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Majors & Minors

Approved Depth Courses

Below is a list of courses that count towards majors' depth requirements in the psychology major. 

Last Updated 9/6/23. If any discrepancies are found, please contract your advisor. 

Please note that advanced trauma studies courses (i.e, PSY 451, PSY 453, PSY 454, PSY 455, and PSY459) will not meet major depth requirements.

  • PSY 401 - Perception
  • PSY 402 - Learning
  • PSY 403 - Biopsychology
  • PSY 411 - Introduction into Neural Networks
  • PSY 422 - The Aging Brain
  • PSY 423 - Psychology Adulthood & Aging
  • PSY 424 - Social Cognition
  • PSY 426 - Development and Interpersonal Relationships
  • PSY 428 - Cognitive Development
  • PSY 435 / COG 435 - Cognitive Systems 
  • PSY 444 - Emotion

  • PSY 445 - Risk and Reward
  • PSY 452 - Introduction to Trauma Studies
  • PSY 461 - Brain Injury and Psychopathology
  • PSY 469 - Sexual Disorders and Deviance
  • PSY 463 - Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar
  • PSY 466 - Behavioral Pharmacology
  • PSY 470 - Evolutionary Psychology
  • PSY 471 - Advanced Statistics in Psychological Science
  • PSY 472 - Advanced Research Methods in Psychological Science
  • PSY 481 - Neurodiversity

Undergraduate

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Psychology

Course offerings include the growing areas of cognitive psychology, emotion, health psychology, human factors, neuropsychology, biopsychology, trauma studies and industrial/organizational psychology.

BA Psychology

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Philosophy-Psychology

By combining study at the crossroads of these two disciplines of fundamental importance, the program opens more doors than a degree in philosophy or psychology alone.

BA Philosophy-Psychology

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Five-Year Combined

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Psychology/Business Administration

SUNY Oswego offers a dynamic five-year program blending business knowledge and psychological foundations. This option allows students to earn two degrees over a five-year time frame, so you can save money and time compared to pursuing these degrees separately.

BA + MBA Psychology/Business Administration

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Psychology/Human-Computer Interaction

SUNY Oswego offers a dynamic five-year program that prepares you for understanding how humans and technology interact. This option allows students to earn two degrees over a five-year time frame, so you can save money and time by eliminating a semester compared to pursuing these degrees separately.

BA + MBA Psychology/Human-Computer Interaction

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Psychology Minor

The psychology minor provides students with broad exposure to psychological science while majoring in one or more different areas. Students from many disciplines — including education, history, biology, English, and business — use their emerging knowledge of psychological science to supplement what they are learning in their respective majors. Students may apply to declare a minor at anytime through myOswego.

View Psychology Minor Courses

Approved Capstone Courses

All psychology majors are required to complete a capstone thesis to graduate with a degree in psychology. Majors are allowed to select from one of the four options below for their capstone. All four capstone options are research- or evaluation-centered and assist students in gaining in-depth research insight or applied experience.

Note that the timeline of preparation varies depending on the option you select, all depth courses should be completed. If you do not make a choice ahead of time, the PSY496 capstone course is the default selection. If you wish to take the non-course options (honors, research or internship), you need to identify a psychology faculty mentor to work with at least one or two semesters ahead of time. Advanced planning and the permission of instructor is required for the non-course capstone options (491, 498, 490H). 

We suggest that you talk to your academic advisor to confirm your plans and ask any questions. The Advisement Coordinator and Peer Advisors are also able to answer question about the capstone options.

Option 1: PSY490H Honors in Psychology

Students seeking to complete an honors project should begin planning during their sophomore or early part of their junior year. Students should review the honors program handbook online and talk to their academic advisors. Students must take the initiative to contact potential research mentors. Capstone credits are earned during the last semester at Oswego, although the project and coursework will begin prior to the last term.

Option 2: PSY491 Capstone Laboratory Research

Students wishing to conduct research in the laboratory of a particular faculty member must take the initiative to contact a potential research mentor in advance of the senior year. Students selecting this option will still utilize their literature reviews from Depth classes to prepare for a capstone project.

Option 3 (default): PSY496 Capstone Senior Thesis in Psychology

Students must have completed at least one Depth course to be eligible for this course. Sections will be offered every semester. This is the default option for students. Seniors have priority to register for this course; non-seniors may be de-registered if not enough seats become available for senior students. 

Option 4: PSY498 Capstone Internship in Psychology

Students interested in completing an internship for their senior capstone should contact Dr. Ashlee Moore ([email protected]) prior to registration. Internships are competitive and usually provided to students on a first-come, first-serve basis. All internships are coordinated with EXCEL. In addition to completing 120 off-campus internship hours, students will be required to particpate in regular meetings with other students participating in capstone internships. Students must be on campus to complete capstone internships during the Fall and Spring semesters; capstone internships are also typically offered during the summer, with coursework and meetings completed fully online.