PSYCHOLOGY at University of Florida

Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. Psychology majors receive a broad science-based liberal arts education. As a result, those with a Bachelor of Science in psychology are widely sought in business, education, and mental health fields. For a professional career in psychology, a graduate degree is needed.

The psychology curriculum at UF provides a strong background to pursue careers in psychology or to prepare students for entry into advanced professional schools such as law or medicine. The curriculum emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge, both as a natural science and as a social science.

Students in the psychology major can specialize in general psychology, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, and behavior analysis. All specializations require coursework in psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology, and all offer the option to conduct a senior honors thesis if desired. The specializations vary in the specific courses necessary to complete the degree requirements. General psychology requires courses in four core areas within the discipline as well as elective psychology courses. Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and allows students to take limited approved non-psychology courses relevant to contemporary neuroscience. This specialization also requires more math and biology courses than general psychology. Behavior analysis also focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and how the environment around an organism can be modified to change behavior.