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Psychology BA/BS Differences

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Psychology BA /BS Differences

Psychology BA /BS Differences

Both the psychology BA and BS degrees are excellent options for students who want to pursue psychology-related careers or who intend to apply to psychology or counseling graduate programs.  

All of the major requirements are the same for the psychology BA and BS degrees.  The degrees differ in the College Requirement. Click the boxes below to see the differences.

BA Degree Requirements

BA Degree Requirements

For the College Requirement, the Psychology BA degree students must document proficiency in a second language. Proficiency is defined as being able to read, write and speak a language other than English at the fourth level. 

More information: BA Degree

Students have several options for demonstrating language proficiency:

  1. If starting a new language, students will complete 101, 102, 201 and 202.  A grade of C or better is needed in the 202 level to meet the language requirement. Several languages have a different numbering system.  Please work with an advisor to learn language options.  The School of International Languages and Cultures offers a variety of languages including American Sign Language which students may choose from to complete the language proficiency requirement.

    A grade of C or better is needed in the 202 level to meet the language requirement.  

  2.  If continuing with a language, students should take the free ASU placement exam and use the results to determine the most appropriate course to begin the language sequence.  

  3. Students who place into 300 level language courses may either take the 300 language course specified on the test result or consider taking the language proficiency exam to document proficiency rather than taking language course(s).

    Note: The proficiency exam for the languages of French, German and Spanish is the CLEP exam. Students who pass the CLEP exam are eligible for college credit.

  4. International students who graduated from an international high school should discuss the language requirement with an advisor as there may be other options for demonstrating language proficiency.

BS Degree Requirements

BS Degree Requirements

More Information about the BS Degree

The College Requirement for students pursuing the Psychology BS degree includes two courses from the Science and Society list. One of the courses must be upper-division which means courses numbered 300 or higher. BS students are not required to complete language courses but we do encourage them to help students integrate into our globalized world and workplace.