The psychology major is the most general of the three majors and offers both broad and in-depth coverage of the fundamental and traditional areas of psychology. It provides students with a strong foundation for postgraduate education in psychology and can serve as excellent background to prepare them for further training in such fields as law, education, government and public policy, business, and many of the health-related professions. Its basic liberal-arts orientation also provides excellent foundation for immediate postbaccalaureate careers in many areas, particularly ones in which an understanding of human behavior and its diversity of expression would be an asset.
The requirements described below represent the minimum requirements in satisfaction of the preparation and the major. Additional courses in psychology, statistics, and related sciences, as well as other types of research and fieldwork experiences, are highly recommended if students plan to pursue graduate work in psychology and related fields. Under special circumstances, graduate-level courses can be taken by undergraduate students, although such courses may not be applied toward degree requirements for this major. For additional information, contact the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall.
Students need to file a petition in the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the prepsychology major. They are then identified as prepsychology majors until they (1) satisfy the preparation for the major requirements and (2) file a petition to declare the psychology major. The following required courses must be taken for a letter grade (a C - or better in each course and a 2.3 overall grade-point average in the preparation courses) before students reach 110 total units (transfer students must complete all remaining preparation courses by the end of the first year of enrollment): Anthropology 7 or 10 or 12 or 15; Biology 2 or Life Sciences 1 or Physiological Science 3; Chemistry and Biochemistry 2 or 10A or 11A (if students have completed one year of high school chemistry with a C or better, this requirement is waived); Mathematics 2 or two terms of calculus; Physics 10 or 3A or 6A or 8A/8AL; one course from Philosophy 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 22; Psychology 10, 42; Psychology 41 (recommended) or Statistics 50. Psychology 41 and 42 should be taken early in the career; these courses are open only to students who have declared the prepsychology major one term before the term in which they plan to enroll. Students cannot take Psychology 42 until they have passed one of the statistics courses with a grade of C - or better.
Repetition of more than two preparation courses in which a grade of D or F was received or of any preparation course more than once results in automatic denial of admission to the major.
Students planning to transfer with 90 or more units should have completed the following courses prior to admission to UCLA: introductory psychology, physical anthropology, finite mathematics (or seven and one-half quarter units of calculus), statistics, biology with laboratory, introductory physics with laboratory, introductory chemistry (or one year of high school chemistry with a C or better), and introductory philosophy.
After satisfying the preparation for the major requirements, students need to petition to enter the major at the Undergraduate Advising Office.
Required: (1) Core courses: Psychology 110, 115 (or M117A and M117C), 120, 130 or one course from 133A through 133I, 135; (2) one laboratory/fieldwork course from 111, 113, 116, 121, 131, 136A, 136B, 136C, 171A, 174, 186A, 186B; (3) four additional upper division elective courses (16 units) in psychology.
Students who complete Psychology M117A-M117B-M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and two upper division psychology electives.
All upper division courses must be taken for a letter grade. For all entering freshmen and transfer students, a C - or better is required in each core course and in at least one laboratory/fieldwork course. Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average in all upper division courses selected to satisfy major requirements.
The cognitive science major focuses on the study of intelligent systems, both real and artificial. While including a strong foundation in the traditional areas of psychology, the major is interdisciplinary in nature and emphasizes subject matter within cognitive psychology, computer science, mathematics, and related disciplines.
The requirements described below include sufficient preparation if students plan to pursue graduate work in cognitive science or related fields; however, they may want to include additional advanced courses in psychology and fields related to cognitive science (e.g., computer science, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, and statistics) as well as other types of research and fieldwork experiences. Under special circumstances, graduate-level courses can be taken by undergraduate students, although such courses may not be applied toward degree requirements for this major. For additional information, contact the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall.
Students need to file a petition in the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the precognitive science major. They are then identified as precognitive science majors until they (1) satisfy the preparation for the major requirements and (2) file a petition to declare the cognitive science major. Questions about the major should be directed to the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall.
The following required courses must be taken for a letter grade (a C or better in each course and a 2.5 overall grade-point average in the preparation courses): Biology 2 or Life Sciences 1 or Physiological Science 3; Chemistry and Biochemistry 2 or 10A or 11A (if students have completed one year of high school chemistry with a C or better, this requirement is waived); Mathematics 31A, 31B; Philosophy 7, 8, or 9; Physics 10 or 3A or 6A or 8A/8AL; Program in Computing 10A, 10B, 15; Psychology 10, 42, 85; Psychology 41 (recommended) or Statistics 50. Psychology 41 and 42 should be taken early in the career; these courses are open only to students who have declared the precognitive science major one term before the term in which they plan to enroll. Students cannot take Psychology 42 until they have passed one of the statistics courses with a grade of C - or better.
