Confirm and arrange all credit requests with both the Registrar and the current Psychology Department Chairperson.

AP and IB Credit

Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Transfer Credit (TC) from courses at other institutions can be used in some instances as credit toward the major and/or toward graduation.

Psychology AP score of 4 or 5 qualifies for credit toward PY100 or PY105.

IB Higher Level (HL) Psychology score of 5, 6, or 7 qualifies for credit toward PY100 or PY105.  IB Higher Level (HL) Psychology score of 4 and Standard Level 5, 6, or 7 qualifies for graduation requirements but not Psychology major requirements.

Transfer Credit

A total of one or two courses of Transfer credit (C- or better) toward the major requirements are possible subject to Departmental approval. Course enrollment limits and the Seniority system used during preregistration might create significant enrollment obstacles in required courses for transfer students wishing to major in psychology, particularly for transfer students arriving after their sophomore year.  

Introduction to Psychology, Electives, Methods (I or II), or Core Courses might be satisfied by equivalent transfer credit.  Transfer credit is NOT possible for the Research (PY251/451) or Seminar (PY400-level) requirements; These must be completed at Colorado College.

The Psychology Major can be declared once you have completed an Introduction to Psychology course (PY100 or PY105 or AB or IB credit) and a PY205 Introduction to Methods & Statistics course.  Declaring the major adds your name to the college's and department's lists of majors, helping to ensure you receive all important notices regarding the major.

1. Complete the courses listed above with a C- or better grade.
2. Review the requirements for the major in preparation for completing the forms.
3. Review the CC Honor Code (highly recommended).
4. Contact the Psychology Office to be assigned an advisor.
5. Complete the Registrar's Declaration of Major listing the assigned advisor.
6. Submit a professional-looking headshot photo of yourself to the Psychology Paraprofessional for the dept bulletin board and website (highly recommended).

NOTE: Discussion of your interests in the major and your career are not limited to your specific advisor - you can contact and discuss your interests with any faculty member in the department.

*Guidelines only - See the Registrar's catalogue listing for all official course prerequisites.

PY100-level courses (e.g., PY100, PY116, PY160, etc.) have no prerequisites.  An Introduction to Psychology course (PY100 or PY105) satisfies a major requirement and is a prerequisite for most upper level (200, 300, 400) courses.

PY200-level courses (e.g., PY205, PY281, PY296, PY299, etc.) generally require (PY100 or PY105) or another introductory course (e.g., ED101 for PY270 or MB131 for PY299) as prerequisites. Most 200-level courses count as a Core Course for the major requirements. PY205 and PY296/PY299 are important prerequisites for many upper level (300, 400) courses.

PY251 is COI and an important entry into learning to conduct research.  It satisfies the Research Experience major requirement (as does PY451).

Advanced Methods (a.k.a. "Methods II" e.g., PY301, PY305) and all PY300-level "core courses" require PY205 as a prerequisite. Advanced Methods sections have topical foci such that multiple courses can be taken for credit.

PY400-level senior seminars typically require PY205 and/or PY296/PY299 and frequently another core course from that subfield (e.g., PY362 or PY374 for PY430).

PY451 is a COI capstone research project experience and highly recommended for anyone considering graduate work in Psychology or a related field.  It satisfies the Research Experience major requirement (as does PY251).

Criteria for Graduating with Distinction in Psychology:

1. Minimum GPA of 3.6 in Psychology
2. No more than two courses taken on the P-track (S/CR/NC).
3. Final Project (PY451) judged worthy of distinction by the faculty.
   To graduate with honors the student must complete a final research project that deemed worthy of distinction. At a minimum, the project must be completed and submitted on time (i.e., first Monday Block 7 of senior year), and the student must present the project at Psychology and Neuroscience Poster Day (Block 8). Beyond these minimal requirements the faculty also consider:
   • The overall quality of the research question and project plan.
   • The quality of the written research paper.
   • The quality of the oral and visual presentation at Poster Day.
   • The number of blocks committed to the research (i.e., PY452 and/or PY453 are desirable).
   • Whether the project was also presented at any research conferences.

For cases that fall on the cusp of distinction the faculty may also consider whether the student took more than the minimum number of psychology courses, has had work experiences related to the course of study, or has contributed meaningfully to the Department community, enhancing its mission and benefiting other students.