College of Arts & Sciences

Psychology

120

Total hours

200+

Graduates per year

150+

Students doing independent research per year

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Psychology is the scientific study of all aspects of human behavior. Topics studied by psychologists include: brain function, moods and feelings, normal and abnormal thought processes, personality, interactions among people, and many more. Training in psychology emphasizes research skills, critical thinking abilities, and communication skills. Because these competencies are relevant to many domains, training in psychology provides a good foundation for many different careers.

Careers

Grow Your Future

A bachelors degree (B.A. and B.S.) in Psychology is a versatile undergraduate degree that helps psychology majors gain a wide range of knowledge and skills. Psychology majors are able to: conduct various types of research, evaluate arguments and make decisions based on evidence, apply research skills to personal and professional domains, take human biases into account when making decisions, convey information effectively in written and oral communication and work in diverse groups to achieve common goals.

Career opportunities in Arts & Sciences

  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Market Analyst
  • Counselor 
  • Advertising Agent
  • Physician
  • Personnel Administrator
  • Physical Therapist 
  • Educator
  • Researcher 
  • Criminal Profiler 
  • Lawyer

Classes & Requirements

What You'll Study

Psychology majors receive a broad education, taking courses in every major disciplinary category in psychology. The program provides course work emphasizing the fundamental concepts and techniques of this basic behavioral science. In addition, some students conduct original research with our faculty, experiences that often go beyond the discipline of psychology into our faculty’s collaborations in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, engineering, communications, and education. Students go on to success in the field of psychology, but also medicine, law, and many other career paths.

 

Graduation Requirements

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Arts & Sciences section of the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin.

*Students wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology must complete 60 hours of Math and Science Coursework.

UK Core Requirements

The UK Core is composed of the equivalent of 30 credit hours in 10 course areas that address four broad learning outcomes.

  • The Nature of Inquiry in Arts and Creativity (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Humanities (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication I (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication II (3 hours)
  • Quantitative Foundations (3 hours)
  • Statistical Inferential Reasoning (3 hours)
  • Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA (3 hours)
  • Global Dynamics (3 hours)

Premajor Requirements 

  • PSY 100 - Introduction to Psychology (or equivalent) [3-4 hours]
  • PSY 195 - Orientation to Psychology [1 hour]
  • PSY 215 - Experimental Psychology [4 hours]

Total Credit Hours: 8-9

Major Requirements 

Major Core Requirements

  • ​PSY 216 Applications of Statistics in Psychology [4 hours]
  • PSY 310 cognition [3 hours]
  • PSY 312 Brain and Behavior [3 hours]
  • PSY 314 Social Psychology and Cultural Processes [3 hours]
  • PSY 323 Developmental Psychology [3 hours]

From the Major Department - Students must complete Option A or Option B plus the capstone course.

Option A - Breath - Students must take 6 credit hours of PSY electives from the list below.

  • PSY 120 the Science of Happiness
  • PSY 160 Human Sexuality
  • PSY 302 Psychology in Business and Industry
  • PSY 305 Introduction to Neuroscience Techniques
  • PSY 313 Personality and Individual Differences
  • PSY 320 Introduction to Forensics: Psychology and Legal Issues
  • PSY 330 The Neuroscience of Serial Killers
  • PSY 331 The Psychology of Adjustment
  • PSY 333 Abnormal Psychology
  • PSY 350 Careers in Psychology
  • PSY 360 Behavioral Genetics
  • PSY 375 Special Topics in Psychology
  • PSY 424 Human Senses and Perception
  • PSY 459 Neuropharmacology: Drugs and Behavior

Option B - Depth - Students complete one advanced lecture/lab course from the list below.

  • PSY 427 Cognitive Processes
  • PSY 430 Research in Personality
  • PSY 440 Research in Social Psychology
  • PSY 450 Learning
  • PSY 456 Behavioral Neuroscience
  • PSY 460 Processes of Psychological Development
  • PSY 552 Evolutionary Psychology

Capstone - Students must complete one capstone from the list below.

  • PSY 495 Senior Thesis Seminar AND PSY 496 Senior Thesis Research
  • PSY 499 Senior Internship in Psychology
  • PSY 500 History and Systems of Psychology
  • PSY 534 Child Psychopathology
  • PSY 535 Psychological Testing
  • PSY 561 Advanced Topics in Foundations of Clinical Psychology
  • PSY 562 Advanced Topics in Cognotive Psychology
  • PSY 563 Advanced Topics in Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 564 Advanced Topics in Learning
  • PSY 565 Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
  • PSY 566 Advanced Topics in Social Psychology

From Outside the Major Department - Choose 14-16 hours outside Psychology at the 300+ level. 200+ level courses used to satisfy College requirements can also be counted here.


A&S Undecided/Exploratory Studies

Understanding that over 70 percent of university students will change their declared major at least once during their college careers, the College of Arts and Sciences has developed an Exploratory Studies program for students who have yet to decide the specific field of study that most closely aligns both their personal interests and their professional career goals and objectives. The Exploratory Studies Program provides students with an extraordinarily diverse educational environment that includes coursework spanning Math and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences and provides students with the unique opportunity to explore multiple areas of interest during their first several semesters on campus. For more information please contact a recruiting representative at asrecruting@uky.edu


Imagine Your Future

Psychologists

Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$92,740

per year in 2023

Number of Jobs

196,000

in 2023

10 Year Job Outlook

12,000

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

Psychologists work in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, and private practice. Most are full time, but part-time work is common. Some work evenings or weekends to accommodate their clients' schedules.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Enhancing Your Time at UK

While there are endless ways to create an unforgettable journey as a Wildcat, we can only think of one that gives you the chance to step outside the classroom and into exploring new parts of the world around you: participating in an Education Abroad opportunity! Whether it’s in a study, research, service, or internship program, taking your UK experience international with EA is the most hands-on way for you to expand your global perspective while making yourself a more well-rounded, marketable candidate to future employers no matter your field. As you take these first steps towards investing in your future, EA encourages you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the many suggested opportunities UK Education Abroad & Exchanges has to complement your major! #ukyabroad

 

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