Advising, Schedules, and Beginning of Semester Questions

#1. Do I need an advisor?

#2. How do I get my course schedule signed?

#3. I have a very general question about the psychology major. Who do I contact?

#4. I have a question about senior essays or senior requirements. Who do I contact?

#5. I have a kind of weird specific question. Who do I contact?

#6. How do I make an appointment with the DUS?

Getting To Know The Major

#7. Which courses count as “core courses”?

#8. Which courses count as List A versus List B?

#9. Can courses outside of psychology count for List A or List B courses?

#10. I got a 5 in AP Psychology. Do I have to take Introduction to Psychology at Yale?

#11. Can I count a course outside of the psychology dept for psychology major credit?

#12. Can I petition to count a course for credit after I’ve already taken it?

#13. How many courses outside the department can I use for psychology major credit?

#14. How many Cr/D/F courses can I count toward the major?
#15. How can I know if the course I really want to take will be offered next year?

#16. How can I know if the course I really want to take will have enough spaces (and what happens if I get shut out)?

#17. Can courses other than PSYC 200 can count for the statistics requirement?

#18. I’m trying to decide between majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science. What are the differences?

#19. Where can I find information about the Neuroscience Track?

Research Experiences

#20. Do psych majors have opportunities to get research experience?

#21. How do I go about finding an undergraduate research experience?
#22. Where can I find a list of research opportunities?
#23. I want to take a Directed Reading/Research course. What do I do?

#24. Can I receive a research credit during summer?

#25. Are there grants available for undergraduate research?

Senior Requirements

#26. I am a Junior. Do I have to do something special for the Senior Requirement?

#27. I am not seeking Distinction in the Major.  Do I have to submit a senior essay?

#28. What is the “substantial writing requirement”?

#29. I previously took a Directed Research (or Reading) course and wrote a 5-page
        paper.  Can I get a credit for this toward my senior requirement?

#30. If I am seeking Distinction and submitting a senior essay, do I have to write a
       separate senior essay in addition to the substantial writing requirement?

#31. I pre-registered for a 400-level senior seminar.  What are my options for fulfilling
       the second senior requirement credit?

#32. I am planning to take two semesters of Directed Research to fulfill my senior
       requirement.  May I still preregister for a senior seminar?

#33. I am seeking a BA degree with Distinction.  Do I have to write a literature review
       for my senior essay or can I do an empirical research project?

Study Abroad

#34. I am planning to study abroad.  Where should I start?

#35. How do I pick courses to count toward the major for the study abroad application?

#36. How many Psychology courses taken abroad can I count towards the major?

#37. How would I know that studying abroad will not interfere with my completing the
        psychology major requirements? 

#38. Do grades received in courses taken abroad count in the calculation of Distinction in
        the major?

Career, Graduate School, and Departmental Awards

#39. How do I apply for graduate schools in psychology?

#40. What can I do with a Psychology major when I graduate?

#41. I’ve heard of Psi Chi. What is it?

#42. Are there other awards for Psychology majors?

Advising, Schedules, and Beginning of Semester Information

Question #1. Do I need an advisor?

Yes. We recommend that you pick one of the people listed on the DUS Office Advisory Board (click here for the list and contact information) as your advisor. You can then contact this person whenever any questions arise.  This person should also be the one who signs your schedule (see Question #2).

Question #2. How do I get my course schedule signed?

If you are a junior or senior in the psychology major, we recommend that your course schedule be signed by the person you picked as your psychology advisor. This will allow you to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to check in about your progress in the major. However, if this person is unavailable, any one of the Psychology Department Major Advisors (see full list and contact information here) can sign your schedule.

Question #3. I have a very general question about the psychology major. Who should I contact?

First, check our our Psychology Major Survival Guide, which has lots of general information about the major. Next, be sure you’ve looked over this FAQ page in detail. We’ve designed this page so that you can find the answers to many of the most common questions about the major here (Looking over this page first can also save you the hassle of emailing the DUS or a Psychology Department Major Advisor member and the time it takes to wait for a reply). If you can’t find the answer to your general question on this webpage, then feel free to email any of the people listed on the Psychology Department Major Advisor List (click here for the list and contact information).

Question #4. I have a question about senior essays or senior requirements. Who should I contact?

You should email the Senior Thesis Director (psych.thesis@yale.edu) with any questions related to senior year requirements.

