The major

The major | Course descriptions | Degree requirements

The Psychology Major

The Psychology major is designed for people who want to learn about people--how they think, how they behave, and why. It focuses on the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes; as a Psychology major, you'll learn how to scientifically analyze humans, and dip into the wealth of prior research.

The Psychology major is a good choice for people interested in careers in the helping professions, or any job in which you work with people.

Deciding to Be a Psychology Major

If you are thinking of becoming a Psychology major but aren't quite sure if it's a good major for you, here are some things that you should do to help you decide:

• Read through these web pages, and contact us if you have any questions.
• Read the book, "Is Psychology The Major for You?" You can check it out from the Psychology Department office.
• Visit the Counseling Center--they've got lots of tests and resources to help you decide on the right major.
• Talk to upper division Psychology majors, and ask them what it's like to be a Psychology major.
• Talk to the faculty.
• Talk with psychologists to find out what they do.
• Take some Psychology courses. Good ones to help you decide if Psychology is a good major for you include Psychology 104, 234, 304, and 344.

Types of Psychology Major

The LSU Psychology Department has two majors--Psychology and Psychobiology. There are also three minors available: Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. So, which version is best for you?

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology is made up of a set of requirements that introduce you to the most important topics that are needed to get into graduate school, or to prepare you for future work. It's a great choice for a major if you want to learn about the scientific bases of human behavior and mental processes.

If you want to explore the biological side of Psychology, then the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology/Psychobiology is a joint program of the Departments of Psychology and Biology. It emphasizes the biological correlates of behavior, and it is designed for students who plan to go on to postgraduate work in psychobiology or the health sciences. It is also a good choice for a major if you are interested in medicine, dentistry, or other health-related professions; in fact, many of the requirements for the major are also pre-medicine or pre-dentistry requirements.

If you have another major, but would like to have a significant experience in Psychology, consider a minor in Psychology.

The Psychology Major and the Honors Program

Because research is a big part of Psychology (and a big part of the Psychology Major), it's a good idea to join the Honors Program, if you are eligible. If you do, you'll get a significant amount of research experience both in your major and in the Honors Program. As a result, you'll be as prepared for graduate school as possible.

Many of our Psychology Honors students present their papers at professional conferences, and several have published articles in professional journals as a result of their honors projects.