Minor in Psychology

Dr. Joyce Lacy in her Neuropsychology class.

Get curious about the human mind—and add depth to any major.

Pair your passion with psychology. Whether you're majoring in business, engineering, exercise science or anything in between, a Minor in Psychology can give you the insights to understand people, behavior and how we think. It’s a flexible, powerful add-on that opens doors in any career path where working with people matters (which is...almost all of them).

Learn about:

Why minoring in psychology?

Psychology is one of the most versatile minors. At UB, you’ll get to explore what makes us tick—from personality to perception, cognition to conflict. You’ll learn how to think like a researcher, ask thoughtful questions and connect your coursework to real-world problems and solutions.

This program is intentionally broad, letting you build a psychology foundation that complements whatever you're majoring in—and whatever direction you take next.

👀 Bonus: Employers love candidates who understand behavior, data and decision-making. That’s what you’ll bring to the table.

Program highlights

  • Only 18 credits—easy to pair with most majors
  • Four key focus areas: Clinical, Cognitive, Social and Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Choose your own path—customize based on your interests and career goals
  • Great professors, big ideas—learn directly from faculty researchers and experts
  • Fits into most schedules without delaying graduation

What you'll learn

This minor gives you a high-level view of the psychological sciences, covering topics like:

  • Human behavior and motivation
  • Mental health and wellness
  • Brain and cognitive processes
  • Learning, development and social dynamics
  • Research and data interpretation in the behavioral sciences

You’ll walk away with sharper critical thinking, stronger communication skills and a better understanding of the people around you (and yourself).

“It's all going to come down to the individual student and their goals, but my advice is to take advantage of any and all opportunities to specialize and dive into the topics that interest you the most. ”
9/13/23

Anastasiia Melnichuk

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“Leading independent research and being a student in the Psychology Honors Program have been tremendously transformative experiences in both my personal life and my academic/professional life. ”
9/13/23

Jennifer Mosley

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Cognitive Psychology

“When I first started as a UB student, I had no idea that I would graduate as a Psychology major. Sitting in my first psychology course freshman year, all I knew at that point was that I wanted to stay.”
9/13/23

Jasmine Greggs

BS in Psychology, Minor in Global Gender Studies, UB;
Project Manager, Information Technology

“UB Psychology was a strong foundation that has helped me achieve goals that I thought were beyond my reach, and I could not be more grateful. ”
9/13/23

Sashel Haygood

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Cognitive Psychology

“A Psychology BA is a very flexible degree, with openings for many electives. I used these openings to take courses in different departments and to participate in the Psychology Honors Program. ”
9/13/23

Hector Sosa

BA in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“My favorite aspect of Psychology is its timelessness in learning opportunities—there are always questions to be asked and answers to be explored. ”
4/13/24

Amber Wedderburn

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
Registered Behavioral Technician

“I was given fantastic opportunities as an undergraduate Psychology major. I engaged in research from my very first semester all the way through to my senior year, during which I participated in the Psychology Honors Program.”
9/13/23

Mia Forney

BA in Psychology and Criminology, Minor in Addiction Studies, UB;
Law (JD) and Social Work (MSW) Student, UB

“As a transfer student, I was initially worried that I would be ‘behind’ relative to my peers, but the faculty and graduate students at UB were so welcoming and really helped me build my comfort level as I got involved in research. ”
9/13/23

Brandon Koscinski

BA Psychology, UB; MA in Psychology, UB; 
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“Above all, learning to think critically about psychological phenomena in a scientific way by being exposed to the full research cycle was a major highlight during my time as a UB Psychology major.”
9/13/23

Quincy Lherisson

BA in Psychology and Minor in Criminology, UB;
PhD Student, Social Psychology

“UB provided me with the education and resources to pursue the next steps in my future, as well as a space to voice my opinions, expand my passion for the field, and leave my mark.”
9/13/23

Nikoleta Antoniou Karademitrou 

BA in Psychology and Minor in Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“Pursue your interests, share your excitement with others, and you’ll find your niche! ”
9/13/23

Dylan Schaefer

BS in Psychology, BA in German, UB;
Clinical Regulatory Research Coordinator

“When I started exploring psychology, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do within the field, but the diversity of the courses and experiences in the department allowed me to explore different disciplines including law, clinical psychology, research, and medicine, and discover my interests. ”
9/13/23

Alex Schick

BA in Psychology, UB;
Medical Student (MD)

“I believe my UB psychology degree did an excellent job setting me up with the fundamentals that I needed to go onto work in the file of mental health/social services. ”
9/13/23

Carlos Panjon

BA in Psychology, Minor in Counseling, UB;
MSW student, Social Work

“I am indebted to the incredible support from the Psychology Department—I gained hands-on research experience, ranging from quantitative data analyses to manuscript preparation. ”
9/13/23

Junye (Alex) Ma

BA in Psychology, BA in Japanese Linguistics, UB;
PhD student, Clinical Psychology

