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Feb 24, 2026
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Psychology BA/Law JD
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Psych is one of those majors that applies to just about anything you want to do in life. As one of our students said, “It touches everything, from the sciences, to the law, to politics, to interpersonal relationships.” This program is designed for people who are fascinated by human behavior and want to use science to understand how people form opinions and make decisions. If you think this area of study might be the right fit for you, then keep reading to learn more about psychology-and yourself.
Visit the Psychology academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.
Visit the Psychology department page for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.
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Admission Criteria
To be eligible for matriculation to the School of Law, Accelerated BA to Law JD students must meet the Law JD Admission Criteria Undergraduate Major Requirements
Psychology BA Core (14 credits)
Substantive Area Courses (12 credits)
One Substantive Area 1 Course: Clinical
One Substantive Area 2 Course: Social
One Substantive Area 3 Course: Cognitive
One Substantive Area 4 Course: Behavioral Neuroscience
Three PSY Elective Courses at the 400 Level (9 credits)
JD Requirements
JD First Year Requirements (32 credits)
- LAW 509LEC - Torts Credits: 4
- LAW 501LEC - Civil Procedure Credits: 4
- LAW 507LEC - Property Credits: 4
- LAW 515LEC - Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I Credits: 4
- LAW 503LEC - Contracts Credits: 4
- LAW 505LEC - Criminal Law Credits: 4
- LAW 511LEC - Constitutional Law 1 Credits: 4
- LAW 516LEC - Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II Credits: 3
- LAW 500TUT- Professional Development Credits: 1
JD Second and Third Year Requirements (58 credits)
- LAW 564LEC - Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Credits: 3
- LAW Experiential Course(s) Credits: 6
- LAW Seminar Course Credits: 3
- LAW Research/Writing-intensive Course Credits: 3
- LAW electives at the 500-level or above Credits: 43
Experiential Course options
- LAW 523TUT - Judicial Externship - Intensive Credits: 3-5
- LAW 567LEC - Lawyers as Change Agents: Pathways to the Public Good Credits: 3
- LAW 637LEC - Corporate Negotiations Credits: 3
- LAW 686LEC - Food, Drug, & Medical Device Law Credits: 3
- LAW 817LEC - International Arbitration Credits: 3
Seminar Course options
- LAW 639SEM - 9th Amendment Credits: 3
- LAW 695SEM - Land Use Planning Credits: 3
- LAW 822SEM - Gender, Sexuality, & Law Credits: 3
Research/Writing Course options
- LAW 722SEM - Intensive Research & Writing Sports Law Credits: 1-4
- LAW 762SEM - Adv Topics in Law & Society Research: Foundations Credits: 3
- LAW 956LEC - Introduction to Appellate Advocacy Credits: 3
Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 35
Additional Degree Requirements Include:
- Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
- A minimum of 19 undergraduate elective credits
Total Undergraduate Credits Required: 90
Total Credits Required for Graduate Degree: 90
Total Credits Required for Graduation: 180
Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes. Academic Requirements
- A minimum combined GPA of 2.500 in the Psychology BA Core courses (see above) is required for graduation
- A minimum combined GPA of 2.000 across all psychology courses counting toward the major is required for good standing in the major and for graduation
- Majors whose GPA in psychology courses falls below 2.000 during any semester are automatically placed on probation
- Majors whose GPA remains below 2.000 in consecutive semesters are dismissed from the major
- 400-level courses are open only to psychology majors.
- PSY 495 and PSY 496 augment the undergraduate experience but do not count toward the course requirements for majors.
- PSY 497, PSY 498 and PSY 499 may be taken for degree credit, but only 3 credit hours from this group may count toward major requirements.
