Psychology

The Columbia University Psychology Program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. This program emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications, preparing students for a wide range of careers in research, clinical practice, education, and public service. Students engaging with this program will explore core areas such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, neuropsychology, and abnormal psychology, gaining insights into how individuals think, feel, and behave across different contexts and stages of life. The curriculum includes rigorous coursework, laboratory research opportunities, and internships that enable students to develop critical thinking, empirical research skills, and effective communication abilities.

Columbia University’s Psychology Program encourages an interdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from biology, neuroscience, and social sciences to foster a well-rounded understanding of the mind and behavior. Students are also exposed to the latest advancements in psychological research and methodology, preparing them to contribute meaningful insights to the field. The program supports students in developing their own research projects, collaborating with faculty who are leading experts in their areas. With access to cutting-edge laboratories and resources, undergraduate and graduate students alike are equipped to pursue careers in academia, mental health, healthcare, policy, or further specialization through graduate studies.

Furthermore, the program emphasizes the importance of ethical standards and cultural diversity, ensuring students understand the societal impact of psychological practices and research. With a vibrant academic community and numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, students at Columbia University’s Psychology Program benefit from an enriching environment that fosters intellectual growth and professional development. Graduates leave the program with a solid foundation in psychological science, critical research skills, and a commitment to advancing human well-being. Whether aiming for leadership roles in research institutions, clinical settings, or policy organizations, students are well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to understanding and improving human life through the study of psychology at Columbia University.

Thirty or more points are needed to complete the major. The program must include:

For students entering Columbia in Fall 2013 or later, one seminar course, numbered in the 3000s or 4000s, must be taken for 3 or more points.

Seminars are usually taken in the senior year as a culmination of the major program. Enrollment in seminar courses requires the instructor's permission; students are advised to contact instructors at least one month prior to registration to request seminar admission. Note that Honors and Supervised individual research courses (PSYC UN3920 and UN3950) are not seminar courses and will not meet the seminar requirement. 

• The Introductory Psychology Course (UN1001 The Science of Psychology) 
• One Statistics Course chosen from among the following:
  • PSYC UN1610 Introductory statistics for behavioral scientists (recommended)
  • STAT UN1001 Introduction to statistical reasoning
  • STAT UN1101 Introduction to statistics (without calculus)
  • STAT UN1201 Introduction to statistics (with calculus)
  • PSYC UN1660 Advanced Statistical Inference
• One Laboratory Course chosen from among the following:
  • UN1420 Experimental psychology: human behavior
  • UN1450 Experimental psychology: social cognition and emotion
  • UN1455 Experimental psychology: social and personality

  Majors are strongly advised to complete the statistics and laboratory requirements, in that order, by the fall term of their junior year. Students are advised to verify the specific prerequisites for laboratory courses, most of which require prior completion of a statistics course.

• Three Courses meeting the Distribution Requirement.
  In addition to the introductory, statistics, and laboratory courses described above, one course (3 pts. or greater) must be taken from each of the following three groups. 
  • Group I - Perception and Cognition: Courses numbered in the 2200s, 3200s, or 4200s. Also UN1420.
  • Group II - Psychobiology and Neuroscience: Courses numbered in the 2400s, 3400s, or 4400s. Also UN1010.
  • Group III - Social, Personality and Abnormal: Courses numbered in the 2600s, 3600s, or 4600s. Also UN1450 or UN1455.

  If a 1400-level course is used to satisfy a distribution requirement, it cannot also be used to fulfill the laboratory requirement, and vice versa.

• One Course meeting the Seminar Requirement.

• Additional Psychology Courses ("electives") for a total of 30 points. As described below, these may include research courses, transfer courses, and Barnard psychology courses not approved for specific requirements.

No course may be counted twice in fulfillment of the above major requirements, with the following exception: a seminar course may fulfill both the seminar requirement and a group requirement if it meets the criteria for both.

Grades: A grade of C-, or higher, must be earned and revealed on your transcript in any Columbia or Barnard course-- including the first-- that is used to satisfy the major or concentration requirements. The grade of P will not be accepted for psychology major, psychology concentration, or neuroscience and behavior major credit. Courses taken on a Pass/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy the major or concentration requirements unless the grade of P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline. Courses offered on a mandatory Pass/Fall basis may not be used to satisfy the major or concentration requirements under any circumstances.

Research credits: No more than 4 points of Supervised individual research (PSYC UN3950 and UN3920) may be taken in any one term, and no more than 8 points total of research and field work courses (PSYC UN3950, BC3466, BC3473, BC3592 and BC3599) may be applied toward the major. (See below for further restrictions on applying Barnard courses toward the psychology major.)

Barnard courses: No more than 9 points (minus any transfer credits) from Barnard psychology courses may be applied as credit toward the major. The table of approved Barnard psychology courses indicates which courses have been approved for specific requirements of the psychology major. Courses not on the approved list may only be applied toward a specific requirement with prior written approval from a program advisor. Courses not on the approved list for a specific requirement may be applied as elective credit toward the 30 points for the major.

