Best Psychology Programs in South Carolina for 2027

One psychology core serves both the BA and the BS at Clemson: Introduction to Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychological Science, and two four-credit courses, Introductory and Advanced Experimental Psychology. Then you add 24 upper-level psychology credits spread across biological and cognitive, applied, and individual and group courses, including sensation and perception, human factors, forensic psychology and personality. What separates the degrees is the rest of the schedule: the BA requires foreign language proficiency and three credits of math or science, while the BS requires 16 credits of math or science. Psychology students can work in labs such as the driving simulator lab. Changing majors in requires 12 Clemson credit hours and a 2.4 GPA.

Research Courses

Introductory Experimental Psychology and Advanced Experimental Psychology, four credits each.

BA vs BS

BA requires foreign language proficiency; BS requires 16 credits of math or science.

Upper-Level Credits

24 credits, with at least six biological and cognitive, three applied and three individuals and groups.

Campus

Both degrees are taught on the main Clemson campus only.

Program Sources: Clemson University Psychology Degrees and Programs OverviewProgram: Psychology, BS - Clemson University

How much method you want decides between the two Charleston psychology degrees. The BA runs 47 or more credits: Introduction to Psychological Science, statistics and research methods, two Core A courses (learning, behavioral neuroscience, cognition or sensation and perception), two Core B courses (psychopathology, personality, social or development) and four electives. The BS is built for research-minded students, at 62 or more credits, adding Advanced Psychological Statistics, an advanced lab course, a math requirement through statistics or calculus and five electives. The elective list includes Applied Behavior Analysis, Neuropsychology, Foundations of Psychotherapy, a practicum, an internship and a neuroscience Bachelor's Essay.

BA Size

47 or more credits, including four elective courses and two Core A and two Core B courses.

BS Size

62 or more credits, with Advanced Psychological Statistics, an advanced lab and a math requirement.

Experimental Foundations

Psychological Statistics and Research Methods, or the six-credit combined Psychological Statistics and Research Methods course.

Applied Electives

Practicum in Psychology, Internship Experience, Teaching Mentorship and Bachelor's Essay in Neuroscience.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.A. - College of CharlestonProgram: Psychology, B.S. - College of Charleston

The 44-credit major at Furman opens with Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods and Data Analysis, then asks for at least four credits in each of six areas: cognition and behavior, development, individuals and systems, mental health, neuroscience and a capstone. The capstone is where you choose a narrow topic, such as The Sleeping Brain, Placebo Effect, Brain Imaging, Eating Disorders or Autism, or write a thesis. You can also earn credit for independent research or an off-campus internship. The BA and BS list the same course requirements, and the department has a Psychology Club, a Collaborative Neuroscience Society and Psi Chi.

Core Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology and Data Analysis in Psychology, 12 credits.

Area Requirement

At least four credits from each of six areas, including cognition and behavior, development and mental health.

Capstone

A senior-level seminar on a specific topic, or a Thesis.

Experiential Credit

Course credit for independent research or an off-campus internship.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.A. - Furman UniversityStudent Experiences | Psychology | Furman University

Research sits at the center of Wofford's psychology BS. You take two Quantitative Methods courses, Biological Psychology with a lab, and a lab course in learning, cognitive science, sensation and perception or social psychology. A Senior Thesis then has you run a major experiment with human or animal subjects and report it in APA journal form. Around that you choose one survey course, one social, developmental or applied course such as Psychology and the Law, Clinical Psychology or Psychological Assessment, and one neuroscience-flavored elective like Affective Neuroscience, The Neuroscience of Sleep or Psychopharmacology. Majors can also add the Program in Neuroscience or the Emphasis in Computational Science.

Methods Sequence

Quantitative Methods in Psychology I and II, plus Biological Psychology with a lab.

Senior Thesis

Four-hour research seminar in which you conduct a major experiment and write a report in APA journal form.

Add-On Programs

Program in Neuroscience or Emphasis in Computational Science.

Total Credits

30 to 32 hours in the major.

Program Sources: Psychology (PSY) < Wofford College

You pick the capstone in Coastal's psychology BS: History and Systems of Psychology, a four-credit Capstone Internship, or Applied Research in Psychology with its lab. Before that come General Psychology, Research Methods with a lab, a statistics course with a lab, and one course from each of the learning and cognition, clinical and developmental groups. Concentrations in behavioral neuroscience, forensics and mental health let you specialize, and the neuroscience concentration covers learning and memory, brain physiology and psychopharmacology. Individual research can also run through independent study, the VIP research program or the research fellows program. Every course in the major needs a C or better.

Capstone Choices

History and Systems, Capstone Internship or Applied Research in Psychology with a lab.

Concentrations

Behavioral Neuroscience, Forensics and Mental Health.

Methods and Statistics

Research Methods with a lab and Psychological Statistics or Elementary Statistics with a lab.

