Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics for Psychological Science 1) and Psychology 205L (Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics for Psychological Science 2). Other courses may be substituted only with advance permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Neither Psychology 204L nor Psychology 205L fulfills prerequisites for advanced coursework in the Department of Statistical Science; please review the Statistical Science website for the prerequisites for courses in that department. Finally, students may not use introductory-level statistics classes taken in Statistical Science to satisfy elective requirements. Psychology 101, Psychology 204L (Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics for Psychological Science 1), and Psychology 205L (Quantitative Research Methods and Statistics for Psychological Science 2) all should be completed prior to the end of the junior year, as they provide the foundation for all subsequent coursework, and will allow students to benefit most from their upper-level courses.

To satisfy the Quantitative Studies/Natural Sciences elective requirement, students must take five elective courses, selected from an approved list, that meet the following criteria: (a) classes come from at least two departments, and (b) at least three of the five are at or above the 200 level. 

Note: Psychology courses not used to fulfill AB requirements (including up to two semesters of Research Independent Study) may be counted toward the five, but courses cross-listed with Psychology and another department do not count as a second department. Additional research methods courses may be counted toward the elective requirement only with prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. A list of currently approved classes for the Quantitative Studies/Natural Sciences elective requirement may be found in the undergraduate section of the Psychology & Neuroscience website.

At least nine of the courses required for the major must be taken at Duke; others, if approved, may count toward the 34.0 course credits needed for graduation but will not count toward the major. Information is also available at psychandneuro.duke.edu/undergraduate/psychology/requirements.