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Psychology degree
Executive summary
A psychology degree’s shape varies widely by school: many U.S. bachelor programs require roughly 120–180 total credits and institution-specific major minimums (examples: 120 credits minimum at Michigan State University, 123 at Penn State, 70 major units at Stanford) while program structures, electives, research and residency rules differ substantially [1] [2] [3]. Admission and curricular rules are changing at multiple universities for 2025–26 cohorts, so applicants should consult each department’s current handbook or bulletin [1] [4] [5].
1. What “a psychology degree” usually means — core structure and credit totals
Undergraduate psychology degrees commonly combine general education requirements with a sequence of lower- and upper-division psychology courses plus electives and sometimes a capstone or thesis. Universities set different minimum totals: Michigan State lists a 120-credit minimum for graduation (psychology major-specific requirements layered on top) [1]; Penn State’s B.A. requires a minimum of 123 credits [2]; Stanford specifies a minimum of 70 units of psychology coursework, with 60 taken in-department, within a larger university unit total [3]. These numbers show that “how many courses” depends on both major and university-wide graduation rules [1] [2] [3].
2. Admission and declaration differences — when you become a psychology major
Entry and declaration processes differ: some campuses treat Psychology as a high-demand major with formal application windows and guaranteed-admit rules for certain cohorts (UC Berkeley’s major application deadlines and guaranteed-admission review are explicit) [4]. Other departments require completion of prerequisite courses before declaring the major—Rutgers, for example, requires General Psychology plus a quantitative methods/statistics course with a C or better to declare [6]. Nationally, admission competition is rising and programs are tightening timelines and prerequisites (analysis and guidance pieces note increased selectivity), so early planning matters [7].
3. Tracks, BA vs BS, and program emphases
Most schools offer both BA and BS variants or different tracks: a BS often emphasizes additional science/statistics coursework while a BA may allow more liberal-arts breadth (UMass Amherst highlighting BA vs BS distinctions and updated curricula for Fall 2025) [8]. Some programs explicitly require lab courses, research practica, or upper-level writing: City College of New York mandates Advanced Experimental Psychology I and specifies lab hours; other institutions set writing or research unit minima [9] [5]. These curricular choices shape career and graduate-school readiness.
4. Research, honors, and experiential learning expectations
Many departments encourage or require research experience, honors theses, or practica. Stanford allows students to count a limited number of research/independent-study units toward the major (with caps and exceptions) and permits more for honors/senior projects [3]. Towson and SIU highlight research engagement and graduate-study preparation as part of program planning, with SIU noting that professional psychologist qualification typically entails multiple years of graduate study beyond the bachelor’s [10] [11]. If you aim for clinical licensure or doctoral study, undergraduate choices (research, statistics, breadth) matter for competitiveness.
5. Residence and transfer rules — hidden constraints applicants miss
Several schools enforce residency or in-department course minima: Towson requires a minimum number of PSYC units taken at the institution; Stanford requires most psychology units be departmental; Penn State requires a set number of credits be completed on specific campuses [10] [3] [2]. Transfer students must check whether transferred lower-level courses will fulfill upper-level major requirements—many campuses disallow such double-counting [10] [3].
6. Evolving requirements for 2025 cohorts — plan for change
Multiple departments updated curricula for Fall 2025 (University of Rochester and UMass Amherst call out new major requirements for students matriculating Fall 2025 and beyond) [5] [8]. Berkeley has shifted course-credit equivalencies and application windows for 2025 [4]. Because programs are actively revising requirements, applicants and current students should use the most recent handbooks or bulletins referenced by departments [1] [4].
7. Practical next steps for prospective students
Confirm the exact credit/minor/residency rules in the department bulletin or handbook for the year you’ll matriculate (Michigan State and Penn State illustrate where handbooks and bullets live) [1] [2]. Prioritize quantitative/statistics prerequisites (Rutgers specifically cites this for declaring the major) and plan research or lab experience if you intend graduate study [6] [3]. If transferring, verify which psychology credits will apply to upper-level major requirements [10].
Limitations: available sources provide snapshots from specific institutions and guidance sites; they do not offer a single standardized national requirement, nor do they cover every program’s nuances—consult each university’s own pages for final authority [1] [2] [3].