Introduction to Psychology
Covers the fundamental concepts of psychology, including the history of the field, major theories, and basic research methods.
Difficulty
Generally manageableFreshmen rate it hardest
Students rate Psychology 2.6/5 for difficulty across 22 ratings.
Average difficultyBased on 22 students across 5 schools.View review makeup
2.6/ 5
Share of students at each rating
Average difficulty out of 5, by class year
Overall average 2.6 of 5Based on 22 students across 5 schools.View review makeup
What makes this major demanding?
Worth it?
100% would recommend it
Based on 22 reviews across 5 schools
What students say about the payoff
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Curriculum and careers
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing a wide range of topics including cognition, emotion, perception, and social interaction. Students learn about human development, mental processes, and the factors influencing individual and group behavior.
Core course themes
Developmental Psychology
Explores psychological growth and change across the lifespan, from infancy through old age.
Abnormal Psychology
Examines psychological disorders, their symptoms, etiologies, and treatments.
Cognitive Psychology
Focuses on mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Social Psychology
Investigates how individuals are influenced by others, covering topics like aggression, group dynamics, and persuasion.
Research Methods in Psychology
Teaches the design, conduct, and analysis of psychological research, emphasizing scientific methodology.
Common roles
- Clinical Psychologist
- Counselor
- Human Resources Specialist
- Research Assistant
- School Psychologist
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Psychology by school
Scores account for sample sizePreparing school differences…
University of California-Los Angeles16 reviews
- Career outlook
- 3.1
- Enjoyment
- 4.4
- Recommend
- 100%
University of Southern California3 reviews
- Career outlook
- 3.4
- Enjoyment
- 4.4
- Recommend
- 100%
Arizona State University-West1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.4
- Enjoyment
- 4.5
- Recommend
- 100%
Emory University1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.3
- Enjoyment
- 4.4
- Recommend
- 100%
University of Pittsburgh1 review
- Career outlook
- 3.1
- Enjoyment
- 4.5
- Recommend
- 100%
Community
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Student reviews
PositiveCourses & teaching
The professors at UCLA are some of the best in their respective fields, and it is evident in the way they teach their classes. Every single psychology professor I've had here is highly engaging to listen to and very supportive of their students' learning. The classes offered are very diverse in breadth of topic and I have been able to explore niche fields in depth. The best part is that there are plenty of research opportunities for undergraduate students since many professors have their own research labs.
Mar 2026
PositiveCourses & teaching
I'm specifically a psychobiology major so it's a bit different than psychology altogether. The prereqs are generally the exact same across all life science majors so this isn't super important. The major requirements and the electives you need for the major is what varies and since most of the classes I chose to take was psychology, I felt that the workload was pretty manageable. Most of the classes are memory based, multiple choice exams with some having research methods involved. Overall, for what I enjoy, I thought that psychobiology was an easier major especially for pre-med.
Mar 2026
MixedCareers & next steps
Psych probably isn't the best major if you are not planning on going to grad school as there aren't the best career opportunities. I'm planning on getting my masters and becoming an occupational therapist. Overall though my classes are really interesting, the workload isn't too much, I'm also taking a lot of bio classes to meet all of my reqs for ot school, but it's very enjoyable and highly recommend it
Feb 2026
PositiveCourses & teaching
I chose psychology after taking a class in high school. I loved learning all the different theories and how it challenged me as a writer and a person. Arizona state is a larger university and it was challenging to find connections but professors are always available if you need help. I wouldn’t say the work load is different from any other major. I wish I had picked psychology before I picked chemistry so I didn’t have to switch majors.
Oct 2025
PositiveAdvice & things to know
Make sure to learn how to read research studies! Psychology is super interesting but it’s easy to fall behind so stay on track with reading and content.
Sep 2025
MixedCareers & next steps
Psychology helped me learn a lot about people, behavioral patterns and reasonings and theories behind it which was really interesting. It is a very broad major so there's a lot you can do with a psychology major but at times it felt too broad and many avenues always include going to graduate school and not usually a career straight from a bachelor's degree. Oftentimes psych students go into research, academia, or therapy routes.
Apr 2026
PositiveCourses & teaching
There are a variety of classes you can take for electives and the core requirements. This allows you to really find your interest within the psychology field and explore various ways that psychology can be applied. Classes do fill up quick, so make sure you have your schedule planned out, with many alternatives in case the classes fill up.
Mar 2026
PositiveCareers & next steps
I would want students to know that there are so many opportunities for those in the psych major ranging from minors, research and working with the LA community.
Oct 2025
PositiveCourses & teaching
Honestly pretty easy but the concepts can be very detailed. Really really interesting classes. All of my professors have been amazing and psychology goes in to so many different avenues like business marketing etc
Oct 2025
PositiveCourses & teaching
I really enjoyed all the classes I took and thought they weren't too difficult. The professors were all really supportive and cared about student learning. Unfortunately, since it's such a large major, it can be difficult to enroll in classes but it was never impossible.
Apr 2026
MixedCareers & next steps
A lot of people should know that you need to go grad school in order to make money. Though psychology can be a great major for both law or medical school.
Oct 2025
Great undergraduate research community/opportunities Interesting/fun/useful courses
Sep 2026
MixedCareers & next steps
it's a really fun major that opens up a lot of pathways but could be oversaturated in terms of job market
Mar 2026
MixedCareers & next steps
It’s a great major but not as useful as traditional majors like business or computer science.
May 2026
PositiveCourses & teaching
Psychology overall is a super fun major, as it allows us to understand why we are the way we are! There are different branches of psychology, including but not limited to, social psychology, cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, and developmental psychology. The level of difficulty in the long run depends on the field you choose and the type of psychology courses you take. With that said, psychology allows for a broad range of career options post-graduation.
Apr 2026
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