“The depth and breadth of the UB Psychology major prepared me well for doctoral study in Social Psychology by providing me with foundational knowledge and the skills to seek out answers to questions of my own. ”
9/13/23

Stephanie Stewart-Hill

BA in Psychology, Minors in Statistics and Spanish, UB;
PhD student, Social Psychology

“I was not initially a Psychology major when I started at UB. However, I quickly became convinced it was where I belonged after taking a few Psychology courses. ”
9/13/23

Carl Wiedemann

BA in Psychology, Minors in Philosophy and Counseling, UB;
PhD student, Social and Health Psychology

“Psychology is not just about high-level theories or studying to become someone's therapist. Earning a degree in psychology opens you up to a multitude of career paths. ”
9/13/23

Austin Valvo

BA in Psychology, Minor in Management, UB;
PhD student, Organizational Science

“I was extremely impressed with how knowledgeable my UB professors were and their enthusiasm towards teaching. ”
9/13/23

Kyle Zumpano

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD student, Biology

“As an undergraduate Psychology minor at UB, I was able to create meaningful connections with my professors, who acted as pillars of support during my time in university. ”
9/13/23

O. Fiona Pratt-MacDonald

Minor in Psychology, BA in Sociology, UB;
Student Success Coach, Americorps

“I did not have a set career path in mind when I started college, but working in a research lab helped me foster relationships with faculty and graduate students who provided me with guidance about career paths within the field of psychology and beyond.”
9/13/23

Anna Gentile

BS in Psychology, UB;
PhD Student, Counseling Psychology

“The department exposed me to courses and endless campus opportunities aimed toward diversity and collaboration, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of psychology. ”
9/13/23

Jordan Johnson

BS in Psychology, Minor in Neuroscience, UB;
PhD student, Neuroscience

“If you’re interested in studying psychology, UB’s Psychology Department is unmatched. I can’t think of another program that has the ample opportunities offered on UB’s campus at the price point of SUNY tuition. ”
9/13/23

Kyra Katz

BS in Psychology, UB;
Dental (DDS) Student, UB

“During my time as an undergraduate Psychology major at the University at Buffalo, I had access to opportunities that both defined my career path and defined me as an individual. ”
9/13/23

Alexa Jimenez

BS in Psychology, Minors in Sociology and Counseling, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“I attribute both my entry to the field of psychology and palpable success as an early-career researcher to the remarkable mentorship I received at UB. ”
9/13/23

Cassondra Lyman

BS in Psychology, BA in Statistics, UB;
PhD Student, Clinical Psychology

“My advice to students is to have an open mind when sitting in Psychology classes, as the topics covered can be useful in aspects of your life that you don’t expect. ”
9/13/23

Jean Zhao

BS in Psychology, UB;
DPT, Physical Therapy

“An advantage of majoring in Psychology is the versatile nature of the major itself—you can combine Psychology with other supplementary majors (e.g., public health, pre-med, data science) to become more marketable post-graduation in exciting interdisciplinary fields of work. ”
9/13/23

Harini Krishnamurti

BA Psychology and Minor in Nutrition, UB;
PhD Student, Applied Social Psychology

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Requirements

To earn the psychology minor, you’ll need to complete 18 credit hours (typically 6 classes):

Required prerequisite

  • Introductory Psychology

Core courses

Three 300-level psychology courses from three different focus areas (you choose which three):

Clinical Psychology

  • Psychopathology
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Health Psychology

Social Psychology

  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Conflict and Resolution
  • Industrial/ Organizational Psychology

Cognitive Psychology

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Psychology of Learning
  • Sensory Processes and Perception
  • Intro to Cognitive Science

Behavioral Neuroscience

  • Biopsychology

Electives

Two additional 300-level courses (can include Psychological Statistics)

Residency requirement

At least three of your upper-level (300/400-level) courses must be taken at UB.

Explore the course catalog

Reminder: You must be enrolled in a major to declare a minor. Always consult with your academic advisor to see how transfer or exam credit might count toward these requirements.

Career outlook

A psychology minor gives you valuable insight into human behavior and motivation—skills that enhance your impact in any field. Some of the careers that value psychology as a complementary credential include:

  • Business and marketing
  • Engineering and UX design
  • Education and student affairs
  • Healthcare and public health
  • Law, social work and community advocacy
  • Technology, AI and data science

Graduates with a psychology minor often tell us it made them stand out in job interviews and grad school applications—because they could speak confidently about human behavior and data at the same time.

See careers in Psychology

Take the next step

Ready to immerse yourself in natural and psychological science? The Department of Psychology is ready for you.

Want to add the Psychology Minor?
If you're a current UB student, you can connect with your advisor to declare it.

Not a UB student yet?
Start your application today and explore everything UB has to offer.

Apply today!

Contact us

For more information, please reach out!