Psychology Major

For graduating classes up to and including 2028, the psychology major is a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and requires 9 courses for completion. Starting with the class of 2029, students may choose the B.A. or the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The B.A. in Psychology requires 10 courses. The B.S. requires additional coursework in the sciences, for a total of 13 courses.

  • The Psychology major allows for the flexibility to explore other disciplines and integrate that new knowledge into the ongoing study of psychology
  • A hallmark of the Gettysburg psychology major is its focus on research.
  • In fact, all majors take two research seminar/laboratory courses, and many conduct independent research, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor.

Double Major/Minor: With early planning, many psychology majors double major in psychology and one of the other disciplines, or minor in neuroscience, education, or another field.

Departmental Honors are awarded to graduating majors who have:

  • Demonstrated academic excellence in course work in the major (in the combined judgment of the faculty), and
  • Completed an individualized empirical research project, honors research, or an honors thesis.

On this page:

Psychology Major Requirements - FOR GRADUATING CLASSES UP TO AND INCLUDING 2028 (B.A degree only)

  • Nine courses in Psychology, which include
    • Psychology 101 (or AP-Psych with a score of 4 or 5)
    • Psychology 205 – Introduction to Statistics
    • Psychology 305 – Experimental Methods
    • Four 200-level psychology electives, including:
      • Two from Group A:
        • Psychology 215 – Human Cognition
        • Psychology 216 – Sensation & Perception
        • Psychology 236 – Brain & Behavior
        • Psychology 237 – Psychopharmacology
        • Psychology 238 – Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Two from Group B:
        • Psychology 214 – Social Psychology
        • Psychology 221 – Personality Psychology
        • Psychology 222 – Adult Psychopathology
        • Psychology 223 – Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
        • Psychology 225 – Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood
        • Psychology 226 – Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
        • Psychology 230 – Health Psychology
        • Psychology 232 – Clinical & Counseling Psychology
      • Two 400-level capstone courses (advanced laboratories taken in separate semesters)
        • One from Group A:
          • Psychology 415 – Laboratory in Thinking and Cognition
          • Psychology 416 – Laboratory in Perception
          • Psychology 436 – Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
          • Psychology 438 – Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
        • One from Group B:
          • Psychology 414 – Laboratory in Social Psychology
          • Psychology 421 – Laboratory in Personality and Psychopathology
          • Psychology 427 – Laboratory in Cognitive and Perceptual Development (occasionally counts as Group A)
          • Psychology 428 – Laboratory in Social and Emotional Development
          • Psychology 430 – Laboratory in Health Psychology
        • Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. Psychology 205 and 305 are prerequisites for all capstone advanced laboratories. Psychology 205 may not be repeated for the major. Majors not receiving a grade of C of better in Psych 305 should consider retaking the class. The Department also has a special Honors Research Program. Refer to the catalog for more information.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology - FOR CLASS OF 2029 and later

  • Ten courses in Psychology, which include
    • Psychology 101 (or AP-Psych with a score of 4 or 5)
    • Psychology 205 – Introduction to Statistics
    • Psychology 305 – Experimental Methods
    • Four 200-level psychology electives, including:
      • Two from Group A:
        • Psychology 215 – Human Cognition
        • Psychology 216 – Sensation & Perception
        • Psychology 236 – Brain & Behavior
        • Psychology 237 – Psychopharmacology
        • Psychology 238 – Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Two from Group B:
        • Psychology 214 – Social Psychology
        • Psychology 221 – Personality Psychology
        • Psychology 222 – Adult Psychopathology
        • Psychology 223 – Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
        • Psychology 225 – Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood
        • Psychology 226 – Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
        • Psychology 230 – Health Psychology
        • Psychology 232 – Clinical & Counseling Psychology
      • Psychology 341 – History of Psychological Science
      • Two 400-level capstone courses (Seminar or Laboratory, but at least one of these must be an advanced laboratory)
        • One from Group A:
          • Psychology 415 – Seminar/Laboratory in Thinking and Cognition
          • Psychology 416 – Seminar/Laboratory in Perception
          • Psychology 436 – Seminar/Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
          • Psychology 438 – Seminar/Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
        • One from Group B:
          • Psychology 414 – Seminar/Laboratory in Social Psychology
          • Psychology 421 – Seminar/Laboratory in Personality and Psychopathology
          • Psychology 427 – Seminar/Laboratory in Cognitive and Perceptual Development. Occasionally counts as Group A.
          • Psychology 428 – Seminar/Laboratory in Social and Emotional Development
          • Psychology 430 – Seminar/Laboratory in Health Psychology

