Psychology, BA BA
Psychology is a science that provides critical insights into human behavior. Psychologists investigate how behavior is modified in the face of psychiatric disorders or disease and how the brain gives rise to the rich tapestry of behaviors that govern our day-to-day experiences.
A psychology major gives you much career flexibility because of its emphasis on reasoning, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, research and writing. In addition to becoming a counselor or therapist, many students go into human resources, sales, marketing, business management, law, medicine, social work, real estate, social services, and more – all fields that require comprehensive knowledge of human behavior.
Many students go on to graduate school to pursue specialized training. This may lead to a career as a counselor, therapist, or research scientist. In most states, a master's degree is required to become a licensed practitioner. At UWM, our psychology major can be tailored: the Bachelor of Arts route is ideal for students planning a career in human services while the Bachelor of Science route has more lab science and is well-suited for students looking to go into a graduate research program or medical school.
The version of the major that leads to a Bachelor of Arts can be completed entirely online if that is desired.
Psychology students at UWM have a distinct advantage – they can participate in research as undergraduates, sometimes even as soon as freshman year. In psychology labs, students work directly with faculty and graduate students on their current research projects, and sometimes contribute as co-authors to peer-reviewed presentations or publications. In addition, a number of psychology students complete field placements. A field placement is similar to an internship and permits students to step out of the traditional classroom setting and volunteer with a community organization that has a mission consistent with the psychology degree. In each case, our students acquire fundamental skills, have opportunities to explore and refine their interests, and establish meaningful connections that permit them to make informed decisions about their future pursuits.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Why study psychology at UWM?
- Many on- and off-campus opportunities for hands-on learning to build your resume: field placement, internships, and research projects
- A large, lively department where you will find fellow students with shared interests and interesting backgrounds
- Option to double major in psychology (BS) and neuroscience if desired
- Prepare for a life science based career or a graduate program such as medical school or a research-based doctoral program
Listed below are the requirements for the Psychology, BA major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Psychology Major Requirements
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. The undergraduate major consists of at least 32 credits in psychology, at least 15 of them at the advanced level (300 or above) taken in residence at UWM, including the following core courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PSYCH 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Psychological Statistics | ||
Or other statistics course as approved by department | ||
| PSYCH 254 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSYCH 325 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Personality | ||
| Current Topics in Psychology: 1 | ||
| Introduction to Conditioning and Learning | ||
| Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology: Psychological Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Clinical Psychology | ||
| Child Psychology | ||
| Upper-Level Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 16-17 | |
Select one advanced laboratory course and four Systems and Foundations courses (16 credits) | ||
Select two advanced laboratory courses and three Systems and Foundations courses (17 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 32-34 | |
- 1
PSYCH 211 with the topic “First Year Foundation” for 1 credit does not satisfy this requirement. All other topics of PSYCH 211, for 3 credits, satisfy this requirement.
Research Experience
The College of Letters and Science requires that students complete a research experience in their major. The Department of Psychology has structured its advanced laboratory courses to satisfy that requirement. In these laboratory courses, students run multiple experiments, collect and analyze data quantitatively, and write up the results in a standard journal article format, integrating the results with a critical survey of relevant professional literature. The Systems and Foundations courses are non-laboratory, upper-level courses designed to provide in-depth knowledge on specific topics in psychology. Students are welcome to take additional Systems and Foundations courses as electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYCH 502 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 4 |
| PSYCH 505 | Cognitive Processes | 4 |
| PSYCH 623 | Perceptual Processes | 4 |
| PSYCH 654 | Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| PSYCH 656 | Psychophysiology | 4 |
| PSYCH 660 | Experimental Child Psychology | 4 |
| PSYCH 677 | Experimental Social Psychology | 4 |
Cross-Listed Courses
One of the following courses offered by other academic units may be used to fulfill requirements of the undergraduate major in psychology (in Systems and Foundations):
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 455 | Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology | 3 |
| BUS ADM 442 | Industrial Psychology | 3 |
| LINGUIS 440 | Psycholinguistics | 3 |
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.
The Psychology Bachelor of Arts and the Psychology minor are available for completion entirely online. Learn more about how online programs operate.