What you need to know about the Psychology major as a transfer student
The psychology major requires two prerequisite courses and then completion of 32 credits.
Within these 32 credits you must complete a class in 3 breadth areas, 2 lab classes, and at least 12 credits at the 300 and 400-level.
You can transfer in up to 16 credits toward the requirements.
You must complete 24 credits for the major (includes pre-requisites and major credits) in-residence through courses taught at the Univeristy of Michigan's Department of Psychology Ann Arbor Campus or at U-M Study Abroad programs.
To see all the details on the Psychology and Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience majors visit the department's website.
For more information on transferring to complete a psychology degree and to learn more about how to have transfer classes evaluated for major credit visit the department's transfer page.
Before turning to the Transfer Guide for your insitution, please read through the general structure of the Psychology major below so you understand how your transfer credit fits into your overall degree plan.
Prerequisites to Declare the Major
One Introductory Psychology Course by completing one of the following options
PSYCH 111, 112, 114, or 115 at UM-Ann Arbor
AP credit for PSYCH 111 (score 4 or 5 on AP Psych exam)
Transfer credit for a course equivalent to PSYCH 111
One Statistics Course by completing one of the following options
STATS 250 or 280 at UM-Ann Arbor
Transfer credit for a course equivalent to STATS 250
Transfer credit for an approved class that transfers as STATS Departmental and complete additional statistics tutorial. These courses are noted on the transfer guides below. For information on completing the statistics tutorial go to the Psychology Department transfer credit page and go to Step 2: Determine how the desired course(s) will transfer.
Breadth Group Courses
Complete one course from each of three Breadth Groups
Biopsychology/Cognitive Breadth Group. Complete one of the following
PSYCH 220 or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 220
PSYCH 240 or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 240
Developmental/Psychopathology Breadth Group. Complete one of the following
PSYCH 250 at UM-Ann Arbor or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 250
PSYCH 270 at UM-Ann Arbor or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 270
Social/Personality/Gender Breadth Group. Complete one of the following
PSYCH 280 at UM-Ann Arbor or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 280
PSYCH 290 at UM-Ann Arbor or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 290
PSYCH 291 at UM-Ann Arbor or a course that transfers as a direct equivalent to PSYCH 291
Lab and Upper Level Requirements
Psychology Lab Requirement: 2 courses totaling at least 6 credits.
Psychology Upper Level Elective Requirement: 4 courses of at least 12 credits. 2 courses must be at 300-level and 1 at the 400-level. Additional coursework beyond 12 credits may be necessary to reach 32 major credits.
Recommended Transfer Pathway
Take the equivalent to PSYCH 111, unless you scored a 4 or 5 on the AP Psych exam.
Take a Statistics course that transfers as STATS 250 or one that transfers as Departmental credit that is pre-approved by the Psych department.
Take courses that count toward breadth requirements. There are courses that transfer for the Developmental/Psychopathology and Social/Personality/Gender at each community college. There are very few courses that transfer for the Biopsychology/Cognitive Breadth Group so you will most likely end up fulfilling that requirement after transfering.
Completing General Degree Requirements as a Psychology Major
Quantitative Reasoning: The statistics class that is required for the psychology major will fulfill the QR requirement whether you transfer a course or take it after you transfer, as long as the class transferred is at least 3 credits. You will not have to take an additional QR course outside of the requirements for the major.
Courses that transfer with the U-M subject PSYCH cannot be used for Area Distribution for psychology majors. This means you will have take social science courses outside of the psychology department to count for the social science area distribution.
