Psychology Academic Advising

Psychology Academic Advising is here to help you navigate your psychology major requirements and career goals!       

Our Office is located in Science 4, Suite 175.

Use the entrance that faces the greenhouses. Once inside, Suite 175 is straight ahead. 

For simple questions, email us at: ugpsyc@binghamton.edu

*Any questions about gen-eds, attributes and overall Harpur degree requirements must be addressed by Harpur Academic Advising.  

Quick Links:

Advising Appointments

Major Requirements and Resources

Declaring your Major 

FAQ

Meet with our advisors!

  • Appointments are available Monday through Friday.
  • Our Academic Advisor and Peer Advisors are here to help, with both in person and Zoom appointments!
  • Schedule your appointment on B-Successful. Instructions can be found here.
  • Drop-in advising takes place during open registration periods, and hours vary. When available, they are announced through the listserv and posted at the top of this page. 

*Important Reminder about Advising: Binghamton University operates on a "dual advising model." Which means you should be meeting with a psychology advisor AND a Harpur advisor on a regular basis. Additionally, certain academic questions and concerns are handled specifically by Harpur Advising. See Major/Minor Faculty Advising for clarification.

Major Requirements and Resources

Click here to access the Psychology Major Drive. There you will find:

  • The Major Requirements Sheet
  • A Sample Curricular Plan
  • A List of Current PSYC Seminars
  • The PSYC Major GPA Calculator

The Academic Guide-Psychology, B.A.

  • You should consult your DegreeWorks to help track your progress.
  • Check Upcoming PSYC Major Courses for projected courses that count toward the major requirements. 
  • If you plan to take courses from other institutions, use the Transfer Equivalency Table to see how they can be applied toward your requirements.

 Important Dates:

Registrar's Calendar

Academic Calendar

Declaring Your Major

All students enter Binghamton as undeclared, so declaring an interest in psychology on your admissions application does not mean you have declared your major. 

If you are a STEM major with specific funding requirements, please see our Integrative Neuroscience Advising website. 

*It is important to note that due to significant overlap in course requirements, it is not possible to double major in psychology and integrative neuroscience.

  • How to declare your psychology major:

    Declaring your major as psychology can be done at any time. However, you must receive a C or higher in both PSYC 111 and PSYC 243 in order to progress to upper level courses in the major.

    To declare, fill out the Psychology Major Declaration Form. You must be logged into your BMail account in order to access it. Declarations are processed at least once a week and you will receive a confirmation email when your request has been processed.

    *By filling out the declaration form, you acknowledge that you are aware of the requirements for the major and you affirm that you will work to meet those requirements. If you do not continue to make consistent progress towards your psychology degree requirements, you will risk being dropped from the major. 

  • How to declare the Psychology Track in ASD

    Admission to the Track in Autism Spectrum Disorders is open only to psychology majors who are enrolled in or who have completed PSYC 355 - Lab in Applied Behavior Analysis with a B or higher. To declare in ASD, you must meet with the Psychology Academic Advisor. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Registration:

  • Can I get into closed courses?

    First, check whether the course has a waitlist. If it does, the only way to enter the course is to add yourself to the waitlist. For more information regarding the waitlisting procedure, check out these helpful videos about registration.

    If the closed course does not have a waitlist, you may self-register if a spot becomes available. Monitor closely during open registration periods.

  • How do I add myself to a waitlist?

    For PSYC 344, you only add yourself to the waitlist for the discussion section. You will be able to register for both lecture and discussion if you get the email invite. 

    The registrar has several helpful videos about registration, including the waitlist process. 

    Some important things to note about waitlists:

    Putting yourself on the waitlist does not mean that you are guaranteed a spot OR you are enrolled in the course. 

    Check your email every 12 hours to see if you have received an email from the registrar that says that a seat has become available. You have 18 hours to add yourself to the course from the time you received the email (not when you open the email). 

    If you no longer want the course your waitlisted for, please drop yourself from the waitlist so that other students can enroll.

  • How do I know if a course is restricted?

    Check Restrictions for a course by going onto BU Brain and clicking on the course title. At the bottom of the page, restrictions for the course will be listed.

    If a course is restricted, you must meet the prerequisites for the course before you are able to register. If you are having credits for the prerequisite transferred in, but the credits do not yet appear on your Binghamton University transcript, please email ugpsyc@binghamton.edu.

  • I'm trying to register for the PSYC 344 lecture and discussion sections, but it won't let me. What do I do?

    When registering for a lecture and discussion section (ex. PSYC 344), you must make sure that the two are linked. In the schedule of classes, on the far right of the lecture section there will be a button that says "View Linked." There you will find a list of discussion sections linked to that course. Choose the one that best fits your schedule. 

