UC Davis Psychology Minor Guide (2026): Requirements, Course Planning, And Declaration Process

The Psychology Minor at the University of California, Davis, administered by the Department of Psychology within the College of Letters and Science, offers students a structured framework to explore human behavior, cognitive processes, developmental changes, and biological underpinnings of the mind. This academic guide provides the official 2026 degree requirements, course selection strategies, university administrative policies, and step-by-step declaration procedures for undergraduate students across all colleges.

Academic Foundations and Prerequisite Requirements

To successfully declare and complete a minor in Psychology at UC Davis, students must construct a balanced academic plan that fulfills both lower-division prerequisites and upper-division specialization courses. The curriculum is designed to ensure foundational competency before advancing to specialized upper-division topics.

Lower-Division Requirement

All students pursuing the Psychology Minor must complete the foundational intro course:

• PSC 001: General Psychology (4 Units) or PSC 001Y: General Psychology (Hybrid) (4 Units)Overview: Comprehensive survey of basic concepts, principles, and theoretical perspectives in modern psychology, covering biological basis of behavior, perception, learning, cognition, development, personality, and social dynamics.

While PSC 001 is the sole mandatory lower-division prerequisite for the minor itself, certain upper-division PSC courses require additional preparatory coursework in statistics (such as STA 013, STA 100, or SOC 046B) or biological sciences (such as BIS 002A or BIS 010). Students are advised to review specific course prerequisites in the UC Davis General Catalog prior to registration.

Upper-Division Coursework Breakdown & Curriculum Pathways

The core of the UC Davis Psychology Minor consists of a minimum of 20 upper-division units in Psychology (PSC courses numbered 100 through 199). Courses must be selected from diverse domain areas to gain a broad understanding of the discipline, or tailored strategically toward a specific academic or career focus.

Upper-division courses within the department are categorized across five primary sub-disciplines:

1. Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology

Courses in this domain explore the mechanisms of perception, memory, language, problem-solving, and executive functioning.

• PSC 100: Cognitive Psychology (4 units)
• PSC 130: Human Learning and Memory (4 units)
• PSC 132: Language and Cognition (4 units)

2. Biological and Physiological Psychology

These courses bridge neurobiology, behavioral genetics, and brain function to explain psychological phenomena.

• PSC 101: Introduction to Biological Psychology (4 units)
• PSC 121: Physiological Psychology (4 units)
• PSC 135: Cognitive Neuroscience (4 units)

3. Developmental Psychology

Focuses on psychological growth, social adaptation, and cognitive development across the human lifespan.

• PSC 140: Developmental Psychology (4 units)
• PSC 141: Cognitive Development (4 units)
• PSC 142: Social and Personality Development (4 units)

4. Social and Personality Psychology

Examines individual differences, group dynamics, cultural context, interpersonal relationships, and systemic behavioral drivers.

• PSC 151: Social Psychology (4 units)
• PSC 162: Introduction to Personality (4 units)
• PSC 168: Abnormal Psychology / Psychopathology (4 units)

5. Quantitative and Applied Psychology

Focuses on research methodology, psychometrics, and data analysis in psychological settings.

• PSC 103A/B: Statistical Analysis of Psychological Data (4 units each)
• PSC 180: Applied Behavior Analysis (4 units)

Comparative Analysis of Psychology Minor Pathways

Depending on your major discipline, structuring your upper-division PSC electives can maximize your degree synergy and career readiness. The following table outlines optimal course pathways within the minor.

Administrative Policies: Overlap Rules, GPA Limits, and Grading Standards

Academic planning for a minor at UC Davis requires strict adherence to university-wide regulations regarding overlap limits, letter-grade rules, and academic standing requirements.

UC Davis Academic Policy RequirementStudents pursuing a minor within the College of Letters and Science must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in all courses applied toward the minor. Additionally, all upper-division courses applied to the minor must be completed for a letter grade; Pass/No Pass (P/NP) units are not accepted unless a course is exclusively offered on a P/NP basis.

Course Overlap Restrictions

One of the most critical administrative constraints involves course overlap between degree programs:

1. Major vs. Minor Overlap: UC Davis guidelines strictly limit course overlap between a student’s major requirements and a minor program. No more than one upper-division course (up to 4 or 5 units) used to satisfy major requirements may be used to satisfy requirements for a minor.
2. Minor vs. Minor Overlap: If a student declares two minors, no upper-division course may be double-counted toward both minors. Each minor must consist of distinct upper-division units.
3. Lower-Division Overlap: Lower-division courses (such as PSC 001) are exempt from overlap restrictions and can satisfy prerequisites across multiple majors and minors simultaneously.

Step-by-Step Guide to Declaring the Psychology Minor on OASIS

Minors at UC Davis are declared digitally via the Online Academic Student Information System (OASIS). Follow this operational workflow to submit your petition correctly.

