What is a pre-major?

The pre-major is a collection of core courses that incoming students must complete prior to being admitted to either the PSY or NSC major. The material covered in these courses provides a broad introduction to psychological science that provides the foundation for more focused and detailed study as you progress through the major. The core courses of the pre-major are designed to present the material in sequence, which prevents you from getting overwhelmed or “in over your head".

Why do I have to begin as a pre-major?

Starting as a pre-major serves several purposes. First, it allows you to develop a strong discipline-specific knowledge base before progressing onto more sophisticated concepts. Through this exposure, you are also better equipped to determine whether this major is the best fit for you academically. Second, it provides a clear map for a student’s sequence of courses. Finally, our departmental research shows that students who struggle in these early courses are likely to struggle throughout the duration of the major. A poor GPA can have long-term consequences in terms of your post-baccalaureate plans such as finding employment or gaining admission into graduate or professional school. Therefore, we want to provide that feedback very early in a student’s college experience, in order to allow that student time to find a more suitable major.

How do you become a full major?

BA PSY:

Incoming first-year students are admitted as "Pre-PSY majors." Students will be admitted into the PSY major when they have achieved the following:

Completed, with a grade of C or better:
Transfer or AP credit cannot be used to complete these six hour requirement for promotion, although they may be used to satisfy graduation requirements.
- PSY 1101 if matriculating as a Pre-PSY major; an alternative NSE course may be used as a substitute, with approval of the chair or chair's designee. This requirement is waived for transfer students.
- And six hours at Baylor Univeristy from following PSY/NSC courses:
- PSY 1305
- NSC 1306
- PSY 2402

Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.25 in no fewer than 40 hours attempted at Baylor University. Transfer hours and grades are not considered in meeting these requirements.

All students will be evaluated at the conclusion of the summer, fall, or spring term in which 40 hours is surpassed. Students failing to meet these requirements for promotion at that time will be ineligible to continue in the BA PSY major.

Transferring to BA PSY:

Students transferring from another institution may select Pre-PSY (BA) as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements within their first 30 hours attempted at Baylor University. Application for a Change of Major should be made with the student's academic advisor.
Students wishing to transfer to BA PSY from another major at Baylor must have completed requirements listed in "A" above, must have an overall GPA of 2.50, and must do so before 60 hours are attempted at Baylor University. Upon successful application, such students will be admitted directly to the BA PSY major. Application for a Change of Major should be made with the student's academic advisor.

BS PSY:

Incoming first-year students are admitted as "Pre-PSY majors." Students will be admitted into the PSY major when they have achieved the following :

Completed the following PSY/NSC courses, with a C or better:
Transfer or AP credit cannot be used to complete the six-hour PSY/NSC requirement for promotion, although they may be used to satisfy graduation requirements.
- MTH 1321
- PSY 1101 if matriculating as a Pre-PSY major; an alternative NSE course may be used as a substitute, with the approval of the chair or chair's designee. This requirement is waived for transfer students.
- And six hours at Baylor University from following PSY/NSC courses:
- PSY 1305
- NSC 1306-1106
- PSY 2402
Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in no fewer than 40 hours attempted at Baylor University. Transfer hours and grades are not considered in meeting these requirements.

Transferring to BS PSY:

Students transferring from another institution may select Pre-PSY (BS) as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements within their first 30 hours attempted at Baylor University. Application for a Change of Major should be made with the student's academic advisor.
Students transferring from another major at Baylor cannot select Pre-PSY (BS) as a major. Rather, students desiring to change their major to BS PSY must have completed requirements listed in "A" above, must have an overall GPA of 3.30, and must do so before 45 hours are attempted at Baylor University. Upon successful application, such students will be admitted directly to the BS PSY major. Application for a Change of Major should be made through the student's academic advisor.

BS NSC:

Incoming first-year students are admitted as "Pre-NSC majors." Students will be admitted into the NSC major when they have achieved the following:

Completed the following PSY/NSC courses:
- NSC 1101 with a grade of C or better (if matriculating as a Pre-NSC major; an alternative NSE course may be used as a substitute, with approval of the chair or chair's designee.) This requirement is waived for transfer students
- Grade of C or better in NSC 1106, PSY 1305 and MTH 1321
- Grade of B or better in NSC 1306. With permission of the chair or chair's designate, followed by Dean's approval. Students who fail to earn a B may repeat the course one time.
Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 in now fewer than 40 hours attempted at Baylor University. Transfer hours and grades are not considered in meeting those requirements.

Students enrolling as transfers:

Students transferring from another institution may select Pre-NSC as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements within their first 30 hours attempted at Baylor University. Applications for Change of Major should be made with the student's academic advisor.
Students transferring from another major at Baylor cannot select Pre-NSC as a major. Transfer students must complete the above requirements listed in "A" above, must have an overall GPA of 3.30, and must do so before 45 hours are attempted at Baylor University. Upon successful application, such students will be admitted directly to the BS NSC major. Application for a Change of Major should be made through the student's academic advisor.

What if I don’t meet the requirements to become a full major?

We expect that between 80-90% of those starting as pre-majors will meet the requirements. In the event you don’t meet the requirements to become a full major, your major will be changed to “Undeclared,” and will be directed to declare another major. While this can be understandably disappointing, the department is committed to your overall success. The Undergraduate Director or the Departmental Advisor will be available to meet with you to access/utilize campus resources (Advising, Career & Professional Development, Counseling Center, etc.) that can help you find an academic major that is better suited to your interests, abilities, and talents.

Do you place a cap on the number of students who will be able to become a full major?

No, there is no cap in the number of students who can become PSY or NSC majors. As long as you meet the requirements (see above), you will be admitted to the major. This should alleviate any anxiety about “competing” with other students for a limited number of slots.

How does it work if I decide later (after being at Baylor for a semester or year) that I want to switch to this major? Do I have to start as a pre-major?

Yes, whether you declare as an incoming freshman, change your mind after a few semesters, or transfer to the university, you will need to start as a pre-major. Demonstrating that you have the requisite psychology and neuroscience knowledge is crucial to being successful in the major. While it may seem inconvenient to “start over” as a pre-major, doing so will enable the long-term benefits of performing well and enjoying your academic experience.