All psychology majors must take a general psychology course. This class covers the basic concepts and theories used in the field of psychology. The history of psychology, important figures and theorists, key concepts of each sub-discipline of psychology and important terminology are discussed. After taking an introductory psychology course, students should be able to discuss the most important studies and research findings in the field of psychology.
Many psychology programs require that students take a research methodology course. This course covers basic experimental designs as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Students should learn common methods for doing research in the various sub-disciplines of psychology and be able to read and discuss scientific articles. Writing documents in American Psychological Association (APA) style is also emphasized in a research methods course.
All students of psychology need a strong background in statistics to understand scientific articles and report results of research studies. Undergraduate courses cover basic concepts in statistics and how to properly analyze research data. Students learn what statistical tests are appropriate for a given data set and how to report results accurately and appropriately. Statistics coursework is sometimes combined with or offered in conjunction to a research methodology course.
Many psychology programs require that students take at least one course from four or five sub-disciplines of psychology. Although each program differs slightly, these core sub-disciplines are often considered biological psychology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, clinical psychology and developmental psychology. Students generally take at least one course from each to ensure that they have a broad understanding of the field of psychology, not just one particular sub-discipline.
Many elective courses are offered by psychology departments and related departments. Students may take elective courses in biology, neuroscience, education or business to complement their studies of psychology. Dozens of psychology electives exist, and course offerings differ widely across departments.
Some of the more common electives include psychology of learning, industrial/organizational psychology, adolescent psychology, sensation and perception, psychology of prejudice, human sexuality, forensic psychology and psychology of gender. Different schools specialize within in these areas of psychology, so consult your school's course catalog to discover if there are additional courses in your area of interest.