Question #5. I have a kind of weird specific question (e.g., question about getting credit for courses taken outside of Yale, counting courses from outside of psychology towards your major, other exceptional circumstances)

For specific questions, you should email the DUS (Professor Kim-Cohen) directly. You can also make an appointment to meet with Professor Kim-Cohen or visit without an appointment during her official office hours (which are listed here).

Question #6. How do I make an appointment with the DUS?

Just send Professor Kim-Cohen an email (julia.kim-cohen@yale.edu). Note that you can also make

Psychology Course Questions

Question #7. Which courses count as “core courses”?

Core courses are survey courses that introduce students to major areas of psychology and provide additional background for more advanced courses. Only introductory level courses (100-level courses) that end in zero can count as core courses. These include. PSYC 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, & 180. Note that you must take two core course total. one from List A and one from List B.

Question #8. Which courses count as List A versus List B?

Because psychology is so diverse a subject, we require that every student take at least two courses from the social science point of view in psychology (List A) and at least two from the natural science point of view (List B). For a handy list of which courses count as List A versus List B, click here.

Question #9. Can courses outside of psychology count for List A or List B courses?

No, only psychology courses can count as List A or List B requirements.

Question #10. I got a 5 in AP Psychology. Do I have to take Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110a or 110b) at Yale?

No. For those who got a 5 on their AP exam, PSYC 110a/b is optional, not required.

Question #11. Can I count a course outside of the psychology department for psychology major credit?

This is possible in rare circumstances, but the decision to count a course outside the major will be decided on a case-by-case basis via petition to the DUS. To petition to count a course outside the psychology major, you will need to send the DUS an email with the following information. (1) a completed “Petition Form” (downloadable here), (2) a copy of course syllabus, and (3) a copy of the course reading lists. Petitions that do not include these three pieces of information will be rejected. The DUS will then look these materials over on a case-by-case basis. Note that most courses outside the psychology major will not be approved for psychology major credit. To count for credit, a course must (1) focus directly on a specific psychological issue (e.g., mental illness, memory, etc.) and (2) have considerable psychological content (i.e., many readings that cover primary research published in psychological journals). Examples of courses that were not approved are listed here. If the DUS does approve your petition, make sure you obtain a written documentation (e-mail or official letter) and keep this information for your own record.

Question #12. Can I petition to count a course for credit after I’ve already taken it?

Yes, there is no deadline for course petition. But again, as explained above (see Question #10) most petitions are not approved, so be sure to plan wisely and petition early whenever possible.

Question #13. How many courses outside the department can be used for psychology major credit?

You can count up to three non-psychology courses towards psychology major credit.

Question #14. Can courses taken Credit/D/Fail be applied toward the major?

No more than two term courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major. For the Class of 2012 and subsequent classes, no 200-level course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major.

Question #15. How can I know if the course I really want to take will be offered next year?

Sadly, there is no real way to determine which courses will be offered next year before courses are posted on OCI during the summer. However, if you're hoping to take a specific course, it’s a good idea to contact the professor that usually teaches that course to find out if they intend to teach it again, or whether they will be on sabbatical, etc. (They may have a firm sense of what they'll teach next year long before the official list appears.) Also, note that many 400-level seminars closely track faculty interests from year to year, and that many professors teach a particular seminar only once!

Question #16. How do I know if the course I really want to take will have enough spaces (and what happens if I get shut out)?

Sadly, there is no real way to determine which courses will need to be lotteried until shopping week. That said, there are certain important courses that are limited/lotteried nearly every year. For example, research methods courses (especially those neuroscience track students) are always limited (this is due to the need for computer and other facilities that only hold a limited number of students). For this reason, research methods courses often tend to be over-subscribed. We therefore strongly suggest that you plan to shop these courses before your senior year.  You can save yourself a senior year headache by taking these courses early.

Question #17. Can courses other than PSYC 200 can count for the statistics requirement?

We strongly recommend that students take PSYC 200. However, because of time conflicts, we do sometimes allow other courses to count. We can count STAT 103 as fulfilling our statistics requirement, and you do not need to do anything to count this course. For all other statistics course, the DUS will need to see the syllabus of that course for the current semester to make sure the proposed course covers all necessary concepts. Please note that most other stats classes offered at Yale do not cover the necessary material. In particular, if a proposed course does not cover two-way ANOVA, the DUS cannot approve it.

Question #18. I’m trying to decide between majoring in Psychology and Cognitive Science. What are the differences?

There are some similarities between Psychology and Cognitive Science majors. Both focus on questions related to how the mind works. However, the two majors have a different focus. Your best bet to learn more would be to look through the requirements of each program, and see which program best encompasses the set of courses you are hoping to take. You can also chat in person with the DUS or each major to hear more about the similarities and differences (For more information about cognitive science, click here.)

