Psychology

What this major studies in college, the health tracks it can lead to, and careers open with a bachelor’s degree. Every fact below names its source.

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What it is

The emphasis of its psychology major is on a broad acquaintance with the behavioral sciences, not specialization. [1]

The American Psychological Association (APA) Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (version 3.0) set five goals: content knowledge and applications; scientific inquiry and critical thinking; values in psychological science; communication, psychological literacy and technology skills; and personal and professional development. [2]

Typical college courses

Psychology students typically build these research skills mainly in required courses that focus on research methods and statistics. [2]

The psychology B.S. core requires Statistical Principles of Psychological Research and Research Methods in Psychology, plus courses from several program areas. [1]

Students take one course from the behavioral and integrative neuroscience area and one from the cognitive area, then one course from two of three areas: clinical, developmental and social. [1]

The rows below show one named program as an example: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. in psychology, 2026–2027 catalog. Course descriptions are in our own words. Course names and numbers differ at every college; confirm each college’s own list.

CourseStatusWhat it covers (example: UNC-Chapel Hill catalog)Comes after
General PsychologyRequired in this example programGeneral Psychology (PSYC 101) is a prerequisite for all psychology courses. [3]General Psychology (PSYC 101) gives an overview of the scientific views used to understand behavior, including the biological, cognitive, developmental, social and psychopathological ones. [3]No requisites are listed for it. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Research methods: experiments, correlation and ethics · Neurons and neurotransmitters · The brain and nervous system · How memory works · Development: infancy and childhood
Statistical Principles of Psychological ResearchRequired in this example program[1]Statistical Principles of Psychological Research (PSYC 210) covers the methods behind psychological research and the descriptive and inferential statistics used to design experiments and analyze behavioral data. [3]It comes after PSYC 101 or NSCI 175. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Measures of center · Measures of spread · The normal model · Conditional probability and independence · Confidence intervals for a proportion · Significance and p-values
Research Methods in PsychologyRequired in this example program[1]Research Methods in Psychology (PSYC 270) surveys experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental methods used across social, clinical, developmental, cognitive and neuroscience psychology. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Experiments and observational studies · Sampling methods and bias · Research methods: experiments, correlation and ethics · Evaluating health information and research
Biopsychology (neuroscience area option)One of the choices in this example program[1]Biopsychology (PSYC 220) surveys the biological bases of behavior, with topics such as nerve cells and impulses, the senses, sleep and wakefulness, reproductive behavior and thinking. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Neurons and neurotransmitters · The brain and nervous system · Genes, environment and behavior · Sleep and dreams
Cognitive Psychology (cognitive area option)One of the choices in this example program[1]Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 230) covers attention, memory, how we process what we see and hear, decision making and thinking. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: How memory works · Forgetting, false memories and study strategies · Thinking, problem solving and bias · Language development · Perception and illusions
Psychopathology (clinical area option)One of the choices in this example program[1]Psychopathology (PSYC 245) covers the major behavior disorders in children and adults, with an emphasis on how they are described, what causes them and how they are treated. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Understanding psychological disorders · Treatment and getting help · Stress, coping and health
Child Development (developmental area option)One of the choices in this example program[1]Child Development (PSYC 250) studies how social and intellectual behavior develops in children and the processes behind it, usually with an emphasis on theory and research. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Genes, environment and behavior · Development: infancy and childhood · Development: adolescence and adulthood · Research methods: experiments, correlation and ethics
Social Psychology (social area option)One of the choices in this example program[1]Social Psychology (PSYC 260) is an introductory survey of experimental social psychology, covering attitudes, how people relate to each other, and small groups. [3]It comes after PSYC 101. [3]
Get ready with these topics: Social thinking: attitudes and attribution · Social influence: conformity and obedience · Relationships, prejudice and helping · Culture, gender and identity
Principles of Biology, with labRequired in this example programThe psychology B.S. also requires Principles of Biology with lab, one of general chemistry or physics, and Calculus of Functions of One Variable I. [1]Principles of Biology (BIOL 101) introduces the basic ideas of biology: how cells are built and work, their chemistry, genetics, evolution, adaptation and ecology. [4]It is open to all undergraduates and is the prerequisite to most higher biology courses. [4]
Get ready with these topics: The molecules of life · Cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes · The cell membrane and transport · Cellular respiration · From DNA to protein · Meiosis, mutations and genetic variation
Requirements differ by school and program and can change from year to year: confirm with each school, and for licensing, with the state licensing board.

