Building the department map…
Department paths
Courses with no prerequisites inside the department that unlock the most downstream work.
Generated from University of California, Davis’s catalog, prerequisite, and concentration data. Spotted an error? Departments can adjust labels, ordering, and notes without a code change, so contact us.
The shortest canonical route from each entry point to a gateway course.
Each of these unlocks the largest share of downstream work on this map. Courses from other departments can appear here when they genuinely gate PSC coursework.
Intro tiers at the top, advanced work below; arrows point from a prerequisite to the course it unlocks. Courses from other departments appear where they gate PSC work. Click any course to see what it requires and unlocks without leaving this page; hovering lights up its neighbors. The lists on this page carry the same courses in text form.
Showing the 133 PSC and feeder courses that have prerequisite links. 50 more PSC courses have no recorded prerequisites. They are listed under Tracks below, not drawn as loose dots here.
The concentrations and majors that build on PSC, and how their requirements are structured. Expand a program to see which courses satisfy each group, then plan it in the Planner.
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Psychology; Statistics; Research Methods; Biology; choose an option:; OR, if prerequisites are met, choose:; Recommended, not required:; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
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Depth Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Choose two courses each from two of the following Core Groups and one course each from the remaining two Core Groups. Total upper division units should equal at least 40 units between core group courses and major elective courses.; Core Group A: Perception, Cognition, & Cognitive Neuroscience; Core Group B: Psychobiology; Core Group C: Social/Personality; Core Group D: Developmental; Depth Subject
Approved Major Electives2 required · verify with the official sheet
Additional units to achieve a total of 40 units of approved upper division major elective coursework. Each course may only be used to satisfy one Psychology major requirement; the same course cannot be used for multiple Psychology major requirements.; Approved Psychology Electives; Any upper division Psychology (PSC) course(s), except PSC 197T, including:; Any course listed in the Core Groups abov
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Cognitive Science; Linguistics; Philosophy; Psychology; Research Methods; Statistics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Cognitive Science:; Introduction to Mathematical Abstraction; Programming; Choose a series:; AND; AND; OR; Linguistics; Calculus; Choose a series:; OR; OR; Linear Algebra & MATLAB; OR; Philosophy; Psychology; Research Methods; Statistics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
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Written/Oral Expressionall required
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Calculus; Linear Algebra & Proof-Writing; (a); (b); (c); MATLAB; Equivalent MATLAB knowledge.; Differential Equations; Programming; Biological Science; Chemistry; Economics; AND; Physics; Statistics; or Other applied preparatory courses approved by your advisor.; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
1 course from1 required
Preparatory Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Choose at least two lower division courses from the following departments or programs:; All lower division courses of at least 4 units are acceptable except those numbered 092, 097T, 098, 099.; African American & African Studies (AAS); American Studies (AMS); Chicana/o Studies (CHI); Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies (GSW); Middle East & South Asia Studies (MSA); Native American Studies (NAS);
Upper-level clusters, grouped by the gateway that opens them.
Gateway: PSC 101
Gateway: PSC 140
The deepest prerequisite chains in PSC. These are the routes that take the most semesters to climb.
10 courses deep, ending at PSC 271C
8 courses deep, ending at PSC 146
8 courses deep, ending at PSC 218B
7 courses deep, ending at PSC 142
Depth Subject Matterchoose 1
Important: Each course may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement; the same course cannot be used for multiple groups.; CGS Topical Course: choose 1 upper division course from this list.; Concentration Areas; Choose 16 units from your choice of two groups from Groups B-F; CGS Electives; Choose 12 additional units from Groups B-G; Depth Subject Matter Subtotal
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Important: Each class may only be used to satisfy one Cognitive Science major requirement. The same course cannot be used for multiple groups.; Take each of the courses below:; Choose three from Group B:; Choose four from Group F:; Depth Subject Matter Subtotal
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Choose five:; Depth Subject Matter Subtotal:
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Biological Science; Chemistry; Economics; Psychology; Statistics; Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal
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A. Core Courses; Choose two:; B. Enrichment Courses; 1. Choose two:; MAT 111 - MAT 185B ; excluding MAT 180 , core courses, & courses being used as a capstone.; C. Capstone Courses; Depth Subject Matter Subtotal
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Depth Subject Matter2 required · verify with the official sheet
Choose at least six upper division Asian American Studies (ASA) courses:; At least two upper division elective courses from other departments or programs that relate to chosen emphasis.; Two courses (of up to 8 units) from Study Abroad can be substituted for major requirements upon approval from the SAO or faculty advisor.; Substitutions for disciplinary track courses will be considered by the Dep
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All PSC courses in the UC Davis catalog
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Use your school emailNo section schedule with instructor names for PSC yet.
No clubs or organizations on record under PSC yet.
This shows once five students share their club memberships.
PSC does not run a page here yet. When it does, its events show up here and on the UC Davis campus feed.