Requirements & Major Checklists

The Department of Psychology provides undergraduate programs leading to either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Both programs aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of psychology and require exposure to diverse subject areas outside of psychology. The B.S. program emphasizes natural sciences and mathematics, while the B.A. program offers a broader interdisciplinary perspective. Both the B.S. and B.A. programs effectively prepare students for graduate school or careers in various fields, including medicine, education, law, management, business, marketing, and data science.

If you are uncertain about which degree pathway to pursue, please review our welcome page and make an appointment with one of our Psychology academic advisors. They can discuss whether the B.A. or B.S. degree aligns best with your long-term goals.

Please note that as a psychology major you are expected to understand and meet the official requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin. For specific questions related to progress in the major, please schedule an appointment with an advisor: https://www.stonybrook.edu/navigate

The Undergraduate Psychology Office checks and clears degree candidates for Psychology major requirements. Students must obtain clearance for the major before the "add/drop" deadline of their final semester.

Registration & Scheduling

• Registration Resources

  Future Course Offerings (subject to change) - Always confirm with a Psychology Advisor if you have questions.

  PSY BA & BS Sample Course Sequence (subject to change) - Always confirm with a Psychology Advisor if you have questions.

  PSY 310 Note:  Please be aware that PSY 310 is offered during daytime hours in the Fall semester and during early evening hours in the Spring semester. PSY 310 is also offered during the summer session. Please keep this in mind as you plan your future course schedules.

  Course Evaluations - Previous semester course evaluations to help you make an informed decision with course planning & selection.

  Pre-Health Advising - provides information for students interested in pre-health fields, including prerequisite courses, recommended coursework, and available resources.

• Enrollment

  Any questions regarding issues enrolling in Psychology courses should be directed to the Psychology Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Diane DeSimone (Diane.DeSimone@stonybrook.edu). Emails must include your Stony Brook student ID number. 

• Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) Requirements

  Some SBC requirements will be fulfilled by Psychology major core courses. To see the overlap between Psychology major courses and the Stony Brook Curriculum, see the Undergraduate Bulletin.

  PSY 310: The most common path for students within the Psychology Major to fulfill the ESI, SPK, & WRTD requirements is through PSY 310: Research and Writing in Psychology (taken during your Senior Year).

• Psychology Repeatable Courses

  Psychology special topics courses note in their descriptions that they “may be repeated as the topic changes.”  You may repeat such courses within those restrictions and receive credit each time as long as the topic is different.

  Example: You can take 339.02 (Child Maltreatment) even though you're currently taking 339.03 (Schizophrenia Spec. Disorders) this semester and receive credit for both since they are different topics. 

• Psychology Course Retakes

  Please note the University’s retake policy on the Undergraduate Bulletin:

  • Students taking a course for the second time will need to wait until the retake registration date to enroll, pending seat availability at that time. Dates can be found on the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

  • You are not allowed to retake a Psychology course for a third time.

  • If you have failed a required course for your Psychology major & need to take the course a third time; meet with an advisor to discuss options for taking the course elsewhere.