Psychology, B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides training in the theories and practices of psychology. Students learn to apply the scientific method through involvement in research and clinical training from our renowned facilities, focusing on core research themes such as child and family psychology, cognitive neuroscience, community and multicultural psychology, behavioral neuroscience, children in schools and promoting health. 

Our programs provide room for specialization and development so students can explore specific interests relevant to their goals. Compared to the Bachelor of Science track, the Bachelor of Arts degree offers students the opportunity to take more coursework focused on the humanities while providing a foundation in the science of psychology. A cognate or minor is required for both degree tracks. 

A psychology degree builds the groundwork for successful employment after graduation in fields such as human services, management, counseling, student affairs, criminology and law. With support from our dedicated faculty and advisors, students will be prepared to enter graduate training in practitioner-oriented fields as well as research-oriented fields like cognitive or behavioral neuroscience and quantitative psychology. 

We also offer the neuroscience major for those students who plan to enter neuroscience graduate work or are on a pre-med track.

Learning Outcomes

Students will describe key concepts principles and overarching themes in psychology.
Students will develop a working knowledge of psychology content domains.
Students will describe applications of psychology.
Students will use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena.
Students will demonstrate psychology information literacy.
Students will interpret design and conduct basic psychological research.
Students will demonstrate effective writing for different purposes.
Students will exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes.
Students will develop meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.
Students will apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
Students will adopt values that build community at local national and global levels.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus.

Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Program Summary
Requirements	Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core	32-44
2. College Requirements	15-18
3. Program Requirements	26-41
4. Major Requirements	32

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-44 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

any CC-CMW courses

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours)

any CC-ARP courses

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

Select one of the following:
Any 4-credit hour CC-SCI course

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

CC-GFL courses

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)

any CC-GHS course

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

PSYC 101*

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

any CC-AIU course

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

INF – Information Literacy¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

¹: Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours)

only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

History (3 hours)

The College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement.

If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course.
If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course.

Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list of U.S. and non-U.S. history courses.

Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (12 hours)

Social Science (3 hours)
- The College of Arts and Science requires one 3- hour Social Science Course
Fine Arts/Humanities (9 Hours)
- A Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences requires three 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities Courses

3. Program Requirements (26-41 hours)

Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)

Students must complete a cognate (12 hours) or a minor as part of this program. In lieu of a cognate or minor, an additional major may be added to a student’s program of study. Additional majors must include all major courses as well as any prescribed courses noted (*) in the bulletin. Prescribed courses noted in the bulletin may be shared with Carolina Core, College requirements, and Program requirements in the primary program.

Cognate (12 hours)

The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs.

Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements. It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

Minor (18 hours)

In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must follow a structured sequence.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z.

Electives (8-29 hours)

120 (or 128) degree applicable credits are required to complete any degree at UofSC. After the cognate, minor or second major is complete, any additional credits needed to reach 120 (or 128) total credits can be fulfilled by electives. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. Major Requirements (32 hours)

A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.

Students planning a major in psychology are advised to take basic science credits in biology and chemistry or physics. This is especially important for those contemplating graduate work.

Major Courses (20 hours)

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
PSYC 120	Professional Development in Psychology	1
PSYC 220	Psychological Statistics	3
PSYC 221	Research Methods in Psychology	4
Select one of the following:		3
PSYC 400	Survey of Learning and Memory
PSYC 405	Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 470	Introduction to Language Sciences
Select one of the following:		3
PSYC 420	Survey of Developmental Psychology
PSYC 430	Survey of Social Psychology
PSYC 465	Health Psychology
PSYC 480	Multi-Cultural Psychology
PSYC 487	Community Psychology
Select one of the following:		3
PSYC 410	Behavioral and Mental Disorders
PSYC 440	Survey of Personality
PSYC 510	Child Behavioral and Mental Disorders
Select one of the following:		3
PSYC 450	Sensation and Perception
PSYC 455	Introduction to Neuroscience
PSYC 460	Brain and Behavior
PSYC 503	Psychology of Drug Use and Effects
PSYC 507	Cognitive Neuroscience
Total Credit Hours		20

Major Electives (12 hours)

Select 3 hours from PSYC 300 or above
Select 6 hours from PSYC 400 or above
Select 3 hours from PSYC 501 or above

Note: A maximum of 6 hours of independent study (PSYC 498), individual research (PSYC 598, PSYC 599), internship (PSYC 495) and/or practicum (PSYC 489) courses may apply as major credit and are recommended during the junior/senior year. Students may not receive major credit for both PSYC 455 and PSYC 460.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Psychology, B.A.

2025-2026 Academic Bulletin