Repetition of more than two preparation courses in which a grade of D or F was received or of any preparation course more than once results in automatic denial of admission to the major.
Students planning to transfer with 90 or more units should have completed the following courses prior to admission to UCLA: two courses in calculus/analytical geometry, introductory psychology, statistics, biology with laboratory, introductory physics with laboratory, one philosophy course (critical reasoning, philosophy of science, or philosophy of the mind), introductory chemistry (or one year of high school chemistry with a C or better), and one course in computer programming in C++.
After satisfying the preparation for the major requirements, students need to petition to enter the major at the Undergraduate Advising Office.
Required: (1) Psychology 115 (or M117A and M117C), 120, and one course from 124A through 124F; (2) one course from 186A or 186B and one course from 121, 186A, 186B, or Computer Science 161; (3) three upper division elective courses (12 units) from Psychology 110, 112A through M119N, 123, 124A through 124F (if taken for the major, may not be applied as an elective), 130, 133B, 135, 142, 150, 151, 187A, 189, 190B or 190C (if content is approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office and courses have not been applied toward the Psychology 188A/188B requirement), 197 (content must be approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office before elective credit may be granted), Communication Studies 156, Computer Science 111 through M196B, Ethnomusicology 172A, Linguistics 103 through C185B, Mathematics 110A through 171, Philosophy 124 through 136, Statistics M152A through M153B; (4) two terms of Psychology 188A or 188B (may be fulfilled by taking any two courses from 188A, 188B, or 190C, provided content is approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office).
Students who complete Psychology M117A-M117B-M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and two upper division cognitive science electives.
Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average in all upper division courses selected to satisfy major requirements. With the exception of Psychology 188A and 188B, each course must be taken for a letter grade.
The psychobiology major is designed for students who plan to go on to postgraduate work in physiological psychology, neuroscience, behavioral aspects of biology, or the health sciences. Psychobiology involves the study of brain-behavior relations and laboratory training in standard brain research techniques.
The requirements described below include sufficient preparation if students plan to pursue graduate work in any of the above fields; however, they may want to include additional advanced courses in psychology and related sciences as well as other types of research and fieldwork experiences. Under special circumstances, graduate-level courses can be taken by undergraduate students, although such courses may not be applied toward degree requirements for this major. For additional information, contact the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall.
Students need to file a petition in the Undergraduate Advising Office to declare the prepsychobiology major. They are then identified as prepsychobiology major until they (1) satisfy the preparation for the major requirements and (2) file a petition to declare the psychobiology major.
Required (effective Fall Quarter 1997): Life Sciences 1, 2, 3, 4; Chemistry and Biochemistry 10A, 10B/10BL, 10C, and 10D/10DL, or 11A, 11B/11BL, 11CL, 132A, and 132B/132BL, or 20A, 20B, 20L, 30, 30L, and 130A/130AL; Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C, or 31A, 31B, and 32A; Physics 6A, 6B, and 6C, or 8A/8AL, 8B/8BL, 8C/8CL, and 8D/8DL.
Also required are Psychology 10, 42; Psychology 41 (recommended) or Statistics 50. Psychology 41 and 42 should be taken early in the career; these courses are open only to students who have declared the prepsychobiology major one term before the term in which they plan to enroll. Students cannot take Psychology 42 until they have passed one of the statistics courses with a grade of C - or better.
All core curriculum courses must be passed with a grade of C - or better and must be completed with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. Students receiving a grade of D or F in two core curriculum courses, either in separate courses or repetitions of the same course, are subject to dismissal from the major.
In order to be admitted as psychobiology majors, transfer students with 90 or more units should have completed the following courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of general biology with laboratory; one year of general chemistry with laboratory for majors; one year of calculus; and one year of calculus-based physics, one year of organic chemistry, introductory psychology, and statistics.
After satisfying the preparation for the major requirements, students need to petition to enter the major at the Undergraduate Advising Office.
Required: (1) Biology 129 or Psychology 118 or Anthropology 128A and 128B, and Psychology 110, 115 (or M117A and M117C), 116, 120; (2) one course from Psychology 127, 130, 133A through 133I, 135; (3) 16 units of graded elective courses from the following list: Biology 107, 112, 113A, 114 (no more than one from this group), Psychology M117A, M117B, M117C, M117J, M117K, 119A through M119N, 190C (only if content is approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office), 197 (content must be approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office before elective credit may be granted), Biology 102, C104, 105, 106, 110, 111, C115, 117, C119, 120, 121, 122, 124 (only four units may be applied toward the major), 131 (only four units may be applied toward the major), 135, 146, 153, M158, 164, 166, 167, 168, 179, Chemistry and Biochemistry 153A, 153L, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 110A, 110B, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology 104, 138, C139, C149, CM156, 157, 171, M185A, Physiological Science 142, C144, 147, M173.
