Jun 01, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2023-2024 
    
Undergraduate Catalog | 2023-2024 Previous Edition

Psychology, B.S.


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All program-level Admissions and Progression Requirements are in addition to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Admission Requirements .

Admission Requirements


Freshmen and Transfers

  • See University Admission Requirements  
  • Declaration of Major:  Incoming freshmen may enter UNC Charlotte as declared Psychology majors without additional admissions requirements.

Currently Enrolled Students

  • See University Admission Requirements ​ 
  • Minimum Overall GPA:  2.0
  • Pre-Major/Prerequisite Courses: Completion of the following with grades of C or above:
    • PSYC 1101  (within 2 attempts)
    • A Statistics (STAT 1220 /STAT 1221 */STAT 1222  ) course (within 2 attempts)
    • A General Education science course with a lab outside the subject of Psychology

* STAT 1221  or STAT 1222  is preferred because the course is designed for life or social and behavioral sciences, respectively.

  • Declaration of Major: Applications to declare the major are accepted during approximately the 2nd month of classes each Fall and Spring term, as stated on the Department of Psychology website.

Degree Requirements


A minimum of 120 total earned credit hours is required for the degree.  The Major in Psychology requires 42 credit hours of coursework in the major.  Psychology coursework in five areas is required:  Research Methods/Critical Thinking Skills, Knowledge Base, Application of Psychology, Psychology Elective courses, and a Capstone course.  No more than 13 credit hours (four courses) may be double-counted with another major, minor, or General Education requirements.  General Psychology Lab may not be counted towards the major.

General Education Courses (30-34 credit hours)


For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program 

Foreign Language Requirement (0-8 credit hours)


For details, refer to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Foreign Language Requirement 

Major Courses (49 credit hours)


Natural Sciences Courses (7 credit hours)


Select two courses, one of which must be taken with its corresponding laboratory (L) course.  Natural Sciences courses may also be used to satisfy General Education requirements.  For a list of acceptable courses, see the General Education Program .

Knowledge Base Area Courses (12 credit hours)


Select one course from each sub-area:

Application of Psychology Area Courses (6 credit hours)


Select two of the following courses; both may be from the same area:

Capstone Course (3 credit hours)


Capstone courses serve as a culminating experience for the undergraduate program. Selection of a Capstone course should be made with future career and educational goals in mind. Enrollment in a Capstone course requires the student to have completed 90 or more credit hours of coursework, have a grade of C or above in PSYC 2103  or PSYC 2104 , and any additional prerequisites as required by the individual course. A Capstone course may not be taken during the same term as PSYC 2103  or PSYC 2104 . Only one Senior Seminar may be taken. Students may select their Capstone from the following list of courses:

Unrestricted Elective Courses


As needed to complete the credit hours required for graduation.  Students in the Psychology major are strongly encouraged to combine their Psychology major with a minor or second major.  UNC Charlotte offers a wide range of minors to complement and otherwise enrich student readiness for workplace settings that demand effective communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills, digital literacy, and effective teamwork.  Coursework outside of Psychology will broaden skills and create a more well-rounded graduate.

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours


Progression Requirements


  • A GPA (overall and PSYC-specific) of 2.0 or above must be maintained for the major. A grade of C or above in PSYC 1101, PSYC 2101, PSYC 2103 or PSYC 2104, a statistics course, the two Natural Science courses and one with corresponding lab, and the Capstone course within two attempts* is required to progress and remain in the major.

* Each of the following is considered an attempt: Withdrawing from the course after the drop deadline (may be appealed); grade replacement; audits; Pass/No Credit; Incompletes that convert to grades of F; and grades of A, B, C, D, or F.

Suggested/Ideal Major Specific Progression

**  STAT 1221  or STAT 1222  is preferred because the course is designed for life or social and behavioral sciences, respectively.

Academic Advising


Students should seek advising from the Psychology Advising for Student Success (PASS) Center about courses most beneficial to their career and educational goals. In addition, the Department of Psychological Science actively participates in several interdisciplinary areas of study, including Gerontology, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Cognitive Science.

Honors Program


For details about the Honors Program in Psychology, visit the program page .

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