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Psychology, B.A.

Understand How Humans Behave, Think and Feel

Find your career in:

Alumni are prepared for creative roles that require research skills, empathy and an understanding of human behavior.

The course work teaches you effective communication skills, networking abilities and problem solving.

Mediation and deescalating skills are important to crisis intervention.

Understanding behavior is important to careers in law enforcement and helping people be successful in society.

Psychological concepts, including motivational factors and reward systems, are helpful to HR professionals.

Learn To

Think critically about and analyze psychology concepts and literature

Effectively communicate psychological concepts and research

Present and interpret quantitative data in psychological research

Psychology, B.A. Program Overview

The Value of Research

The UNCW Department of Psychology supports an outstanding undergraduate program and is strongly committed to involving students in the research process. You will work closely with our outstanding faculty as a junior colleague to investigate a wide variety of topics including basic brain processes, drug effects, memory-improvement techniques, social cognitive factors underlying prejudice, ways to reduce school violence and the evaluation of psychological treatments.

Service Learning

Apply what you learn in the classroom to real life settings. The study of psychology gives you the chance to use technology, learn to communicate and be able to analyze ideas critically.

Sample Courses in Psychology

View sample courses
PSY 105 General Psychology
PSY 225 Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
PSY 275 Forensic Psychology
PSY 355 Introduction to Experimental Psychology
PSY 412 Sensation and Perception - Capstone
PSY 450 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
See The Full Curriculum

Admission to the Major

  • Complete PSY 105 or equivalent with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better
  • Complete a biology course with lab selected from BIO 105, BIO 140, BIO 201, BIO 202, or BIO 240
  • Complete a MAT 101 or higher (excluding MAT 105, 141, 142), STT 210, or STT 215)
  • An average grade of C (2.0) or better is required in the three courses required for admission to the major (i.e., PSY 105 and the required biology and math courses)
  • Students who have completed more than one psychology course must have an average of "C" (2.0) or better on all psychology courses attempted

You will be listed as a “pre-psychology” major initially. Once you complete the requirements, you must manually change your major from pre-psychology to psychology.

Learn more about the degree program

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  • Related Programs

    Psychology Minor

    The department offers an 18-hour minor in psychology.

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    Neuroscience Minor

    Develop an understanding of the fundamentals of this emerging field which brings together the study of brain behavior and cognition.

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    Forensic Science Minor

    Elective courses will prepare you for further education and training in a graduate program or professional school, basic law enforcement training (BLET), or for an entry-level position in a job-setting pertinent to their selected major combined with the forensic science minor.

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    This minor is ideal for students who anticipate a career working with women or in fields related to gender equity, social justice, or diversity issues.

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  • Graduate Programs to Consider Next

    Psychology, M.S.

    UNCW’s graduate program has three concentrations: applied behavior analysis, psychological science and neuroscience and behavior.

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    Psychology, Ph.D.

    The Department of Psychology offers a doctoral program in three concentrations: general clinical, applied behavior analysis, and psychological science.

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