Transfer Credits: No more than 9 transfer credits (or a combination of transfer and Barnard credits) will be accepted toward the psychology major. Approval of transfer credits on a student's Entrance Credit Report toward general requirements for the bachelor's degree does not grant approval of these credits toward the psychology major. Approval of transfer credits to fulfill psychology requirements must be obtained in writing from a psychology program advisorusing the Major Requirement Substitution Form. To be approved for the major, a course taken at another institution should be substantially similar to one offered by the department, the grade received must be a B- or better, and the course must have been taken within the past 8 years. As noted below, if two courses overlap in content, only one will be applied towards the major. With the exception of approved Barnard courses, students should consult their Program Advisor(DUS) before registering for psychology courses offered outside the department.

Students who have completed an introductory psychology course at another institution prior to declaring a psychology major should consult a Program Advisor (DUS) to verify whether or not this course meets departmental standards for major transfer credit. If transfer credit toward the major is not approved, the student must enroll in PSYC UN1001 or PSYC BC1001 to complete this major requirement. Note that College Board Advanced Placement (AP) psychology scores will not satisfy the PSYC UN1001 requirement, nor will they confer elective credit toward the major.

Overlapping Courses: Students will not receive credit for two courses--one taken at Columbia and one taken at Barnard or transferred from another institution--whose content largely overlaps For example, PSYC W1001 The Science of Psychology overlaps the content of introductory psychology courses offered at many other institutions, including Barnard; only one such course will receive credit. Similarly, PSYC W2630 Social Psychology and PSYC BC1138 Social Psychology have overlapping content; only one will receive credit. Please refer to the table of Overlapping Courses for a partial list of courses known to overlap.

Requirements

1. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). You are urged to visit www.toefl.org as quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 600 (paper-based test) or 100 (Internet-based test) is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia by the testing service, using report code 2116.
2. IELTS (International English Language Testing System). You are urged to visit www.ielts.orgas quickly as possible for more information on this examination. A minimum score of 7.0 is necessary for admission to Columbia. Your score must be reported directly to Columbia Undergraduate Admissions.
3. If you have a 650 or higher on the Critical Reading or Writing sections of the SAT, or a 29 or higher on the English or Reading sections of the ACT, you are exempt from taking an English proficiency examination.
4. An official high school transcript from all high schools attended
5. One high school counselor’s recommendation and school profile
6. The completed Mid-Year Report
7. Autobiographical information
8. $85 application fee or fee waiver request
9. Lists and descriptions of a student’s achievements, activities, employment and summer activities
10. Personal essay
11. Columbia-specific questions
12. SAT or the ACT
13. The appropriate SAT code is 2116 and the appropriate ACT code is 2717
14. Two Teacher Recommendations. For engineering applicants, one must come from a math or science teacher

The Columbia University Department of Psychology offers various financial assistance options to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing their degrees. For undergraduate students enrolled in the psychology program, financial aid is primarily available through federal and institutional grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities. The university encourages eligible students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility for federal financial aid programs such as Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Direct Loans. Additionally, Columbia University provides need-based scholarships and grants that do not require repayment, which are awarded based on demonstrated financial need and academic merit. These scholarships aim to make high-quality education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Graduate students in psychology may receive various forms of financial support, including research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. These opportunities often provide a tuition waiver combined with a stipend to facilitate their research and teaching responsibilities. Funding for graduate students is primarily awarded through departmental fellowships, external grants, and university-wide programs designed to support graduate research and academic development. Applicants are encouraged to explore the university’s Office of Financial Aid and the department's specific funding opportunities for detailed information regarding application procedures and eligibility requirements.

Columbia University also participates in external scholarship programs and private foundation grants that can supplement institutional aid. Some programs are competitive and require separate applications, while others are automatically considered based on merit or need as part of the admission process. Many students also finance their education through student loans, which are available through federal loan programs and private lenders. Loan counseling and repayment options are provided to ensure that students understand their obligations and can plan their finances accordingly.

The university’s financial aid policies emphasize transparency and personalized support. Prospective and current students are encouraged to consult the university’s financial aid office and the psychology department’s administrative staff for comprehensive guidance on available funding, application deadlines, and requirements. Columbia University is committed to helping students from all economic backgrounds afford a world-class education in psychology, fostering an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and academic excellence.

The Psychology program at Columbia University offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The program emphasizes understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence human and animal behavior. Students have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of research activities, including experimental, observational, and computational approaches, supervised by leading faculty members renowned in their fields. The curriculum includes core courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Statistics and Data Analysis, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Neuropsychology, along with advanced electives that allow students to specialize in areas like clinical psychology, neuroscience, perception, and experimental psychology.

Columbia’s Psychology program promotes experiential learning through research opportunities and independent study, enabling students to contribute to cutting-edge findings in psychological science. The program benefits from Columbia’s proximity to other renowned institutions and research centers, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations across fields such as neuroscience, medicine, and behavioral science. Students are encouraged to participate in research projects, internships, and conferences, which enhance their academic and professional development.

The faculty members are dedicated to mentoring students and guiding their undergraduate and graduate research. The university also offers resources such as psychology laboratories, cognitive neuroscience facilities, and libraries with extensive collections in psychology. Graduates of Columbia’s Psychology program have gone on to successful careers in academia, clinical practice, research, and industry, often pursuing further graduate study in psychology, medicine, or related fields. The program’s rigorous academic environment prepares students with the critical thinking, analytical skills, and scientific knowledge necessary to explore complex questions in human and animal behavior. Overall, Columbia University’s Psychology program aims to cultivate skilled, innovative researchers and practitioners committed to advancing understanding and improving lives through psychological science.