Exploring the Psychology Program at Columbia University: A Comprehensive Overview

Columbia University's Psychology Department offers a multifaceted approach to understanding the human mind and behavior. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in psychological science, preparing them for various career paths and advanced studies. Whether you're a prospective undergraduate student, a current major, or someone considering a career change, this overview will provide valuable insights into the program's structure, requirements, and opportunities.

Undergraduate Programs: A Foundation in Psychological Science

Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science

Columbia College offers both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The BA provides more flexibility for students to explore humanities courses, particularly foreign languages, alongside their psychology studies.

Curriculum Overview

The Psychology Department provides a comprehensive curriculum encompassing research methods, cognition, neuroscience, developmental, social, and clinical areas. This curriculum is designed to prepare students for graduate education and provide a relevant background for fields like social work, education, medicine, law, and business.

Major Requirements

Students pursuing a Psychology major at Columbia University must complete a set of core requirements designed to provide a broad and deep understanding of the field. These requirements, which changed in 2020 for students entering the undergraduate program in Fall 2020 or later, are structured to ensure that students gain expertise in various areas of psychology.

To complete the Psychology Major, students must complete 11 courses in Psychology or an approved cognate discipline, taken for 3 or more points each, totaling 30 or more points. Each course can only fulfill one major requirement.

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Course Structure

The psychology curriculum is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field, starting with introductory courses and progressing to advanced seminars and research opportunities.

1000-Level Courses: These courses introduce students to psychology, research methods, and statistics. PSYC UN1001, "The Science of Psychology," is an introductory course with no prerequisites and serves as a foundation for most 2000-level courses.
2000-Level Courses: These lecture courses allow students to study specific content areas in greater depth, building upon the concepts introduced in PSYC UN1001. These courses cover perception and cognition (2200s), psychobiology and neuroscience (2400s), and social, personality, and abnormal psychology (2600s).
3000- and 4000-Level Seminars: These seminars are typically taken in the junior and senior years and require the instructor's permission. They serve as a culmination of the major program, allowing students to delve into specialized topics.

Key Requirements and Recommendations

Statistics and Research Methods: Majors are strongly advised to complete the statistics requirement and then the research methods requirement by the spring term of their junior year.
Seminar Courses: All courses offered through the Columbia Psychology Department and numbered in the 3200s, 3400s, 3600s, 4200s, 4400s, and 4600s count toward the seminar requirement. Enrollment in seminar courses requires the instructor's permission, and students are advised to contact instructors at least one month prior to registration to request admission.
Minimum Grade: A grade of C- or higher must be earned in any Columbia or Barnard course used to satisfy major requirements. Courses taken on a Pass/D/Fail basis may not be used unless the grade of P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline.
Approved Barnard Psychology Courses: The table of approved Barnard psychology courses indicates which courses have been approved for specific requirements of the Psychology major. Courses not on the approved list may only be applied toward a specific requirement with prior written approval from a program advisor.
Overlapping Course Content: Students will not receive credit for courses that overlap substantially with other courses they have taken in the department.

Transfer Credits and AP/IB Credit

Transfer Courses: For students completing the 11-course major, a maximum of 3 transfer courses from outside institutions can be applied toward the psychology major. Approval of transfer credits on a student's Entrance Credit Report toward general requirements for the bachelor's degree does not grant approval of these credits toward the psychology major.
AP/IB Credit: Beginning in Fall 2019, the Psychology Department accepts a score of 5 on the AP Psychology exam or a score of 7 on the Higher Level IB Psychology exam to meet the Science of Psychology requirement. However, College Board Advanced Placement (AP) statistics scores do not satisfy the statistics requirement.

Non-PSYC Courses

A maximum of 2 courses offered outside of Psychology departments (e.g., courses taken in the Statistics Department; cognate courses offered through Philosophy, Business, Law, etc.) may be applied toward the major.

Additional Opportunities

Beyond the core curriculum, Columbia University offers several opportunities for psychology students to enhance their learning and gain practical experience.

Research Opportunities

Students are encouraged to participate in research labs, either as volunteers or through supervised individual research (PSYC UN3950). The Senior Thesis Advanced Research (STAR) Program is available for students interested in pursuing a research-intensive experience.

Getting Involved in Research: All qualified students are welcome to apply to join a research lab and contribute to ongoing projects. Students may volunteer to work in a lab, register for supervised individual research (PSYC UN3950 Supervised Individual Research), or participate in the department’s Senior Thesis Advanced Research (STAR) Program.
Finding a Mentor: Students are advised to read about research laboratories on faculty lab sites and visit the professor’s office hours to discuss opportunities. It's important to confirm that a professor has agreed to mentor them before being admitted into the program.
Research and Field Work Courses: No more than 4 points of PSYC UN3950 Supervised Individual Research or PSYC UN3920 HONORS RESEARCH may be taken in any one term, and no more than 2 courses’ worth (8 points total) of research and field work courses may be applied toward the major.