Question #19. Where can I find information about the Neuroscience Track within the Psychology Major?

There’s information in on our Requirements page. You can also check out the “Virtual Neuroscience Advising Worksheet” which gives a virtual about way to see what classes are required and when. If you have other questions, check out the FAQ on this website, or contact the Neuroscience Track advisor.

Research Experiences

Question #20. Do psychology majors have the opportunity to get research experiences in psychology?

Definitely! In fact, most of our psychology majors gain some psychological research experience during their time at Yale. Most of the time, students do this by finding positions as research assistants, either during the academic year here at Yale, or over the summer break at Yale or elsewhere.

Question #21. What undergraduate research opportunities are available?

There are many, many undergraduate research opportunities available to you! Most psychology laboratories at Yale have opportunities for undergraduates to get involved (Click here for a long list of available labs). Some labs take on undergraduates during the academic year either for academic credit, for pay (through work-study program, etc.) or on a volunteer basis. Some labs will also hire undergraduate research assistants (RAs) full-time over the summer break.

Question #22. Where can I find a list of all the available research opportunities for undergraduate students?

Our department does keep a website that lists some of the research opportunities available each semester (click here for a listed of posted ads, and here for a more complete list of the labs that work with undergraduate research students). However, this list DOES NOT represent all the research opportunities available to you as a Yale student. Unlike classes and other academic experiences, you usually need to do some work to seek out research opportunities. No matter what type of position you're looking for (course credit, summer, paid, volunteer, etc.), the process is basically the same. Your first step will be to figure out which professors are doing work that you find especially interesting. To help start this search at Yale, get to know what the professors in the Psychology department do and what research questions they’re working on. The best way to learn more is to google different professors, read about their work, and think about what you’d find interesting. Once you’ve learned more, you can simply email the professors you want to work with to ask if they have any research opportunities available. Note, however, that professors get lots of emails from interested students. This means that you’re much more likely to actually be accepted for a research opportunity if you can demonstrate that you are truly informed about the work being done in the lab. Before contacting professors out of the blue, take some time to find out what they're working on, and read several of their recent papers. By taking the time and effort to find out about some of the details of the work, you'll demonstrate that you have you're committed to the relevant area of study and that you're not desperately mass-emailing professors (which, as you’ve probably guessed, most professors don’t like very much).

Question #23. I want to take a Directed Reading/Research course. What do I do?

First, you have to get a faculty member to agree to supervise such a course for you. This process for doing this is very similar to the process described above (see Question #21). Once you and a faculty member have discussed a project and agreed on a plan of action, then download a tutorial form from FORMS (Make sure to download the form relevant for the specific course you’re planning to enroll in). Bring this form to the faculty member who has agreed to supervise you. At this point, the topic should be chosen and the format of the course should be determined. Keep in mind that the workload for this course must be equivalent to other courses offered at Yale. You two should also agree upon the basis of the evaluation. Once you two agree on the plans, fill out the form, and obtain the advisor’s signature on the form. Then make two copies of the forms. Keep one for yourself and give the other copy to your advisor. Submit the original to the person who signs your schedule (such as your advisor or DUS) when you register for the semester. You will not be able to get your schedule signed unless you have this tutorial form when you register for a directed reading/research course.

Question #24. Can I receive a research credit during summer?

No. We do not offer a Directed Reading or Directed Research course during the summer. Therefore, one cannot get a credit for research done during the summer.

Question #25. Are there grants available for undergraduate research?

Yes! Yale College has a number of funding opportunities (click here and here for summaries). Of these funding sources, two are typically used by psychology students. the Yale College Dean's Research Fellowship in the Sciences and the Yale College Dean's Research Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences have both funded psychology undergraduates to conduct research with Yale faculty over the summers.

Senior Requirements

Question #26. I am a Junior. Do I have to do something special for the Senior Requirement?

Yes. You should start thinking about how to fulfill the senior requirement. In addition, all Juniors must complete a "senior requirements" form by the end of their Junior year. For more information, see the Senior Requirement page.

Question #27. I am not seeking Distinction in the Major.  Do I have to submit a senior essay at the end of my senior year?

No.  You can simply fulfill your senior requirement by taking 2 credits at the 400-495 level.  For each credit, students must fulfill a substantial writing requirement, and at least one of the credits must be taken in the Senior year.  Only students seeking Distinction are required to submit a senior essay.  For more details regarding the senior requirement, click here.

