Minors

The Department of Psychological Sciences offers two minors: psychological sciences and neuroscience. The psychological sciences minor provides non-major students with an opportunity to explore psychology and its various subfields. The neuroscience minor educates students on the functions of the brain and cognitive processes.

Minor Options

Psychological Sciences Minor

This minor is offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences. Students who major in psychological sciences cannot declare a minor in psychological science.

Requirements

A minimum total of 15 upper-level PSYC credits, including:

  • One course from Area I
  • One course from Area II
  • Three other 2000-level or higher PSYC courses from any area

View the full minor requirements for psychological sciences.

Download the Psychological Sciences Minor Plan of Study.

Restrictions

  • PSYC 1100 and 1101/1103 are not explicitly required for the minor, but are pre-requisites for nearly every upper-level PSYC course
  • No more than a combined total of 3 credits of PSYC 3889 or 3899 can be used
  • PSYC 3880, Field Experience, cannot be used
  • Students must earn a C or better in each course
  • Substitutions are not possible for required courses in the minor
  • Students can only use 3 credits of direct equivalent transfer PSYC courses towards satisfying the minor requirements.
  • NOTE: Transfer PSYC courses may not pull into the Advisement Report on Student Admin, but will count towards the minor

Advising

Students pursuing the psychological sciences minor are not assigned an academic advisor in the Department of Psychological Sciences; however, students are welcome to speak with an advisor or a peer advisor in the Psychological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Office.

Neuroscience Minor

This minor is offered jointly by the Department of Psychological Sciences and the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology. Students who major in psychological sciences can declare a minor in neuroscience.

Requirements

A minimum total of 15 2000+ level credits, including:

  • PSYC 2200. Physiological Psychology or PNB 3251. Biology of the Brain
  • One laboratory course from the approved list
  • At least nine additional credits from the approved list
  • 5 credits in each department (of the PSYC and PNB courses that are listed as part of the minor)

View the full minor requirements for neuroscience 

Download the Neuroscience Minor Plan of Study

Restrictions

  • A maximum of 6 credits can overlap between the minor and the major
  • Students can only use a maximum of 3 credits of transfer psych courses towards satisfying the minor requirements (NOTE: Transfer Psych courses may not pull into the Advisement Report on Student Admin, but will count towards the minor)
  • No more than a combined total of 3 credits of PSYC 3889, 3899, or PNB 3299 can be used (must be neuroscience-related and approved by minor advisor)
  • Students must earn a C or better in each course
  • Substitutions are not possible for required courses in the minor

Requirements and Restrictions Before Summer 2020

Students who declared the neuroscience minor before summer 2020 can remain with the minor requirements before summer 2020, listed below; or switch to the new minor requirements, listed above. Students who wish to remain with the pre-summer 2020 requirements may take courses that have been approved for the new minor requirements to satisfy the old minor requirement areas.
A minimum total of 15 upper-level PSYC credits, including:

  • PSYC 2200. Physiological Psychology
  • PNB 3251. Biology of the Brain
  • One laboratory course from the approved list
  • At least six additional credits from the approved list

Restrictions

  • Students can only use a maximum of 3 credits of transfer psych courses towards satisfying the minor requirements (NOTE: Transfer Psych courses will not pull into the Advisement Report on Student Admin, but will count towards the minor)
  • No more than a combined total of 3 credits of PSYC 3889, 3899, or PNB 3299 can be used (must be neuroscience related and approved by minor advisor)
  • Students must earn a C or better in each course
  • Substitutions are not possible for required courses in the minor

Advising

Students pursuing the neuroscience minor are not assigned an academic advisor; however, students are welcome to speak with Professor John Salamone, who serves as an advisor for the minor and approves the minor final plans of study. Students can also speak with an advisor or a peer advisor in the Psychological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Office.

Important Notes

  • PSYC labs are issued via permission number only. Students wishing to take a PSYC lab must fill out the Psych Lab Permission Number Request.
  • Many of the courses listed above have pre-requisites, which must be completed prior to enrolling. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog website.
  • PSYC 3889. Undergraduate Research can be used for the minor with approval from the minor advisor. Research must be neuroscience related to be considered for the minor.
  • The PNB 3251 pre-req of a 2000 level PNB course can be waived if a student has taken a PSYC neuroscience course (PSYC 2200, 2201) with permission from the instructor.

Ready to declare your minor?

Students can declare a minor in psychological sciences or neuroscience on the Online Program Change site.
 

Declare your minor

 
Not sure which minor makes the most sense for you? Meet with an advisor in the Psychological Sciences Undergraduate Advising Office to explore your options.