Undergraduate

Welcome to the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan!

Students must apply to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). After completing pre-requisite courses, students may then declare one of our two majors.

Want a real student story? Meet a BCN and Psychology major and read about their paths within LSA and beyond.

Find out from one of our young alumni the power of networking with other Michigan Alumni - The Michigan Connection.

If you are interested in scheduling a prospective student appointment, please complete our Prospective Student Meeting Request Form and an advisor would be happy to meet with you to answer any questions you may have.

Please find resources below to guide you on a tour of our department, the curriculum, and many of the opportunities that are available for our students.

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View Prospective Undergraduate FAQs

Majors We Offer

Psychology is a valuable liberal arts major, allowing one to explore, develop, and expand their interests in the field. Undergraduate courses in psychology give students an opportunity to learn what research has shown about how behavior is motivated; how we perceive, learn, and think; how individuals differ from one another; how the personality develops from infancy to maturity and is expressed by behavior; and how interpersonal factors affect human relationships in the home, on the job, and in the community.

Areas: Biopsychology, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Personality and Social Contexts, Social

If you are considering a more specific major within Psychology that focuses on the most natural science related areas and has ties to both cognitive science and neuroscience, the Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) major may be appropriate for you. The overall goal of the BCN major is to provide a course of study that integrates natural science components including neuroscience, cognitive science, and evolutionary approaches to the study of behavior.

Areas: Biopsychology, Cognitive, some Developmental, plus possible courses from other natural science areas

Areas of Psychology

Biopsychology: The neural, hormonal, and evolutionary influences on behavior.

Clinical: Biological and behavioral influences on psychopathology.

Cognitive: Mind, brain, thinking, and language.

Developmental: Changes in behavior from infancy and childhood throughout the lifespan.

Personality and Social Contexts: Individual differences and environmental influences on behavior.

Social: Interpersonal interaction, groups, and cultural influences on behavior.

Opportunities

The department offers opportunities for students to develop the necessary skills to succeed both in the classroom and in the work world. The department's faculty are well recognized for their contributions to the field. This allows students to not only be taught by the top experts in the field, but also gives them the opportunity to work hands-on with faculty as research assistants or undertake independent study. Senior students have the chance to work more independently on advanced research such as an honors thesis.

We also offer unique opportunities to gain skills necessary to be competitive in today's job market such as working as a peer advisor, participating in experiential service learning opportunities, and joining any of our student organizations. We also strongly recommend studying abroad to gain a global perspective.

Curriculum & Credit

Curriculum:

Psychology and BCN Curriculum Information: Find out classes required for each major

Courses Per Term Charts: Charts showing how courses count towards each major by term

Beyond-the-Box Feature: Contains a number of minors and specialties of study in other LSA and non-LSA departments which Psychology and BCN students commonly pursue. While it is not required to declare a dual major or minor, exploring courses and programs in other areas is an excellent way to develop interests and transferable skills.

AP Credit: A score of 4 or 5 on the Psychology Advanced Placement Examination will give you credit for Psychology 111 (Introduction to Psychology). Have your high school or testing agency send your score to the UM Admissions Office.

Office of Admissions AP & IB Guidelines

CAREER OPTIONS

"What can I do with a Psych/BCN major?" While Psychology and BCN are not applied majors leading to a specific career (i.e. Accounting), both majors, within a Liberal Arts education, will prepare students for a variety of careers. Use our Career Exploration section to find out what our recent graduates are up to and view alumni videos and profiles. Still unsure? Let Liberal Arts by the Numbers show you the power of a liberal arts education.

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL

Our majors are competitive candidates for a variety of graduate and professional programs both within psychology as well as other fields. The top 3 programs our students report pursuing are Medical School, Master's of Social Work, and PhD programs in psychology. Survey data from our recent graduating class can be found on the Career Exploration page. Preparing for Graduate School will give you common options within and outside of psychology.