Science and Math

A lab science sequence, a calculus course for social science or higher, and an upper-level statistics course.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, B.S. - Coastal Carolina UniversityPsychology | Coastal Carolina

The 37-hour psychology major at Winthrop comes with a required minor of 15 to 24 hours and a foreign language through the 102 level. The major starts with an entry course and Psychology as a Discipline and Profession, then moves to Statistics and Research Methods and Ethics. You pick three core courses from developmental, abnormal, social, biological, cognitive and learning psychology, add three elective hours plus twelve above the 299 level, and choose a capstone: History and Systems, an internship or a Senior Seminar. No more than three hours of field experience or academic internship count toward the major. Students in the department also present research at professional conferences, sometimes with university funding.

Experimental Sequence

Statistics and Research Methods and Ethics.

Core Choices

Three of developmental, abnormal, social, biological, cognitive or learning psychology.

Capstone Choices

History and Systems of Psychology, Internship or Senior Seminar.

Minor and Language

A 15 to 24 hour minor and a foreign language through the 102 level.

Program Sources: BA-PSYC Program | Winthrop University CatalogMajors & Programs: Psychology | Winthrop University

A one-credit Professional Development in Psychology course starts you off at USC Upstate, and the research sequence follows: Psychological Statistics, Research Foundations in Psychology and a three-credit Research Foundations Laboratory. You choose five core courses, one from each group, which range from sensation and perception, cognitive neuroscience or biopsychology to learning, social psychology, development, health psychology and applied areas like industrial and organizational psychology, psychology and law, or educational psychology. A Senior Seminar closes the major. Everyone adds either a 12-hour cognate or an 18 to 21 hour minor, a language through the 102 level and a cultural exposure course, and each major course needs a C.

Research Sequence

Psychological Statistics, Research Foundations in Psychology and its laboratory.

Core Groups

Five courses, one each from five groups, including biological, learning and cognition, social, developmental and applied.

Capstone

Senior Seminar: Capstone Experience in Psychology.

Cognate or Minor

Twelve-hour cognate or an 18 to 21 hour minor.

Program Sources: Psychology, Bachelor of Science | USC Upstate

A research ladder runs through the USC Aiken BS: Introduction to Psychological Research, then intermediate and advanced research with faculty, and finally a Senior Research Thesis with a proposal and defense. The 38-hour major begins with three core courses, then adds one developmental, one clinical and one neuroscience course, two lab courses above the 300 level, five upper-level psychology courses and a Reflective Capstone Experience. You also build a cognate or minor of at least 12 hours in a supporting field, and each major course needs a C or better. Up to six hours of research or internship can count as major credit.

Research Courses

Intermediate and Advanced Psychological Research and a three-credit Senior Research Thesis.

Major Credits

38 credit hours, including two lab courses above 300 and a Reflective Capstone Experience.

Cognate or Minor

At least 12 hours in related upper-level courses, approved by your advisor.

Math Requirement

MATH A102, A108 or a higher math course.

Program Sources: BS Psychology | USCAResearch Opportunities | USCA

Pick a concentration at Claflin: General Psychology, Counseling or Research. Counseling adds Mental Health, Counseling and Therapy, Mental Health First Aid certification and encouragement toward a practicum or internship. Research leads with Cognition, Advanced Psychological Research, Experimental Psychology and History of Psychology, and it's meant for students heading toward a PhD. Everyone takes Introduction to Psychology, Developmental, Social and Abnormal Psychology, Fundamentals of Research, Social Statistics, then either Senior Seminar or Senior Research. The day program serves traditional students, while an online format with the General Psychology concentration serves non-traditional students through the Center for Professional and Continuing Studies.

Concentrations

General Psychology, Counseling and Research, each with 21 hours including six at the 400 level.

Research Preparation

Fundamentals of Research, Social Statistics and Senior Seminar or Senior Research.

Counseling Track

Mental Health First Aid certification plus a practicum or internship encouraged.

Delivery

Day classes for traditional students and an online format with the General Psychology concentration.

Program Sources: Psychology | Claflin University

The Psychology PhD at the University of South Carolina asks you to choose a concentration: Clinical-Community Psychology, which is APA accredited as a clinical psychology program, Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Quantitative Psychology, or School Psychology, which is APA and NASP accredited. Cognitive and Neural Sciences students train in behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience and cognitive psychology. You can earn a master's on the way to the PhD and apply for the Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program for added biomedical research training. Research happens at the McCausland Center, the Institute for Mind and Brain and the Psychology Services Center, and the applied concentrations offer externships and APA-certified internship opportunities.

Concentrations

Clinical-Community, Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Quantitative Psychology and School Psychology.

Master's En Route

You can earn a master's degree on the way to the Ph.D.

Add-On Training

Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program for additional biomedical research training.

Research Sites

McCausland Center, Institute for Mind and Brain and Psychology Services Center.

Program Sources: Graduate - Department of Psychology | University of South CarolinaCognitive and Neural Sciences Concentration - Department of Psychology | University of South Carolina