1. Audit Completed and Planned CourseworkReview your academic transcript on OASIS to ensure you have completed PSC 001 and at least 20 units of upper-division PSC courses (or are currently enrolled in the final remaining courses needed).

2. Verify Overlap ComplianceCross-reference your major degree audit with your planned minor courses to confirm that no more than one upper-division course overlaps between your major program and the Psychology minor.

3. Initiate Minor Petition on OASISLog into OASIS, navigate to the Forms & Petitions tab, and select Submit a New Form. Choose Declare a Minor from the available administrative petitions.

4. Select Department and Specify CoursesChoose Psychology as your target minor program. Input the exact upper-division PSC courses (e.g., PSC 100, PSC 101, PSC 140, PSC 151, PSC 168) that will count toward the minor. Indicate which single course, if any, overlaps with your major.

5. Submit for Academic Advising ReviewSubmit the form. The petition will route sequentially to your Major Advisor, the Psychology Department Undergraduate Advisor, and finally your College Dean’s Office for approval.

6. Monitor Submission StatusTrack the progress of your petition on OASIS. Recommended timing for submission is during your senior year, once all required courses are either completed or in progress during your final graduating quarter.

Strategic Career Advantages: Integrating Psychology across Disciplines

Adding a Psychology Minor provides significant analytical and interdisciplinary value, making job candidates and graduate school applicants stand out across competitive fields.

Integration with STEM and Healthcare (Pre-Med / Health Professions)

For pre-medical, nursing, and public health students, upper-division psychology coursework (specifically PSC 101, PSC 121, and PSC 168) strengthens baseline mastery of the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior tested on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Understanding patient psychology improves clinical communication skills, bedside manner, and diagnosis accuracy in patient care environments.

Integration with Data Science, AI, and Tech

As artificial intelligence, user experience (UX) design, and human-computer interaction (HCI) continue to evolve, tech industries increasingly demand professionals who understand human cognition. Pairing a Computer Science or Data Science major with a Psychology minor (emphasizing PSC 100, PSC 130, and PSC 132) prepares graduates to design intuitive software interfaces, build user-centric algorithms, and conduct empirical usability research.

Integration with Business, Marketing, and Law

Understanding motivation, persuasion, and decision-making dynamics provides a competitive edge in corporate strategy. Combining Managerial Economics, Communication, or Political Science with courses like PSC 151 (Social Psychology) and PSC 162 (Personality) builds strong capabilities in consumer behavior analysis, corporate negotiation, human resources management, and jury selection dynamics in legal practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About the UC Davis Psychology Minor

Can I declare the Psychology Minor before completing all required upper-division courses?

Yes, you may submit your minor declaration petition on OASIS while your final upper-division courses are in progress. However, final official certification of the minor occurs only after all coursework is completed with passing letter grades and verified by academic advisors during final degree clearance.

Does UC Davis allow P/NP (Pass/No Pass) grading for Psychology Minor courses?

No, all upper-division courses applied toward the Psychology Minor must be taken for a traditional letter grade. The only exception applies to courses that are mandatory P/NP (where letter grading is unavailable), but standard upper-division PSC lecture courses require a letter grade of C- or higher to meet standard progress parameters and maintain the required 2.00 minor GPA.

Can upper-division transferred units or AP credits fulfill minor requirements?

Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology credit (a score of 4 or 5) can satisfy the lower-division PSC 001 requirement. However, all 20 upper-division units required for the minor must generally be completed at UC Davis or through approved UC Education Abroad Programs (EAP). Upper-division transfer units from community colleges are not accepted, as community colleges only offer lower-division coursework.

What happens if my major and minor share more than one upper-division course?

If your major program and the Psychology Minor share more than one upper-division course, you must select alternative non-overlapping upper-division PSC electives to fulfill the minor. UC Davis degree regulations strictly enforce a maximum of one upper-division course overlap (up to 4-5 units) between a major and a minor program.

Can I major in Cognitive Science and minor in Psychology at UC Davis?

Yes, but you must strictly adhere to the course overlap rule. Because Cognitive Science and Psychology share several upper-division course options (such as PSC/COGS 100), you must work closely with an academic advisor to select distinct upper-division courses so that no more than one course overlaps between the Cognitive Science major and the Psychology minor.

Maximize Your Undergraduate Degree Plan at UC Davis

Integrating a Psychology Minor into your academic journey at UC Davis enhances your critical thinking, statistical literacy, and interdisciplinary competence. To ensure your course sequence fits seamlessly within your major degree plan and graduation timeline, schedule an advising appointment with a Psychology Undergraduate Advisor via the UC Davis Advising Appointment System (Schedule Builder / OASIS) early in your academic program.