Transfer Credit Policy A minimum of 3 upper-level (300- or 400-level) psychology courses must be taken at UB Program Honors and Program Distinction
The Psychology Honors Program is a year-long program designed to enable students to complete an individual research project (i.e., Honors Thesis) under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Seniors with a GPA of at least 3.000 overall and in psychology courses who have secured a faculty advisor to supervise their work are eligible. Prior or concurrent completion of PSY 450 is required. PSY 300 and PSY 498 are strongly recommended. Students take PSY 497 fall semester and write an Honors Thesis throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students defend their thesis in an oral examination at the end of the spring semester. Students must also meet the remaining Program Honors criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. Majors who do not pursue a thesis but have exceptional grades are eligible for Program Distinction upon degree conferral if the criteria are met. These criteria are also found in the Academic Honors policy. Curricular Plan
A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit. All students are encouraged to use this plan in conjunction with other academic planning resources such as your academic advisor, the HUB Academic Advisement Report, My Planner and Path Finder tool. In addition to following this course roadmap, all other admission and academic requirements of this major as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog must be met in order to successfully complete this degree.
YEAR 1
Fall Semester Total Credits: 13 or 14 Spring Semester Total Credits: 16 or 17
YEAR 2
Fall Semester Total Credits: 15 Spring Semester - Substantive Area PSY Course Credits: 3
- Scientific Literacy and Inquiry Course Credits: 3
- Scientific Literacy and Inquiry Lab Credits: 1
- Pathway Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
Total Credits: 16
YEAR 3
Fall Semester Total Credits: 16 Spring Semester - 400-level PSY Elective Credits: 3
- 400-level PSY Elective Credits: 3
- 400-level PSY Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 1
Total Credits: 13
YEAR 4
Fall Semester - LAW 501 - Civil Procedure Credits: 4
- LAW 503 - Contracts Credits: 4
- LAW 509 - Torts Credits: 4
- LAW 515 - LAWR I Credits: 4
Total Credits: 16 Spring Semester - LAW 500 - Professional Development Credits: 1
- LAW 505 - Criminal Law Credits: 4
- LAW 507 - Property Credits: 4
- LAW 511 - Constitutional Law Credits: 3
- LAW 512 - Research Lab Credits: 1
- LAW 516 - LAWR II Credits: 3
Total Credits: 16
YEAR 5
Fall Semester - LAW 564 - Legal Ethics and Decisionmaking Credits:3
- Qualifying LAWR III Course Credits:3
- Qualifying Con Law II Course Credits:3
- Qualifying Con Law II Course Credits:3
- Upper-Division Elective Credits:3
Total Credits: 15 Spring Semester - Qualifying Seminar Course Credits:3
- Qualifying Experiential Course Credits:3
- Upper-Division Electives Credits:9
Total Credits: 15
YEAR 6
Fall Semester - Upper-Division Electives Credits:15
Total Credits: 15 Spring Semester - Upper-Division Electives Credits:13
Total Credits: 13
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 180 Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement. Learning Outcomes
The Psychology BA is designed to address the standards established by the American Psychological Association for an undergraduate psychology major. Five goals and learning outcomes represent departmental expectations for the undergraduate psychology major. Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of: - Content Knowledge and Applications: Students should demonstrate comprehension of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical or evidence-based findings to discuss how psychological principles apply to behavior and mental processes.
- Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking: The skills in this domain involve the development of scientific reasoning and investigation, including developing proficiencies in research methods and statistics.
- alues in Psychological Science: This goal promotes the development of ethical and socially responsible values and behaviors in personal, professional, organizational, and institutional settings. The goal includes ethical reasoning and practices, interpersonal and intercultural responsiveness, and strategies that promote and sustain strong communities and equitable opportunities.
- Communication, Psychological Literacy, and Technology Skills: The skills in this category address the ability of students to build and maintain effective communication skills in processing and expressing information.
- Personal and Professional Development: The skills in this domain refer to abilities that sharpen students’ readiness for the workplace whether the student’s future involves graduate school or a job following the baccalaureate degree. The emphasis in this domain involves self-regulation, project management skills, professional judgment, collaboration skills, and proficiency in workplace technology and career planning.
(HEGIS: 20.01 PSYCHOLOGY- GENERAL, CIP: 42.0101 Psychology, General) |
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