Psychology

Major and minor

Ever wonder why that certain smell brings you back to childhood? Or why you get dizzy after a ride on the merry-go-round? Or how Mozart could compose operas before the age of 10? Find out the answers as a psychology major at UC Davis. Psychology is an interdisciplinary program that examines both the social and scientific bases of behavior; and as a premier research institution, UC Davis is home to many leading researchers in the field of psychology. You'll be able to choose between a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree and take classes from our five core areas: social/personality psychology, psychobiology, perception/cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and quantitative psychology.

Real World Outcomes

Depending on the path you choose, you'll be well prepared for graduate work in the health sciences, law, business or psychology. As a UC Davis graduate with a degree in psychology, you'll also be suited for a career in teaching, the ministry, social work or counseling, among many others.

A Curiosity-driven Career

Jonathan Helm got his first taste of psychology research during his second year as a UC Davis undergraduate. After earning three UC Davis psychology degrees — a bachelor’s in 2008, a master’s in 2010 and a doctoral in 2013 — Helm is now an assistant professor of quantitative psychology at San Diego State University. Read about his journey and his advice for psychology majors.

Aggie Network Builds Yelp Recruitment Team

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association helps two psychology-sociology double majors prepare for careers at the crowd-sourcing company Yelp.

Requirements

You'll begin your studies with a generalized psychology course to introduce you to the multifaceted subject matter. And after taking the foundational research methods and statistics courses, you'll be better equipped to take our advanced psychology courses. If you're pursuing a Bachelor of Science, you'll be taking a series of mathematics, chemistry and biological science courses on top of the depth subject matter. Bachelor of Arts pursuants will have the opportunity to take a number of humanities and/or science courses while completing the in-depth subject matter. Regardless of degree or area of study, the sky's the limit when it comes to conducting original research, assisting faculty with their own projects or participating in an internship.

What Can I Do with a Major in Psychology?

From professors to parliament, read more about the versatility of a psychology major.