 

  • Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. Psychology 205 and 305 are prerequisites for all capstone courses. Psychology 205 may not be repeated for the major. Majors not receiving a grade of C of better in Psych 305 should consider retaking the class. The Department also has a special Honors Research Program. Refer to the catalog for more information.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology - FOR CLASS OF 2029 and later

  • Thirteen courses, which include:
    • Psychology 101 (or AP-Psych with a score of 4 or 5)
    • Psychology 205 – Introduction to Statistics
    • Psychology 305 – Experimental Methods
    • Four 200-level psychology electives, including:
      • Two from Group A:
        • Psychology 215 – Human Cognition
        • Psychology 216 – Sensation & Perception
        • Psychology 236 – Brain & Behavior
        • Psychology 237 – Psychopharmacology
        • Psychology 238 – Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Two from Group B:
        • Psychology 214 – Social Psychology
        • Psychology 221 – Personality Psychology
        • Psychology 222 – Adult Psychopathology
        • Psychology 223 – Child & Adolescent Psychopathology
        • Psychology 225 – Developmental Psychology: Infancy and Childhood
        • Psychology 226 – Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
        • Psychology 230 – Health Psychology
        • Psychology 232 – Clinical & Counseling Psychology
      • Psychology 341 – History of Psychological Science
      • Two 400-level capstone courses (advanced laboratories taken in separate semesters)
        • One from Group A:
          • Psychology 415 – Laboratory in Thinking and Cognition
          • Psychology 416 – Laboratory in Perception
          • Psychology 436 – Laboratory in Behavioral Neuroscience
          • Psychology 438 – Laboratory in Cognitive Neuroscience
        • One from Group B:
          • Psychology 414 – Laboratory in Social Psychology
          • Psychology 421 – Laboratory in Personality and Psychopathology
          • Psychology 427 – Laboratory in Cognitive and Perceptual Development. Occasionally counts as Group A.
          • Psychology 428 – Laboratory in Social and Emotional Development
          • Psychology 430 – Laboratory in Health Psychology
        • One additional course in the Natural Sciences, with laboratory (The Gettysburg curriculum requires one natural science course with laboratory. To satisfy the requirements for a B.S. in psychology, students must complete a second course, which may be in a different department than the first.)
        • Two additional natural/formal science courses from the following departments. Both courses must be at the 200-level or above:
          • Biology (any course)
          • Chemistry (any course)
          • Computer Science (any course)
          • Data Science*
          • Environmental Studies*
          • Health Science*
          • Physics (any course)

* Data science courses other than DS256, 265, 325;  Env. Studies other than ES225, 241, 242, 252, 270, 290, 292, 304, 319, 333, 334, 335, 390, 392, 400;  Health Science other than HS225, 322, 323, 328.

  • Psychology 101 is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. Psychology 205 and 305 are prerequisites for all capstone courses. Psychology 205 may not be repeated for the major. Majors not receiving a grade of C of better in Psych 305 should consider retaking the class. The Department also has a special Honors Research Program. Refer to the catalog for more information.

Additional Courses in Psychology available to B.A. and B.S. students (optional)

  • Psych 400 - Seminar (prereq: permission of instructor)
  • Psych 450-453 - Individualized Study Tutorial (prereq: permission of instructor)
  • Psych 460-463 - Individualized Study Empirical Research (prereq: permission of instructor)
  • Psych 464 - Honors Research (by invitation of Department only)
  • Psych 470-473 - Individualized Study Internship (see Internship Coordinator)
  • Psych 474-475 - Individualized Study Summer Internship (see Internship Coordinator)
  • Psych 466 - Honors Thesis (by invitation of Department only)