Senior Thesis Advanced Research (STAR) Program

The Psych/Neuro Senior Thesis Advanced Research (STAR) program is designed for students aspiring to graduate with Academic Honors. Students complete an original research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Requirements for Academic Honors: Students must complete all components of the program, earn a GPA in the major of 3.6 or higher at the time of graduation, and be recommended by the Psychology department faculty.
Senior Thesis Advanced Research Seminar (UN3930): This is a two-hour, 1-4 credit course that meets biweekly, during which students present and discuss their ongoing research. Students in the course also attend the Psychology Department's Colloquium Series, which features researchers from outside the Department speaking on a variety of topics in Psychology/Neuroscience.

Preclinical Advising

Students interested in clinical psychology should gain experience in community service programs and supervised individual research. They should consult the department's pre-clinical adviser, Prof. E'mett McCaskill, and attend pre-clinical advising events for more information.

Neuroscience & Behavior Major

The Neuroscience & Behavior major is co-sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the Department of Biological Sciences. It requires eleven courses in addition to one year of college general chemistry: seven from the Department of Biological Sciences and five from the Department of Psychology (commonly referred to as P1-P5). Students should consult their Program Advisor in the Psychology department before registering for psychology courses offered outside the department.

Transfer Courses for N&B Majors

Transfer courses taken in any modality (in-person, online, or hybrid) may be eligible to count toward P1. Students who wish to obtain credit for a course taken at Barnard or at another institution should complete the Major Requirement Substitution Form.

Important Considerations for N&B Majors

Statistics courses taken anywhere other than Columbia or Barnard may not be counted toward the N&B major; AP Statistics also is not able to count toward the Statistics (i.e., P3) requirement.
It can be difficult to fit a study-abroad semester into the N&B major because the Biology requirements include two year-long course sequences.

Postbac Program

For individuals seeking to strengthen their qualifications for graduate studies in psychology, Columbia University offers a Postbac Program. This intensive, 1-2 year program provides coursework and research experience, along with structured support and advisement.

Program Focus

The Postbac Program is designed for students interested in graduate study in all areas of psychology, including clinical, cognitive, personality, social, physiological, and industrial/organizational, as well as cognitive neuroscience. It aims to prepare students for admission to Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs.

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Program Outcomes

While the program does not guarantee acceptance into a specific graduate program, it provides motivated students with the opportunities they need to succeed in their applications.

Advising Resources

The Department of Psychology offers various advising resources to support prospective and current undergraduate majors and concentrators.

Types of Advisors

Peer Advisors: Provide guidance and support from a student perspective.
Faculty Advisors: Offer general advice on class choices, research opportunities, and post-graduation plans.
Program Advisors: Provide definitive answers to questions regarding major requirements, transfer credit, and other degree-related aspects.

Key Steps in Program Planning

Consult Advisors: Students are encouraged to consult with Peer, Faculty, and Program Advisers as they plan their course of study in Psychology or Neuroscience and Behavior.
Major Requirement Checklist: Before consulting a program adviser, all majors and concentrators in Psychology and majors in Neuroscience and Behavior should complete a Major Requirement Checklist (MRC).
Final Semester Checklist: Prior to the start of their final semester, all seniors must submit a Major Requirement Checklist showing all major courses they have taken and those they plan to take.

General Information and Policies

Pass/D/Fail Courses

Courses taken on a Pass/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy major or concentration requirements unless the grade of P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline.

Overlapping Course Content

Students cannot receive credit for two courses-one completed at Columbia and one at another institution (including Barnard)-if those courses have largely overlapping content.

Study Abroad

Students planning to study abroad should consult with their Program Advisor prior to selecting their courses to see which ones are likely to be able to count toward major requirements.

Summer Session Courses

Any course offered by the Psychology Department during the Summer Session is applicable toward the same major requirement(s) as the corresponding course of that same number offered during the academic year.

Program Goals

The department's program goals start with the development of a solid knowledge base in psychological science. Most of these program goals are introduced in PSYC UN1001 THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHOLOGY, the recommended first psychology course required for all majors that satisfies the prerequisite for most 2000-level courses. These goals are extended and reinforced in our statistics (1600-level) and research methods (1400-level) research methods courses, as well as in the 2000-level lecture courses and 3000- and 4000-level seminars.

Career Paths and Opportunities

A BA in Psychology from Columbia University prepares students for a wide range of career paths and further academic pursuits. The program emphasizes clear communication, critical thinking, and a leading-edge understanding of the field.

Career Preparation

The curriculum equips students with an understanding of cognitive, emotional, and social behavior, and the skills needed to help individuals and organizations overcome challenges in a broad range of fields.

Online Learning Options

Columbia College offers flexible options, including many degrees offered 100% online, making it easier to adapt to changing circumstances and pursue education.

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