Psychology
Psychology, as a science of the mind, connects naturally to other fields in the humanities, social sciences and life sciences. Completion of a secondary field in Psychology can serve as a complement to other concentrations or can allow students to explore an independent interest in psychology. The secondary field provides a basic foundation in psychology and its research methods while also permitting a more focused exploration of a subfield, including experimental psychopathology, social psychology, cognition/brain/behavior, and developmental psychology.
Requirements: 6 half-courses
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Tier 1: Psychology 1: Introduction to Psychology, half course, or an approved substitute.
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Psychology 1900: Introduction to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, passed with a grade of C or higher, or an approved substitute. Harvard Summer School courses cannot fulfill this requirement.
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At least one Tier 2 foundational half-course from:
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Psychology 13: Cognitive Psychology
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Psychology 15: Social Psychology
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Psychology 16: Developmental Psychology
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Psychology 18: Abnormal Psychology
- Molecular and Cellular Biology 80: Neurobiology of Behavior
Harvard Summer School courses cannot fullfill this requirement.
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- Three elective half-courses in Psychology of the student's choosing, which reflect the student's area(s) of interest.
Because psychology is a broad and varied field, the Department has designed its secondary field requirements to make both generalized and specialized programs of study possible. Below are examples of ways in which students may shape requirements to their own interests. These paths are not the only ways to study psychology; they serve as examples that can be freely modified. Sample paths of study include:
- General Psychology
- Cognition/Brain/Behavior
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Experimental Psychopathology
Other Information
Students are encouraged to take Psychology 1 as early as possible. Ideally, Psychology 1900 should be taken before electives as well, because the course provides grounding in the analytic tools central to psychology as a science. Tier 2 courses should be taken after taking Psychology 1 but prior to any other electives, because these courses provide a solid foundation required in upper level courses and are often prerequisites for these courses.
All courses must be taken for a letter grade unless that option is not available, and Psychology 1900 must be passed with a grade of C or higher. Courses taken prior to the introduction of the secondary field may count toward the requirements. Students pursuing a secondary field in Psychology will not be given preferential access to limited enrollment courses.
Students are reminded that only one course may double-count for a secondary field and any other requirement (concentration, Core, language citation, etc).
Advising Resources and Expectations
Students are encouraged but not required to notify the department as early as possible of their intent to pursue a secondary field using the Secondary Fields Web Tool so that they will be informed of department policies and events.
Students are strongly encouraged to visit the department's Frequently Asked Questions page prior to contacting the Undergraduate Office. General information requests and questions can be sent to psychology@wjh.harvard.edu. Students requiring additional advice about the program and course selection may meet with an Assistant Head Tutor in the Psychology Undergraduate Office, William James Hall 218, during walk-in hours posted online. Any issues that cannot be addressed via these routes may be addressed to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Rebecca Stoodley (stoodley@wjh.harvard.edu).
The college deadline for filing the signed paperwork for a secondary field is the 7th Monday of the final term. However, the Psychology Department requests that the form be turned into the Undergraduate Office no later than the 5th Monday to allow time for the Advising Administrator to review and sign the form prior to the College deadline.