Psychology Concentration

Psychology is inherently a multidisciplinary field of study. While at its core, Psychology is the study of human behavior, its applications span a wide range of academic fields, from biology to sociology, from political science to economics. The Psychology concentration is an excellent option for students who don’t necessarily want Psychology to be their main course of study at Columbia, but still find it interesting or useful as a complement to their major. The Psychology concentration will give students important foundational knowledge in the field, but with fewer requirements than the major.

Please see the Advisors page for more information on the resources and advice available to you in your program planning. As soon as possible in your undergraduate career, but certainly prior to the start of your final semester, you must submit a Concentration Requirement Checklist, which shows all major courses you have taken and plan to take.

The Psychology Concentration requirements changed in 2020. Students entering an undergraduate degree program at Columbia in Fall 2020 or later must complete the new concentration requirements. Students who entered Columbia prior to Fall 2020 may choose to complete either the new concentration requirements or the old ones.

Students must complete 7 courses in Psychology or an approved cognate discipline. To count toward the concentration, a course must be taken for 3 or more points.

1. The Science of Psychology (PSYC UN1001) or UN1021 Science of Psychology: Explorations and Application

2. A stats or methods course (PSYC 1610, STAT 1001, STAT 1010, STAT 1101, STAT 1201, or a course in the 14xx) 

STAT 1010 may be able to be used toward this requirement, with DUS approval.

3. Either 3 courses in one group, or 1 course in each of the 3 groups: Group I - Cognition & Perception; Group II - Psychobiology & Neuroscience; Group III - Social, Personality, & Abnormal

4. Additional elective courses in psychology to complete the 7-course requirement 

Restrictions on research credits, Barnard credits, non-psychology courses, and transfer credits are modified from those of the psychology major as follows:

  • No more than 2 transfer courses from other institutions can be applied toward the concentration.
  • No more than 3 total courses from outside Columbia (Barnard and/or transfer) can be applied to the concentration.
  • A maximum of 1 non-PSYC course can count toward concentration requirements (e.g., courses taken in the Statistics Department; cognate courses offered through Philosophy, Business, Law, etc.).
  • No more than 1 semester of  PSYC UN3850 Supervised Individual Research or other supervised research course (taken for 3 or 4 points) can count towards the concentration. 

Except as noted above, other regulations outlined in the Psychology Major section regarding grades, transfer credits, and overlapping courses also apply toward the Psychology Concentration

 

A concentration in psychology requires a minimum of 18 points, including The Science of Psychology (PSYC UN1001) or UN1021 Science of Psychology: Explorations and Application and courses in at least two of the three groups: Group I - Cognition & Perception; Group II - Psychobiology & Neuroscience; Group III - Social, Personality, & Abnormal.

Restrictions on research credits, Barnard credits, and transfer credits are modified from those of the Psychology Major as follows:

  1. Only 4 points total from research or field-work courses, including PSYC UN3950, UN3920, BC3466, BC3473, BC3592 and BC3599
     
  2. Only 5 points from Barnard (including PSYC BC1001)
     
  3. Only 5 points total (including any Barnard points) from psychology courses taken outside the department may be applied toward the concentration.
     

Except as noted above, other regulations outlined in the Psychology Major section regarding grades, transfer credits, and overlapping courses also apply toward the Psychology Concentration