Pre-Professional Path

SAMPLE PRE-PROFESSIONAL PATHS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Pre-professional paths are appropriate for students with broad interests in studying psychology at the level of the group and for those preparing for profession in which such a background would be directly related (e.g., law and business). Students with these interests may choose from two general paths: regular and honors.

The thesis option pre-professional path is appropriate for students who have developed a strong interest in a specific topic and want to pursue it in independent research. It is also appropriate, although not a requirement, for those who wish to pursue graduate study in psychology or related fields. This path requires an thesis and involves more focused coursework to provide a strong background for the thesis. Because a thesis is a demanding yet satisfying undertaking, it can be a meaningful capstone to one's undergraduate studies.

The following two paths are examples of how students with pre-professional interests may complete their concentration requirements. These paths have many acceptable variations, involving the selection of different courses within elective (E) and laboratory (L) courses. These categories are given in parentheses below, and other courses that will fulfill these requirements are listed at the end of this section. These lists vary from year to year; each year some courses are bracketed, and some (asterisked) require the instructor's permission to enroll.

YEAR REGULAR PRE-LAW PATH
12 half-courses (6 electives) THESIS OPTION PRE-BUSINESS PATH
fourteen half-courses (5 electives)

First-year Psy 1, Introduction to Psychology
Psy 15, Social Psychology (Tier 2) Psy 1, Introduction to Psychology
Psy 15, Social Psychology (Tier 2)

Sophomore
Psy 971, Sophomore Tutorial, half course
Psy 1900, Intro to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (M)
Psy 1501, Social Psychology of Organizations (E)
Psy 18 Abnormal Psychology (Tier 2)

Psy 971, Sophomore Tutorial, half course
Psy 1900, Intro to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (M)
*Psy 2553r Decision Making (L)
Psy 1756, Personality Psychology and Organizations (E)
Ec 1011a Microeconomic Theory (non-departmental E)

Junior Psy 1901, Methods of Behavioral Research (M)
MCB 80, Neurobiology of Behavior (E)
Psy 980v, The Insanity Defense (E)
Psy 1901, Methods of Behavioral Research (M)
Psy 1501, Social Psychology of Organizations (E)
Psy 985, Junior Tutorial: Honors Thesis Preparation (E)
Ec 1030 Psychology and Economics (non-departmental E)

Senior MBB 94 Theories of Violence (E)
Psy 995, Senior Seminar: General Psychology (E)
Neurobiology 135, Interventions for the brain: From Neurobiology to Ethics (non-departmental E) Psy 990, Senior Tutorial: Honors Thesis
Psy 16 Developmental Psychology (Tier 2)

KEY Bold = Intro, Tutorials, Methods, MBB Track - required
L = Lab
M = Methods
E = Elective
*Thesis candidates must take a lab course from the approved list.

© by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Last updated 4 September, 2008

YEAR	REGULAR PRE-LAW PATH 12 half-courses (6 electives)	THESIS OPTION PRE-BUSINESS PATH fourteen half-courses (5 electives)
First-year	Psy 1, Introduction to Psychology Psy 15, Social Psychology (Tier 2)	Psy 1, Introduction to Psychology Psy 15, Social Psychology (Tier 2)
Sophomore	Psy 971, Sophomore Tutorial, half course Psy 1900, Intro to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (M) Psy 1501, Social Psychology of Organizations (E) Psy 18 Abnormal Psychology (Tier 2)	Psy 971, Sophomore Tutorial, half course Psy 1900, Intro to Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (M) Psy 2553r Decision Making (L)* Psy 1756, Personality Psychology and Organizations (E) Ec 1011a Microeconomic Theory (non-departmental E)
Junior	Psy 1901, Methods of Behavioral Research (M) MCB 80, Neurobiology of Behavior (E) Psy 980v, The Insanity Defense (E)	Psy 1901, Methods of Behavioral Research (M) Psy 1501, Social Psychology of Organizations (E) Psy 985, Junior Tutorial: Honors Thesis Preparation (E) Ec 1030 Psychology and Economics (non-departmental E)
Senior	MBB 94 Theories of Violence (E) Psy 995, Senior Seminar: General Psychology (E) Neurobiology 135, Interventions for the brain: From Neurobiology to Ethics (non-departmental E)	Psy 990, Senior Tutorial: Honors Thesis Psy 16 Developmental Psychology (Tier 2)
KEY	Bold = Intro, Tutorials, Methods, MBB Track - required L = Lab M = Methods E = Elective	*Thesis candidates must take a lab course from the approved list.