As a freshman, students interested in psychology can look for introductory courses that acquaint them with basic terminology and provide overviews of the subject. An introduction to psychology remains a standard choice, but you can also look for courses that examine the study of psychology as either a social science or a biologic science. Some colleges offer thematic courses on topics such as sexuality and relationships, sports psychology or issues in contemporary psychology.
The courses available in sophomore year become noticeably more difficult and intend to scare away all but the serious future psychologists. Most colleges and universities require a course in statistics and research methods at this juncture, along with a course with a lab requirement such as developmental or social psychology. Other popular courses for second-year students include learning and memory courses and multicultural psychology.
Courses reserved for those who have declared their major in psychology include abnormal psychology, tests and measurement, cognition, social psychology, industrial or organizational psychology, personality, psychopharmacology and research methods. These courses require completion of prerequisites, so only students who are psychology majors typically take these classes.
Seniors majoring in psychology can take courses in comparative psychology, cognitive psychology, counseling and psychotherapy. Psychology majors also can take courses that concentrate on specialties in child, adolescent, midlife or geriatric developmental psychology in preparation for attending graduate school or working in the field.