I got a 5 in AP Psychology. Do I have to take Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 110) at Yale?
No. For those who got a 5 on their AP exam, PSYC 110 is not required.
Credit Counting
Which courses count as core courses?
Core courses are survey courses that introduce students to major areas of psychology and provide additional background for more advanced courses. Only introductory level courses (100-level courses) that end in zero can count as core courses. These include. PSYC 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, & 190. Note that you must take two core course total, one from the Social Science side of psychology and one from the Natural Science side of psychology. Also note that these courses are not necessarily offered every year, so you may need to plan ahead.
Can courses other than PSYC 200 count for the statistics requirement?
We strongly recommend that students take PSYC 200. However, because of time conflicts, we do sometimes allow other courses to count. We can count S&DS103 as fulfilling our statistics requirement, and you do not need to do anything to count this course.
How can I know if the course I really want to take will be offered next year?
The course schedules for a given term are set early in the preceding term, in time to be available prior to course registration. We are sometimes able to post courses for subsequent semesters, but that is not always possible do to changing faculty schedules. Also, note that many 400-level seminars closely track faculty interests from year to year, and that many professors teach a particular seminar only once.
Can I count a course outside of the psychology department for psychology major credit?
This is possible in rare circumstances, but the decision to count a course outside the major will be decided on a case-by-case basis via petition to the DUS. To petition to count a course outside the psychology major, you will need to email the DUS with the following information:
(1) a copy of course syllabus
(2) a copy of the course reading lists.
Can courses outside of psychology count for Social Science or Natural Science courses?
No, only courses with a PSYC designation on OCI can count for the Social Science or Natural Science courses requirements for the major.
How do I know if the course I really want to take will have enough spaces (and what happens if I get shut out)?
Sadly, there is no real way to determine which courses will need to be lotteried until shopping week. That said, there are certain important courses that are limited/lotteried nearly every year. For example, research methods courses are almost always limited (this is due to the need for computer and other facilities that only hold a limited number of students). For this reason, research methods courses often tend to be over-subscribed. We therefore strongly suggest that you plan to take one of these courses before your senior year.
Can courses taken Credit/D/Fail be applied toward the major?
Only two courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major. Note that no 200-level course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the major.
How many courses outside the department can be used for psychology major credit?
You can count up to three non-psychology courses towards psychology major credit. But again, as explained above, most petitions are not approved.
Can I petition to count a course for credit after I've already taken it?
Yes, there is no deadline for a course petition. But again, as explained above most petitions are not approved, so be sure to plan wisely and petition early whenever possible.
