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Minor

For students with an interest in the field but not enough time to complete the major, the minor in Psychology presents a brief yet comprehensive exploration.

Minor Requirements

The completion of a minimum of 35 units in Psychology is required for the minor. All courses counting toward the minor must be passed with a minimum letter grade of C- or better. Courses must be taken for a letter grade unless the course is only offered CR/NC. Students may not overlap (double-count) courses with a major or another degree, unless the overlapping courses constitute introductory skill requirements, such as PSYCH 10. Advanced Placement (AP) credit and Summer Quarter Psychology courses are not applicable toward the 35 units needed for the minor. 

Course Requirements

1. The following two introductory courses:

  • Psych 1 Introduction to Psychology
  • Psych 10 Introduction to Statistical Methods*

2. Three of the following ten core courses, with a minimum of one from each area A and B:

Area A Courses:

  • Psych 30 Introduction to Perception
  • Psych 35 Minds and Machines
  • Psych 45 Introduction to Learning and Memory
  • Psych 50 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience

Area B Courses:

  • Psych 60 Introduction to Developmental Psychology
  • Psych 70 Introduction to Social Psychology
  • Psych 75 Introduction to Cultural Psychology
  • Psych 80 Introduction to Personality and Affective Science
  • Psych 90 Introduction to Clinical Psychology
  • Psych 95 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology

3. Elective Psychology (PSYCH) courses, which must be at least three units each.*

An elective Psychology course is any PSYCH course aside from independent study (PSYCH 194), research (PSYCH 195), or teaching practica (PSYCH 182 and PSYCH 281). In addition, there are three cognate courses from other departments that count as elective PSYCH courses: BIO 150, PSYC 135, and PSYC 139. (Any other PSYC course is considered outside of the psychology department and cannot be applied to the minor.)

*Pre-approved comparable Statistics courses are: STATS 131/BIO141, STATS 191, STATS 203, HUMBIO 88, HUMBIO 89, ECON 102A

Double Counting Courses: Students may not double count any course in the Psychology minor with another program aside from the Statistics requirement (PSYCH 10/STATS 60 or equivalent pre-approved course).

Course Transfer Policy: For minors who are not transfer students, the department does not accept coursework taken at other universities to be counted towards the major. Therefore, all 70 units must be completed at Stanford.

For minors who are transfer students, the department may potentially accept coursework taken at other universities before matriculating to Stanford.  A student must have declared Psychology as a minor to submit a petition for transfer credit. Stanford credit for courses completed at other institutions must have been granted by the External Credit Evaluation section of the Registrar’s Office.

Declare a Minor in Psychology