Question #28. What is the “substantial writing requirement”?

“Substantial writing” means a final paper with a minimum length of 20 pages for a full-credit course (400-494), or a final paper with a minimum length of 10 pages for a half-credit course (495). 

Question #29. I previously took a Directed Research (or Reading) course and wrote a 5-page paper and gave a presentation.  Can I get a credit for this toward my senior requirement?

No.  Although this credit can count toward the major and toward graduation, it cannot fulfill a senior requirement credit because it does not meet the “substantial writing requirement” of at least 20 pages.

Question #30. If I am seeking Distinction and submitting a senior essay, do I have to write a separate senior essay in addition to the substantial writing requirement in each of my 400-level courses?

No.  You may submit a paper that was written for credit in one of your 400-level courses.  The paper should be a minimum of 20 pages.

Question #31. I preregistered for a 400-level senior seminar.  What are my options for fulfilling the second senior requirement credit? Can I take two senior seminars to fulfill my 2 credit senior requirement?

Yes, you can fulfill your senior requirement with a senior seminar. 400-level courses include senior seminars, Directed Reading, Directed Research, and half-credit lab courses (Psyc 495). So you may take two senior seminars to fulfill both senior requirement credits, but we can pre-register you for only one seminar.  Preregistration for senior seminars takes place at the end of the Junior year.

Question #32. I am planning to take two semesters of Directed Research to fulfill my senior requirement.  May I still preregister for a senior seminar?

All rising seniors may pre-register for a senior seminar for their senior year.  However, if there is a shortage of slots available for senior seminars, priority will be given to students who need a senior seminar in order to fulfill their senior requirement.

Question #33. I am seeking a BA degree with Distinction.  Do I have to write a literature review for my senior essay or can I do an empirical research project?

There are no restrictions in research format for students seeking a BA.  For a BA degree with Distinction, the senior essay can be a literature review or empirical study.

Study Abroad

Question #34. I am planning to study abroad.  Where should I start?

For general information, please visit IEFP/study abroad or the Center for International Experience.

Question #35. How do I select courses that will count toward the Psychology major for the study abroad application?

In consultation with the DUS, you can select courses that have a substantial amount of Psychology content.  In order to receive official approval from the DUS to count those courses toward your psychology credits, you will need to submit the syllabi, which include reading lists and requirements. In most cases, however, those materials are not available when you apply for study abroad programs. Thus, we can make initial selections based on the brief course descriptions, and if you want to make sure that those courses would count towards your Psychology credit, you should e-mail the DUS those materials when you register for the courses.

Question #36. How many Psychology courses taken abroad can I count towards the major?

We don’t have a limit. But see the next question. 

Question #37. How would I know that studying abroad will not interfere with my completing the psychology major requirements? 

Fill out the major worksheet (downloadable on the FORMS webpage) and e-mail or bring it to the DUS.  We also STRONGLY recommend that you take statistics (Psych 200) and a research method course BEFORE you study abroad because you need to take these courses before you start your senior thesis project. Also, these courses are rarely offered in other foreign institutions. Furthermore, even if you study abroad for only one semester, there is no guarantee that these courses will be offered during the semester that you are back at Yale. Psych 200 and research methods courses are offered either in the Fall or Spring, depending on the availability of the instructors. Note that you cannot count on last year’s schedule to predict which semester these courses will be offered. Therefore, the safest thing to do is to take these courses before you study abroad. If this is not feasible, talk to the DUS.

Question #38. Do grades received in courses taken abroad count in the calculation of Distinction in the major?

Yes.

Career and Graduate School

Question #39. How do I apply for graduate schools in psychology?

There is an excellent book on this topic published by APA titled "Getting In. A Step-by-Step Plan For Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology". You can buy it on the APA Website or on Amazon.

Question #40. What can I do with a Psychology major when I graduate?

Well, the short answer is that you can do pretty much anything with a Psychology degree. For more specifics, check out the APA webpage on psychology careers.

Question #41. I’ve heard of Psi Chi. What is it?

Psi Chi is the undergraduate honor society in Psychology (for more information about this society, click here. Yale has its own chapter of Psi Chi. Students are chosen for induction during their Junior Year based on academic excellence and promise in the major.

Question #42. Are there other awards for Psychology majors?

The psychology department has are two senior essay prizes for graduating seniors. Details can be found here. However, psychology students are eligible for lots of undergraduate prizes. Click here for more details.

Requirements  •  Courses  •  Advising  •  Seniors  •  Forms  •  Research Opportunities • FAQs