Majors are required to complete a minimum of 31 hours of coursework in psychology. Of the 31 hours of required coursework in psychology, a minimum of 22 hours must be completed at UMKC. The major is comprised of general, core area and elective courses.

General Courses (13 hours)

Students must complete the following four general courses:

1. PSYCH 210 General Psychology
2. PSYCH 316 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
3. PSYCH 302WI Experimental Psychology -and-
4. PSYCH 415 History and Systems of Psychology

Note: PSYCH 316, PSYCH 302WI and PSYCH 415 must be completed at UMKC.

Core Area and Elective Courses (18 hours)

The remaining hours comprise a minimum of four core area courses and two 300-400 level elective courses. A minimum of one course must be taken from each core area.

Students may transfer core areas and/or 300- or 400-level psychology electives approved by the Department of Psychology.  However, a minimum of 22 credit hours must be taken from the Department of Psychology at UMKC.

Core Area A:

• PSYCH 312 Social Psychology -or-
• PSYCH 322 Child Psychology

Core Area B:

• PSYCH 323 Theory and Methods of Personality -or-
• PSYCH 433 Abnormal Psychology

Core Area C:

• PSYCH 308 Sensation and Perception -or-
• PSYCH 418 Brain & Behavior I

Core Area D:

• PSYCH 304 Learning -or-
• PSYCH 405 Motivation -or-
• PSYCH 407 Cognitive Psychology 

Two Elective Courses:

A minimum of two (300-400 level) elective courses in psychology must be selected. See Undergradudate Advising for a complete list of undergraduate psychology courses that may serve as these electives. A maximum of 3 credit hours for PSYCH 490, Directed Individual Research, may be used toward fulfilling elective requirement.

Music Therapy/Psychology Double Majors

For students double-majoring in Music Therapy and Psychology:

• CONSVTY 260 Clinical Foundations of Music Therapy
  can fulfill one of the two required psychology elective courses.
• CONSVTY 435 Psychological Foundations of Music
  can fulfill either the core area C or D requirement.

Other Requirements

A grade of "C-" or higher must be achieved for any course to apply toward the major in psychology. When you have completed 90 credit hours, contact Arts and Sciences Advising (Scofield Hall, room 9) to conduct a final degree audit. You will then meet with one of the Psychology Undergraduate Advisers to complete a major degree audit (completed at Psychology Advising, 4825 Troost, suite 110).

Completion of PSYCH 316 at Another Institution

If a student has completed PSYCH 316 at another institution, with a C- or better, he/she may petition to take an exam demonstrating mastery of PSYCH 316 course content. A score of 70 percent or above must be earned on the exam. The exam may only be attempted once. See a Psychology Adviser for more information.