Students who complete Psychology M117A-M117B-M117C receive equivalent credit for course 115 and 10 units of upper division psychobiology electives.
Students must have a 2.0 grade-point average in all upper division courses selected to satisfy major requirements, and each must be taken for a letter grade.
Many research and fieldwork opportunities are open to students who wish to expand their knowledge and broaden their background in the field of psychology. These experiences can be enriching and help bring undergraduates closer to understanding research and its applications in the everyday world. At least one of the following courses is recommended for students planning postgraduate study: Psychology 188A, 188B, 192, 193, 194A, 194B, 199, or the Student Research Program (SRP) through the College of Letters and Science. Information about these courses and programs is available from the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall.
Each year the department offers a selection of honors courses, designated with an H suffix. The courses provide close contact with faculty members, emphasize readings in the original literature, student reports, and small group discussions, and may include field or research experience. All such courses offer credit toward the departmental honors program. Enrollment priority in honors courses is given to students in the departmental honors program. Consult the College of Letters and Science for information on requirements for College Honors.
Psychology, cognitive science, and psychobiology majors intending to continue study at the graduate level are encouraged to apply for the departmental honors program. Students work for one year with a faculty sponsor on a research project that is the basis of a formal honors thesis. During that year they also participate in a weekly seminar (Psychology 190A-190B-190C) in which thesis projects are presented and discussed and other topics of interest are explored with invited faculty members and other guests. In addition, they must take at least two psychology honors courses selected from a list provided by the department, with a grade of B or better in each. Satisfactory completion of the program and the other requirements for the major leads to awarding of the degree with honors or highest honors. Consult the Undergraduate Advising Office early in the educational planning for further information and application forms.
The Student Award for Research Training (START) represents a vital effort to identify and mentor underrepresented minority and/or low-income students. The purpose of START is to encourage such students to participate in research and pursue graduate studies leading to careers in academia. The recruitment and application process for START takes place each Fall Quarter. Most students selected to participate are awarded stipends for Winter and Spring Quarters, during which time they do research under the mentorship of a psychology faculty member. In addition, they are required to attend a weekly seminar in which presenters, including faculty members, address topics such as graduate school, careers in academia, and research in psychology. START provides students with the opportunity to work closely with faculty research sponsors, graduate students, and departmental counselors.
The Developmental Disabilities Immersion Program (DDIP) is cosponsored by the Department of Psychology, the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and the Office of Instructional Development -- Field Studies Development. Each year a group of 30 students is selected for the program which runs during Winter/Spring Quarters. Students participate in courses, fieldwork, and research at selected University and community facilities serving persons with developmental disabilities.
Required courses include Psychology/Psychiatry M180A, M180B, M181A-M181B. Students also take other courses related to developmental disabilities. Many of the courses fulfill psychology undergraduate major requirements (consult the Undergraduate Advising Office for details). Student individualized research projects are also part of the immersion experience.
To earn a concentration, majors in psychology, cognitive science, and psychobiology must be accepted into the Developmental Disabilities Immersion Program. Information and applications are available from Field Studies Development, 80 Powell Library. The following courses are required for the concentration: Psychology 127 (may also be applied as one of the three upper division electives required for the psychology major), 130 or one course from 133A through 133I (also satisfies a core requirement for the psychology major), M180A, M180B, M181A-M181B, 193 (two terms). With the exception of course 193, each course must be taken for a letter grade. Students in the department who complete the requirements receive a departmental certificate of completion at graduation; they must notify the department during the term they plan to graduate to receive the certificate. The concentration does not appear on the diploma or transcript.
If a psychology major earns the DDIP concentration, upper division elective credit for Psychology M180A, M180B, M181A-M181B does not apply toward the major.
For more information, contact the Undergraduate Advising Office (1531 Franz Hall) or Field Studies Development (80 Powell Library).
Majors in psychology, psychobiology, and cognitive science may select a specialization in computing by (1) satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in the specified major, (2) completing Program in Computing 10A, 10B, and at least one course from 10C, 15 (recommended), 30, 60, and (3) completing Psychology 85 and at least two courses from 121, M142, 150, 151, 186A, 186B (one 199 course may be substituted for one of these courses provided project has been approved by vice chair). A grade of C or better is required in each course. Students graduate with a bachelor's degree in their major and a specialization in computing. Students planning to enter this specialization should consult the Undergraduate Advising Office.
The applied developmental psychology minor is designed to (1) provide a coherent academic program with focus on issues central to improving the well-being of children and their families, (2) teach undergraduates how to apply theories, research methods, and research findings to practical concerns, and (3) prepare students to join or receive further training in various child-related professions.
