PSYCHOLOGY BS

Psychology is the study of human behavior, cognition and emotion. Psychologists want to know how people perceive, learn, think and interact with others. The practice of psychology helps people improve learning, performance and mental health.

The psychology major in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) approaches the field from a scientific perspective, emphasizing theories, research methods and findings in psychology. Students will gain hands-on experience through research in professors’ labs, internship placements and individualized study with faculty of specialized topics.

Degree Program

The bachelor’s degree in psychology requires 120 credit hours. The psychology minor requires 18 credit hours.

The UT Dallas undergraduate catalog provides an overview of the psychology program, lists the major and minor requirements, and explains the fast track program. The fast track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 12 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both UT Dallas bachelor’s and graduate degrees.

The university’s course look-up site will help you find specific classes and times to fit your degree plan and schedule. The CourseBook site includes links to syllabi, class evaluations, and textbooks for all of UT Dallas courses. The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences’ projected schedule of core classes also will help in your planning.

Students are required to earn two research exposure credits (REC) for each behavioral science core course in which they are enrolled, for a maximum of six total credits each semester.

Advising

Visit with a BBS academic advisor to create a degree plan. Freshmen must visit with an advisor before registering. All other students should consult an advisor before registering each semester.

To learn more about the BBS advising and mentoring system, visit our advising website.

Career Preparation

Undergraduate degrees in psychology prepare students for a number of career paths because a psychology major provides students with knowledge about human behavior, research methods and data analysis that is valuable in many occupations. Psychology also is a useful major for students planning careers in law, management, medicine or social work. Further study in graduate school can lead to professional careers as academic, clinical, counseling, industrial and other kinds of psychologists.

Psychology majors can learn about career options by attending the BBS Roadmap Series events, visiting with qualified staff at the career center, and by taking the PSY 3100 Careers in Psychology course. Active participation and planning can make students more competitive for admissions to graduate school or entry into the job market.

In addition, upper-level students also may be interested in participating in a BBS internship class. Find out more about the internship class.

Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities

The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences offers two scholarships for students who are full-time or part-time undergraduate students pursuing degrees in BBS. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a FAFSA on file with the UTD Financial Aid Office. Please read the full criteria and requirements for more information.

The $3,000 Helen Small Scholarship and $1,000 Diane Milot Tucker Scholarship will be awarded annually.

Honors Program

Majors in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences who have junior or senior standing and have completed at least 12 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher may apply to earn BBS school honors.

Incoming freshman with high standardized test scores and a high school GPA of 3.6 or higher should consider applying to Collegium V, a University-wide honors program.

Program Contacts

Program Head

Shayla Holub, PhD
[email protected]

Program Mailing Address

Psychology Degree Program
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 W. Campbell Rd., GR 41
Richardson, TX 75080

Program Resources

Psychology BS Fast Facts
This document provides a quick, printable overview of the program.

Create Your Own Guide to UT Dallas
This site allows potential students an opportunity to learn about what matters most to them.

UT Dallas Library Resources in Psychology
This guide explains various resources and search methods available to facilitate study on this topic as provided by the McDermott library.

Research Exposure Credits (REC)
All students (majors and non-majors) are required to earn two credits for each behavioral sciences core course in which they are enrolled (six credits max per semester). This can be a great opportunity to learn more about psychology research!

Organizations

UT Dallas Psi Chi
American Psychological Association
Psychology Coalition
The Society for Research in Child Development

Additional Resources

How to Become a Psychologist Step-By-Step
What Can You Do with a Psychology Degree?