What science courses are required for psychology major

Q: What science should I study for psychology?

What do I need for a Psychology degree? Its important to be interested in science. As far as A-level subjects are concerned, at least one science subject is essential: Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry are all good choices. A-level Psychology, if your school offers it, is highly recommended.

Q: What subjects do you need for a psychology degree?

Entry requirements A levels – While you dont need to have all three sciences at A level for a psychology degree, most universities prefer at least one out of chemistry, physics, biology, or maths. Overall, a combination of good, academic A level subjects is required.

Students with a strong science background enrolled in several science and math courses, can choose to declare the Bachelor of Science (BS). See a departmental advisor to make the change.
This is a common path for students pursuing pre-med or the neuroscience track; however, there are significant differences for departmental requirements for students pursuing the neuroscience track in psychology. Please see the link for the BS in Neuroscience Track for further information.

Table of Contents Show

College Requirements
Departmental Requirements
Other requirements for the Psychology major There are limitations on the number of transfer credits that can be applied to the major.
Program structure and content
You will take the following courses in block 1:
You will take the following courses in block 2:
You will take the following courses in block 3:
You will take the following courses in block 4:
Specializations of BSc Psychology
You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
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You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
You will take the following courses:
Why Psychology in Tilburg?
Interested in the Bachelor's program in Psychology?
What science should I study for psychology?
What subjects do you need for a psychology degree?

Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major and overall.
Courses taken P/F may not be counted toward the major with the exception of internships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships.

The departmental requirements do not differ between the BA and the BS in general psychology. You can download a checklist of the major requirements for the General Psychology BA/BS.

College Requirements

Majors pursuing a BS in General Psychology must complete 60 credits of courses taught in departments in the College of Natural Sciences. See the CNS website for courses that can apply. For more information about college-level requirements or to inquire about whether you have satisfied the requirement, consult the CNS Advising office in Morrill.

Departmental Requirements

1. Psychology 100: Introductory Psychology

Psychology 100 is a prerequisite for all other psychology courses numbered 200 and above.
A grade of C- or better in Psych 100 is a required prerequisite for entering Psychology 240. Students may pre-register in Psych 240 while completing Psych 100, but if the final grade is not C- or better, the registration will be canceled.

2. Psychology 240: Statistics in Psychology.

Students must have completed a math prerequisite for entering Psych 240: Math 101 & 102 or higher, or Stat 111 or math placement algebra test score of 20 or higher.
A grade of C- or better in Psych 240 is a required prerequisite for entering Psychology 241. Students may pre-register in Psych 241 while completing Psych 240, but if the final grade is not C- or better, the registration will be canceled.
Stat 240 may be taken in lieu of Psych 240.

3. Psychology 241: Methods of Inquiry in Psychology

For successful completion of the major within four years, Methods should be completed by the end of the junior year.

4. One Core A Course: Psychology 314. Cognitive Neuroscience OR Psychology 315. Cognitive Psychology OR Psychology 320. Learn and Think

Psychology 240 and 241 are prerequisites for entering the Psych 315 or 320. Psychology 100 and 330 are prerequisites for entering Psych 314.

5. Core B Course: Psych 330 Introduction to Neuroscience (formerly Behavioral Neuroscience)

6. Two Core C Courses:

Psychology 350 Developmental Psychology
Psychology 360 Social Psychology
Psychology 380 Abnormal Psychology

7. Junior Writing:

Psychology 392A Junior Year Writing Seminar

8. One advanced Psychology lab, seminar, or small course (minimum 3 credits):

Choose from Psychology: 391*, 430, 480, 481, 486, 491*, 530, 535, 580, 581, 586, 591*.
With few, if any, exceptions, completion of Psychology 240 and 241 are prerequisites for entering these classes.
*These classes generally have letters following in SPIRE, so do not look up by “is exactly.” Use “begins with” as your search criterion.

9. Two Psychology electives numbered 200 and above

Each must be a minimum of 3 credits and one must be a graded, nonindependent study course.

10. Psych 494P Professional Development in Psychology (Integrative Experience Requirement)

When taken in combination with a Psych 391 seminar, Psychology 494P will satisfy the Integrative Experience for psychology majors.
Seminar equivalents will not be accepted; students must enroll in a Psych 391 seminar to satisfy the IE.

Other requirements for the Psychology major There are limitations on the number of transfer credits that can be applied to the major.

You must take at least 18 credits of psychology courses at UMass.
All UMass students must complete the General Education requirements.

In the Bachelor's program in Psychology, you study mind and behavior. You study people, who we are, how we think and feel and why we make certain decisions. This program's flexible curriculum gives you the freedom to specialize by combining a major with a minor.

