Rice Psychology Department
campus picture

Undergraduate Psychology Program: Requirements

Psychology Major Requirements


  1. Complete 29 hours in psychology

  2. Complete the core courses
    1. PSYC 101 - Introductory (AP credit accepted)
    2. PSYC 202- Social
    3. PSYC 203- Cognitive
    4. PSYC 339- Statistics
    5. PSYC 340- Research Methods


  3. Complete at least one Block I class
    1. PSYC 308 Memory
    2. PSYC 309 Language
    3. PSYC 350 Learning
    4. PSYC 351 Perception
    5. PSYC 360 Thinking
    6. PSYC 362 Biopsychology
    7. PSYC 375 Neuropsychology of Language and Memory

  4. Complete at least one Block II course
    1. PSYC 321 Developmental
    2. PSYC 329 Testing
    3. PSYC 330 Personality
    4. PSYC 331 Gender
    5. PSYC 332 Abnormal
    6. PSYC 353 Emotion & Motivation

  5. Complete at least six hours of electives

Students are encouraged to take PSYC 339 and PSYC 340 as soon as possible, preferably by the end of their sophomore year.

As a rule, students may receive psychology department credit only for classes taught in a psychology department or by psychologists in another department who are specifically cross-listed for that purpose. You may petition the Undergraduate Committee for an exception.


Transfer Credit


Graduation Requirements

  1. Be registered at Rice full time for at least 4 full fall and/or spring semesters
  2. Complete the requirements of at least the Psychology Department
  3. Complete at least 120 semester hours
  4. Complete at least 60 semester hours at Rice University
  5. Complete at least 48 hours of all degree work in upper-level courses (at the 300 level or higher)
  6. Complete more than half of the upper-level courses in degree work at Rice
  7. Complete more than half of the upper-level courses in Psychology at Rice
  8. Complete all Rice courses satisfying degree requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.67 or higher
  9. Complete all Rice courses that satisfy the Psychology major requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 or higher
  10. Satisfy the English composition requirement
  11. Satisfy the Lifetime Physical Activity Program (LPAP) requirement by completing two noncredit courses in LPAP
  12. Satisfy the distribution requirement by completing at least 12 semester hours of designated distribution courses in each of Groups I, II, and III
  13. Otherwise be a student in good academic and disciplinary standing and not under investigation

For details on any of the above requirements, please visit the 2007-2008 catalog.


Rice University-Psychology Department | 464 Sewall Hall, Houston, Texas 77005 USA | 713.348.4856