The minor is open to all enrolled UCLA students (including cognitive science, psychobiology, and psychology majors) who have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better and have been accepted into an approved applied developmental psychology internship program. For further information about applying to the internship program, contact the director of the Infant Development Program, 1611 Franz Hall, (310) 825-2896. For questions about additional course requirements for the minor, contact a counselor in the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall, (310) 825-2730.
Required Lower Division Course: Psychology 10.
Required Upper Division Courses: Psychology 133X and 133Y (to be taken concurrently with the two-term internship described below) and four additional courses, of which at least three must be upper division, from Education 91A through 91D, 112, 125A, 125B, Linguistics C130, C135, Psychology 130, 131, 132, 133A through 133I, M176, 197 (content must be approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office), 199 (content must be approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office), Sociology 136, 174. One of the four additional courses must include either Psychology 130, one course in the 133 series, or 197 (content must be approved by the Undergraduate Advising Office).
Internship Requirement: Students work as interns for two academic terms at an approved daycare center/school and enroll concurrently in Psychology 133X and 133Y. The internship provides hands-on experience working with young children as teacher's aids and opportunities for observing children. By completing an additional one-term internship, students may meet requirements to be fully qualified daycare center teachers under Title 22, California Department of Social Services; for more information, contact the director of the Infant Development Program at (310) 825-2896.
All minor courses, except for the internship courses, must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. No more than two courses may be applied toward both the students' majors and this minor. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.
The cognitive science minor is designed to introduce students to cognitive science topics as addressed in a number of different disciplines, such as biology, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, and psychology, while allowing them to pursue a more in-depth study of cognitive science topics within specific areas of their own choice.
The minor consists of two parts. In the first part students complete background courses and satisfy a computer programming experience requirement. In the second part they select a primary cluster from four clusters of upper division courses that have been organized to reflect different aspects of cognitive science. Students take three courses within their primary cluster and two additional courses from the remaining clusters (secondary clusters).
The minor is open to all enrolled UCLA students, other than cognitive science majors, who have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. Students must make an appointment with a counselor in the Undergraduate Advising Office, 1531 Franz Hall, (310) 825-2730, to enter the minor and receive counseling on how to select a primary cluster.
Required Lower Division Courses: Psychology 85 and one course from 15, 42, Computer Science 2, Linguistics 1, 20.
The computer programming experience requirement is satisfied by petition based on coursework (e.g., completion of Program in Computing 10A) or other relevant programming experience.
Required Upper Division Courses: Students must select (with approval of the Undergraduate Advising Office) and complete one of the following four primary clusters: (1) biological basis of cognition cluster -- three courses from Linguistics C135, Psychology 115, 116, M117C (or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology M175C or Neuroscience M101C or Physiological Science M180C), M117K, 119B, 119F, M119L, M119N; (2) computation and modeling cluster -- three courses from Biomathematics 108, Computer Science 161, 163, Psychology 150, 151, 186A, 186B (at least one course must be from Computer Science 161, Psychology 186A, 186B); (3) human cognition cluster -- Psychology 121 and two courses from 112C, 120, 124A through 124F, 133B, 133BH, 133C, 133E; (4) mind and language cluster -- three courses from Linguistics 120A, 120B, 125, C130, 132, C135, C185A, Philosophy 124, 125, 126, 127A, 127B, 129, 170, 172, Psychology 122, 123, 124A.
Students must also fulfill a secondary cluster requirement of two additional courses from one or more of the clusters not selected as the primary cluster.
All minor courses must be taken for a letter grade, with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. No more than two courses may be applied toward both the students' majors and this minor. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.
The Infant Development Program is designed as a teaching and research facility for the department and is set up to accommodate both cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation of infants, toddlers, and their parents. In addition, the program provides an opportunity for students in developmental psychology and other areas to acquire firsthand experience working with infants and toddlers through a two- or three-term sequence of Psychology 133X, 133Y, and 193. The program is located in Franz Hall and provides child care for about 15 infants ranging in age from three months to three years.
The Clinic for the Behavioral Treatment of Children carries out diagnosis, treatment, and research on children with severe psychological problems, such as children with autism and those with severe developmental disorders. The treatment philosophy is largely behavioral/educational, with emphasis on language acquisition, peer and school integration, and parent training. Students are taught behavioral treatment procedures and work in an apprenticeship relation to senior staff. Prior research has focused on variables controlling self-destructive behavior, perceptual deficits, language acquisition, and emotional/social attachments. The clinic serves as a teaching and research environment for both graduate and undergraduate students.
The Psychology Clinic in the Department of Psychology is a major training center for clinical psychology students in the Ph.D. program. It provides a broad range of psychological services to clients, including assessment and individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Clients cover the entire age range and represent diverse populations in the community.
Student therapists receive very close supervision and are encouraged to relate their case material to academic learning and current research. Students and faculty members are also involved in a variety of clinical research projects.