Typical high school preparation

We did not find an official source that gives high school course advice for this major, so none is listed. For the high school courses colleges ask for in general, see the College Preparation page.

Pre-Health Foundations: coming soon

Health tracks this can lead to

Each card opens that track’s page. A reason is shown only where a cited source gives one. Every program sets its own prerequisites, so confirm them with each school.

Where this degree can lead with a bachelor’s

National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.

Examples from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Other careers may need more study after the bachelor’s degree.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitating law offenders in custody or on probation. [8]

Median annual pay, May 2025$66,270

The median annual wage for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $66,270 in May 2025. [8]

Projected job growth, 2025–353%

Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. [8]

Typical entry-level educationBachelor's degree

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor's degree, and common fields of degree include criminal justice, social science and psychology. [8]

Health education specialists

Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being. [9]

Median annual pay, May 2025$64,070

The median annual wage for health education specialists was $64,070 in May 2025. [9]

Projected job growth, 2025–356%

Employment of health education specialists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. [9]

Typical entry-level educationBachelor's degree

Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in health education or health promotion, but employers may accept a variety of other majors, including business, social science, and healthcare and related fields. [9]

Questions people search

Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists typically need a bachelor's degree, and common fields of degree include criminal justice, social science and psychology. [8]

Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in health education or health promotion, but employers may accept a variety of other majors, including business, social science, and healthcare and related fields. [9]

Master’s degree programs in occupational therapy frequently require applicants to have completed coursework in biology, psychology and other sciences. [6]

Is psychology a good major for pre-med?

There are no required or even preferred majors that medical schools are looking for; students should make sure they fulfill the prerequisite coursework for the schools they want to apply to. [10]

More than half of all medical school applicants reported biological science majors over the past five years, while the rest reported a variety of majors, including social sciences. [5]

Your next step

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Requirements differ by school and program and can change from year to year: confirm with each school, and for licensing, with the state licensing board. UpOnly Learning does not promise admission, grades, a job or pay. For full, up-to-date details, check the original sources below.

Sources

  1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Psychology Major, B.S.. https://catalog.unc.edu/undergraduate/programs-study/psychology-major-bs/. 2026–2027 Academic Catalog. Checked .
  2. American Psychological Association (APA). APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major, Version 3.0. https://www.apa.org/about/policy/undergraduate-psychology-major.pdf. Version 3.0, approved by the APA Council of Representatives, August 2023 (PDF). Checked .
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Psychology (PSYC) courses. https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/psyc/. current Academic Catalog (the BIOL course page and the program pages show 2026–2027). Checked .
  4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Biology (BIOL) courses. https://catalog.unc.edu/courses/biol/. 2026–2027 Academic Catalog. Checked .
  5. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Applying to Medical School as a Nonscience Major. https://students-residents.aamc.org/getting-organized/applying-medical-school-nonscience-major. no edition stated (page footer © 2026). Checked .
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
  7. PharmCAS, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Pre-Pharmacy Prep. https://www.pharmcas.org/helpful-resources/pre-pharmacy-prep. no edition stated (footer © 2026 PharmCAS). Checked .
  8. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-treatment-specialists.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
  9. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Health Education Specialists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
  10. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). How to Choose the Best Premed Major. https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/how-choose-best-premed-major. no edition stated (page footer © 2026). Checked .

Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.