    Watch Register for a Linked Course for step-by-step instructions. 

  • I'm taking the pre-req course over the summer/winter, will I be able to register for my course(s) in fall/spring?

    If you are taking the pre-req course at Binghamton University, then the system will recognize it and assume you will meet the grade requirement. You should be able to register for your courses as you normally would.

    If you are taking an equivalent course from another institution (as shown on the Transfer Table) to count as a pre-req for a fall/spring course, then you need to send proof of registration to ugpsyc@binghamton.edu. This needs to include your name, the name of the school, and the course. 

    *Keep in mind, if you do not earn the minimum grade in the pre-req course, you will be removed from the course(s) that require it. 

  • The lab for my experimental is not being offered the same semester. Will the lab be offered next semester?

    All the experimental labs must be offered at least once an academic year, so if you don't see the lab in one semester, it will be offered the next semester. For example, if PSYC 361 is not being offered in the Fall, then it will be offered in the Spring. 

  • Can I take PSYC 344 at the same time as my PSYC seminar or Foundational Lab?

    No, you cannot take PSYC 344 concurrently. 

Research and Teaching Assistant Positions:

Grades and Incompletes:

  • How many times can I retake a course for the psychology major?

    You can only retake a course once to earn the grade requirement for the major. 

    See Harpur's Retake Policy to learn how retake grade affect your GPA.

  • Can I take a course pass/fail and then retake it later?

    You can only retake a course once to earn the grade requirement for the major. 

    See Harpur's Retake Policy to learn how pass/fail grades and retake grades affect your GPA.

     You MUST speak with the Psychology Academic Advisor before changing a course to pass/fail. 

  • What if I need to take an incomplete in a course?

    You must meet with your instructor to determine if you will be permitted to receive an incomplete in a course. 

    We highly encourage students and faculty to use the Incomplete Contract to ensure that all parties know exactly what coursework remains and when it must be completed by. Copies of the contract should be provided to the instructor, the student, and the advising office (psyadvis@binghamton.edu).

    Please keep a copy of any correspondence regarding special requests for course credit for your records.

    Keep in mind that an incomplete may prevent you from registering for courses that have the incomplete course as a prerequisite. For example, if you have an incomplete in PSYC 243, you cannot register for PSYC 344 until you have a final grade of C or higher. 

Transfer Courses and Study Abroad:

  • How do I transfer my courses to Binghamton University?

    Contact the Registrar or Student Records Office of the institution that awarded the credit, and request an official transcript be sent to:

    Binghamton University
    Undergraduate Admissions Office 
    P.O. Box 6001 
    Binghamton, NY 13902-6001, USA

    Electronic PDF transcripts are also accepted, however they must be sent directly by the school to the Binghamton University Undergraduate Admissions office.

    Please allow 4–6 weeks from the time that you request the official transcript to the time that the credits will appear on your academic record. 

    You may provide unofficial documentation to maintain registration in a course temporarily, but the official transcript must be provided and processed in order to fulfill degree requirements and update your Degree Works record. Email ugpsyc@binghamton.edu with any questions. 

  • How do I get transfer credits to count toward my major?

    First, it is important to review Harpur Transfer Guidelines and Policies.

    Use the Transfer Equivalency Table to see how your credits will transfer to Binghamton. If courses are listed as transfer equivalencies here they do not have to be reviewed.

    If the course is not on the transfer table, please submit a Course Evaluation Form for Psychology Major Credit. You will need a copy of the course syllabus. You can petition for a completed, in-progress or future course to be evaluated. You must be logged into your BMail account in order to access the form.

    Students are highly encouraged to petition BEFORE taking courses at other institutions as there is no guarantee that the courses/credits will be counted toward the requirements for your major.

    Be aware that evaluations can take up to a week or more.

    Please note that this course evaluation is only for major specific credits! Evaluations for Gen Ed/Harpur requirements must be reviewed by Harpur. 

  • How do I get credits from a study abroad program to count toward my major?

    Complete the Course Evaluation Form for Psychology Major Credit. You will need a copy of the course syllabus. You must be logged into  your BMail in order to access the form. 

    Students are strongly encouraged to have a course reviewed BEFORE taking courses abroad. There is no guarantee that the courses/credits will be approved for your major.

    During this process we encourage you to keep in close contact with the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives as well as the Harpur Academic Advising in order to ensure a smooth pre-departure.

    Be aware that evaluations can take up to a week or more.

    Please note that this course evaluation is only for major specific credits! Evaluations for Gen Ed/Harpur requirements must be reviewed by Harpur. 

Majors and Minors:

More Information

For more information about course registration, graduation/commencement, enrollment verification and the final exam schedule, as well as access to many forms, see the Registrar's website.