Program structure and content

Throughout the program, you will get a solid foundation in the various fields of Psychology. These include Mental health, Social Psychology, and Social Science Research. By choosing a major in your second, and a minor in your third year, you can tailor your study program to your academic interests and career aspirations. You will follow lectures, and collaborate with your fellow students during tutorials and group assignments. You will also have the opportunity to put what you learned into action by doing lab research and scientific research projects.

First year

In the first year of the program, you will get a solid foundation in all the focus areas of Psychology. This will help you choose a major in your second year.

You will take the following courses in block 1:

Introduction to Psychology and History of Psychology
Experimental Psychology
Introduction to Research Methodology
Academic Skills Psychology A
Experimental Subject Hours
Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 2:

Social Psychology
Psychology of Personality
Introduction to Research Methodology
Academic Skills Psychology A
Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 3:

Philosophy of Mind
Brain and Behavior
Introduction to Statistics
Academic Skills Psychology B
Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

You will take the following courses in block 4:

Psychopathology
Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Statistics
Academic Skills Psychology B
Program for Academic Study Success (PASS)

Second year

In the second year, you will choose one of the nine majors, which will be the core of the rest of your program. In each block, you'll take a specialization course, learn professional skills related to your major, and conduct supervised research in small groups. For an overview of the second year, including the specialization courses, check the different majors below.

In addition to the specialization courses, you will also take the following general courses:

Biological Psychology
Correlational Research Methods
Cultural Psychology
Research Skills in Psychology
Sociology for Psychology Students
Experimental Research Methods

Third year

In the third year, you will conclude your major with a course that focuses on professional practice. After finishing your major, you will further shape your program by choosing a minor and two electives. You will conclude your program with a Bachelor's thesis in the field of your major.

In addition to the minor and electives, you will take the following courses in the third year:

Applied Methods and Statistics
Philosophy of Science

Study abroad: going on exchange

We encourage all students to gain international experience. A popular and very exiting option is to go abroad on exchange. As an exchange student, you study at one of the many international partner universities of Tilburg University, typically for one semester.

The Study Abroad & Exchange Office of Tilburg University will be available to help you research the opportunities within your study program and a dedicated Study Abroad & Exchange Coordinator will be advising you before, during and after your exchange.

Most students will be eligible for a grant or scholarship to financially support them during their exchange experience. Additional grants for students with special needs or a difficult financial situation are also available.

Specializations of BSc Psychology

Work and Organizational Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Work and Organizational Psychology, you learn how to apply psychological insights to organizational behavior. For example, you focus on applications of organizational psychology to management, policy and human resource issues.

How do people behave in organizations?
How to motivate people?
How can we ensure the wellbeing of employees in organizations?
How do we select the right people for the right jobs?

A short impression of Work and Organizational Psychology (video - 2:27 min)

You will take the following courses:

Work Psychology
Organizational Psychology
Diversity and Inclusion at Work
Applied Work and Organizational Psychology

Cognitive Neuropsychology

In the specialization Cognitive Neuropsychology, you focus on normal and deviant development of the brain and associated functions related to cognition, behavior and emotion. You learn to diagnose and treat functional disorders by applying Neuropsychological diagnostics and treatment. You can do this specialization in both English and Dutch.

You investigate questions such as

How does the brain work in terms of perception, attention, recognition and language?
What happens when something goes wrong in the brain? What happens if you can't move your arm anymore?
How does your brain influence your behavior?

A short impression of Cognitive Neuropsychology (video - 2:49 min)

You will take the following courses:

Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Neuropsychological Assessment
Psychological Assessment

Economic Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Economic Psychology, you learn how to apply social-psychological insights to economic behavior. For example, you apply economic psychology to marketing, consumer behavior, and behavioral changes.

You investigate questions such as

How do people make decisions?
How do people deal with scarcity?
How do people react to advertising?
Why is it hard to prepare for retirement?

A short impression of Economic Psychology (video - 3:15 min)

You will take the following courses:

Economic Psychology
Attitudes and Advertisement
Consumer Behavior
Behavioral Change

Forensic Psychology

In the specialization Forensic Psychology, you will study the risk factors for deviant behavior and antisocial tendencies. You will focus on personal characteristics and environmental influences which contribute to the development of antisociality. Antisociality is a pattern of attitudes and behaviors that are ocnsidered deviant and/or punishable by society.

You will explore specialized assessment and treatment of people who manifest deviant behaviors and victims in the clinical forensic and judicial system. Examples of these systems are court, special youth care, forensic psychiatric centers and prisons. You can do this specialization in Dutch and English.

You will work on questions such as

Why do people show violent behavior?
How do people become the way they are?
What can we do about this?

