Psychology Degree Requirements

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By Jessica Lietz
eHow Contributing Writer

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Requirements for psychology degrees vary by the college or university program, area of specialty and what type of degree is being pursued. Coursework for psychology degrees may include quantitative methods such as statistics and mathematics, composition and writing, and science classes that get more specialized in advanced courses. Other requirements for psychology degrees may include written or oral examinations, research and field experience.

Degree Types

Types of degrees in psychology include a bachelor's degree, master's degree and a doctorate (Ph.D.); in some universities the bachelor's or master's degree is in arts, while in others it is a science degree.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree includes general background and methodology courses as well as more specialized courses from areas such as counseling, developmental, neuroscience, social and cognitive psychology.

Master's Degree

Admission into a graduate program in psychology requires a relevant undergraduate degree, letters of recommendation and results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and includes advanced coursework followed by a written thesis and oral defense.

Doctorate

Doctorate degrees in psychology build upon work done for a master's degree, and include advanced coursework followed by independent research and a written dissertation with an oral defense.

Research

Many undergraduate and most graduate programs in psychology require independent research projects in areas of the student's interest that often culminate in a written or oral presentation.