OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: major: A “C-” or better is required in all Psychology Foundations classes (PSY 100 , PSY 241 , and PSY 245 ) and in the Capstone Experience (PSY 491 or PSY 494 , or HON 499 ).
Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the major field that are credited toward the major.
Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience and Writing Intensive Requirement within the Major: PSY 491 or 3 credits of PSY 494 with a C- or better or (HON 498 and HON 499 ) on a topic in psychology and advised by an appropriate psychology faculty member will be accepted as a capstone experience for all students in Psychology. The thesis proposal form must be signed by the chair of the Department of Psychology.
Residency Requirement: A minimum of 18 credits must be taken in the Psychology Department at the University of Maine
Contact Information: Thane Fremouw, Chair, Department of Psychology, 301 Williams Hall, thane.fremouw@maine.edu (207) 581-2033 or Benjamin Guenther, Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Psychology, 356 Williams Hall, benjamin.guenther@maine.edu (207) 581-2025
The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences page of the catalog.
For more information about our undergraduate and graduate programs, program learning outcomes, internships, and special resources and programs see our web site at https://umaine.edu/psychology/.
Information about the Psychology major
The Department of Psychology offers students the opportunity to gain an understanding of the many diverse and fascinating aspects of human behavior through instruction that is designed to acquaint students with psychology as science. Students majoring in Psychology learn how behavior develops in childhood and in adolescence, how individuals perceive the world around them, how we think and remember, and how we interact with other people.
In addition to the classroom courses, students can take PSY 492 - Problems in Psychology , an individualized research experience, where they work closely with faculty on research projects in areas such as depression, anxiety, risk-taking, children’s peer relationships, aging and creativity. Students may also take PSY 493 in Psychology, where they earn credit for on-the-job experience in the community, working in mental health, social services, and other settings involved in activities related to professional psychology.
General requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- A minimum of 35 credits in psychology courses (Note: 60 credits in psychology is the maximum number of credit hours that will count toward the 120 credits needed to graduate, if psychology is the primary major.)
- A “C-” or better is required in all Psychology foundation classes (PSY 100 , PSY 241 , PSY 245 and in the Capstone Experience (PSY 491 or PSY 494 , or HON 499 ).
- Majors must accumulate a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in PSY courses that are credited toward completion of the major.
- No more than six credits of PSY 492 - Problems in Psychology , may count toward the 35 credits required.
- No more than three credits of PSY 493 - Field Experience in Psychology may count toward the 35 credits required.
- Students who transfer from other institutions must take a minimum of 18 credits within the department and the department must approve all transfer courses applied to the major.
- All psychology majors must declare one of the following three concentrations: Abnormal/Social, Biological/Cognitive, or Developmental.
- Psychology majors planning on attending graduate school in psychology are encouraged to consider the Research Intensive Track within the major. In addition to the regular major requirements, students in the Research Intensive Track are required to take the following courses :
A. 6 Credits of PSY 492 - Problems in Psychology . These credits should normally be taken with a single instructor and should be completed by the end of the junior year.
B. PSY 494 - Senior Research Project
C. At least one course not used to fulfill the 400 level course for the concentration from the following list of advanced courses: PSY 401 - Health Psychology ; PSY 412 - Foundations of Clinical Psychology ; PSY 424 - Abnormal Child Psychology ; PSY 425 - Social Issues in Developmental Psychology ; PSY 430 - Current Topics in Social Psychology ; PSY 466 - Cognitive Neuroscience ; or any 500-level course
Note: Courses numbered 500-599 are graduate courses that are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Junior and/or senior psychology majors may enroll in one or more of these courses with permission from the instructor.
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