A short impression of Forensic Psychology (video - 2:22 min)

You will take the following courses:

Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Risk Assessment
Criminality, Cognition and Personality
Psychological Assessment

Clinical Psychology

In the specialization in Clinical Psychology, you focus on the development and treatment of people with mental disorders, with particular attention to diversity (for example, age, gender and ethnicity). You explore applications used at doctors’ practices (POH-GGZ in the Netherlands), in second-line mental health care, and in policy-making regarding care and mental health. You can do this specialization in English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

How can we best treat people with problems in their social functioning?
How can we best treat people with problems in their cognitive behavior, such as people with impaired thinking ability?
How can we best treat people with problems in their emotional functioning, for example people with a negative self-image or fear of failure?

A short impression of Clinical Psychology (video - 2:51 min)

You will take the following courses:

Emotions: Scientific and Clinical Aspects
Personality Disorders
Introduction to Treatment Methods
Psychological Assessment

Medical Psychology

In the specialization Medical Psychology, you focus on patients with mental health problems as a result of a somatic condition. You explore applications used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, at GPs (POZ-GGZ), in nursing homes, and in policy-making regarding care and health. You can do this specialization in English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

Why do we like rollercoaster rides (even though they are stressful)?
Why can’t we tickle ourselves?
Does depression cause diabetes or does diabetes cause depression?
Can a man still ejaculate after a vasectomy (male sterilization)?
Are singles more likely to have sex than married people?
I worry a lot lately, is this linked to my medical treatment?

A short impression of Medical Psychology (video - 2:58 min)

You will take the following courses:

Stress and Health
Sexology
Clinical Health Psychology in Medical Science
Psychological Assessment

Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Psychology

In the specialization Developmental and Lifespan Psychology, you focus on the development of people throughout their entire lifespan, from baby to senior. You explore applications used in youth care, health centers, clinics and schools. You can do this specialization in both English and Dutch.

You will investigate questions such as

In what way(s) do people change when they get older?
How do people become the way they are?
How do young people differ from older people?
How do adolescents think?

A short impression of Developmental Psychology and Lifespan Psychology (video - 2:24 min)

You will take the following courses:

Development of Personal Relationships
Positive Psychology and Development
Developmental Disorders
Psychological Assessment

Psychological Methods and Data Science

In the English-taught specialization Psychological Methods and Data Science, you focus on the application of modern and advanced methods in psychology. You explore applications used by a data analyst at, for example, test-and consultancy companies in health care, marketing, human resource management, and public administration.

You will investigate questions such as

How do we cluster individuals into a small number of meaningful subgroups, using a set of observed variables? For example, a set of symptoms.
How do we explore and visualize the relationship among a set of observed variables using a network approach?
How do we define and analyse models in which data have a nested multilevel structure?
How do we analyse conditional processes in path models?
How can we quantify evidence in the data in favor of a statistical hypothesis?
How can we adequately use “data science” approaches to social and behavioral research?

A short impression of Psychological Methods and Data Science (video - 2:51 min)

You will take the following courses:

Topics in Causal Analysis
Topics in Psychological and Sociological Measurement
Introduction to Statistical Science
Introduction to Data Science

Social Psychology

In the English-taught specialization Social Psychology, you focus on understanding and applying fundamental social-psychological issues in a social context. You explore applications of social psychology in policy and research departments at governments and in companies.

You'll investigate questions such as

What is normal behavior?
Who are we?
How can you influence people’s behavior?
Why do people behave the way they do?
How can you manipulate people for a good reason? For example, in case you want to stimulate people to exercise more or to go outside more often.

A short impression of Social Psychology (video - 2:43 min)

You will take the following courses:

Group Dynamics
Social Cognition
Evolutionary Psychology
Applied Social Psychology

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.

Why Psychology in Tilburg?

You get an excellent education in Psychology. This program is ranked among the best in the field of psychology in the Netherlands (QS World University Ranking, 2022; Times Higher Education Ranking, 2022). Tilburg University also has one of the few academic centers of expertise in the areas of Economic, Forensic and Medical Psychology in the Netherlands.
Self-direct your future career and design your own study program by choosing one of the nine majors and a minor to fit your academic interest and career aspirations. This unique combination will make you stand out on the job market.
Benefit from an interactive learning environment in a small-scale international classroom and personal guidance and coaching from an academic mentor. This mentor will support you throughout your study trajectory and help you achieve your full potential.
Gain international experience by spending a semester at a partner university abroad.

Interested in the Bachelor's program in Psychology?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application

What science should I study for psychology?

What do I need for a Psychology degree? It's important to be interested in science. As far as A-level subjects are concerned, at least one science subject is essential: Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry are all good choices. A-level Psychology, if your school offers it, is highly recommended.

What subjects do you need for a psychology degree?

Entry requirements A levels – While you don't need to have all three sciences at A level for a psychology degree, most universities prefer at least one out of chemistry, physics, biology, or maths. Overall, a combination of good, academic A level subjects is required.