Best Psychology Programs in Wisconsin for 2027

Madison's psychology major has six categories: Foundation, Biology, Breadth, Depth, Capstone and Electives, with at least 30 credits in PSYCH. Foundation means Introduction to Psychology, a statistics course and Research Methods, all with a C or better. You take three Breadth courses from three of five area groups (biological, clinical, cognitive and perceptual, developmental, social and personality), then two four-credit Depth courses that include a discussion or lab section, and one seminar-style Capstone such as Epigenetics and the Brain or Introduction to Psychotherapy. The major pairs with either the BA or the BS in the College of Letters & Science. The BS asks for the third unit of a language and two intermediate math, computer science or statistics courses, and the BA asks for a fourth unit of language. Honors in the Major includes a two-semester senior thesis.

Major Credits

Minimum of 30 credits in PSYCH.

Foundation

PSYCH 202, a statistics course and PSYCH 225 Research Methods.

Breadth and Depth

Three Breadth courses from three area groups, then two Depth courses.

Capstone

One seminar such as PSYCH 603 Epigenetics and the Brain.

Honors in the Major

3.300 GPA and a senior thesis in PSYCH 681 and 682.

Program Sources: Psychology, BS | University of Wisconsin-Madison GuidePsychology, BA | University of Wisconsin-Madison Guide

Four core domains organize the 36 credits of Eau Claire's psychology major: biological, developmental, learning and cognition, and sociocultural. You take at least one course in each, and at least two of the domains must include an upper-division course. Introduction to Psychology, Psychology as a Discipline and a Profession, a statistics course (Elementary Statistics or Statistical Methods in Psychology I), the four-credit Methods of Research in Psychology and either History and Systems or Big Issues in Psychology are required. At least 18 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level, and up to nine credits from PSYC 395, 396, 397, 399 and 499 can count. A separate Behavior Analysis Emphasis is its own major in the same department.

Major Credits

36 semester credits, 18 at the 300 and 400 level.

Statistics and Methods

MATH 246 or PSYC 265, then PSYC 271 Methods of Research in Psychology.

Core Domains

Biological, developmental, learning and cognition, and sociocultural.

History Course

History and Systems of Psychology or Big Issues in Psychology.

Experience Credit

Up to nine credits from PSYC 395, 396, 397, 399 and 499.

Program Sources: Psychology, Liberal Arts - B.A./B.S. | UW-Eau Claire Academic Catalog

La Crosse organizes its psychology major into foundations, sociocultural awareness, advanced electives, and a capstone or experiential choice. Students can finish that final category through options such as a research apprenticeship, teaching apprenticeship, internship, or seminar. The required research methods lecture and laboratory controls access to later courses; the department advises allowing at least four semesters after declaring the major. Sociocultural courses include culture and mental health, prejudice, and LGBTQ+ youth psychology.

Final Requirement

Research or teaching apprenticeship, internship, or seminar options.

Sequence Planning

The department advises at least four semesters after declaring the major.

Program Sources: Psychology BA — UW–La Crosse CatalogPsychology BS — UW–La Crosse Catalog

Four content areas and a neurocognitive block shape Marquette's 38-credit psychology BA. After Psychological Measurement and Statistics and Research Methods and Designs in Psychology, you take at least one upper-division course in each of Developmental, Personal Processes, Social Processes, and Diversity and Inclusion, and at least two courses from Neurocognitive Foundations. Three electives, two of them upper division, finish the 38. Your major adviser, a psychology professor, helps you choose courses based on where you are headed: graduate school, work or medical school. For students who want more research, the Honors in Psychology program adds Honors Research Methods, a research seminar and advanced undergraduate research with a faculty mentor, and juniors apply in spring.

Major Credits

38 credit hours minimum.

Statistics and Methods

Psychological Measurement and Statistics and Research Methods and Designs, four hours each.

Content Areas

Developmental, Personal Processes, Social Processes, and Diversity and Inclusion, 12 hours minimum.

Neurocognitive Foundations

At least two courses, 6 hours minimum.

Honors

Application in spring term; PSYC 2050H, 4954H and 4956H.

Program Sources: Psychology Major Overview | Marquette UniversityPsychology, BA | Marquette University Bulletin

An approved minor is required with the 36-unit psychology major at UW-Whitewater, so you plan the major and a second field together. The core is Introduction to the Psychology Major, Introductory Psychology, Basic Statistical Methods and Research Methods, which satisfies the major writing requirement. You then pick one foundations course from each of four areas: biological processes, cognition and learning, personality, development and social, and adjustment and disorders. Two advanced courses come from options like Psychology of Emotion and Motivation, Psychological Tests and Measurements, Interview and Psychotherapy Techniques and Field Training in Psychology. Students can join the Undergraduate Research Program, complete an independent study, write a senior thesis or take field placements at schools, human service agencies and crisis intervention programs. Future teachers have a separate Psychology Education BSE.

Major Units

36 units, plus an approved minor.

Core Courses

PSYCH 101, 211, 215 and 216.

Foundations

One each from four areas, 12 units.

Advanced Courses

At least two different courses, 6 units.

Field Placements

Schools, human service agencies, correctional facilities and crisis intervention programs.

Program Sources: Psychology (BA/BS) | UW-Whitewater CatalogPsychology Bachelor's Degree Program | UW-Whitewater

Stevens Point's psychology BS asks for at least 37 credits: three core courses (PSYC 110, PSYC 200, and PSYC 300 or SOC 351), at least two courses from each of two course lists, 12 elective credits with no more than six at the 200 level, and a capstone of PSYC 400 or PSYC 490. You're strongly encouraged to work with a professor on directed readings, original research, applied internships or special projects. Seniors who have taken Abnormal Psychology and Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy can apply for a Human Services internship, six hours a week at a community agency. A Human Services concentration focuses on counseling and behavior modification, and the major is also available as an online degree.

Major Credits

At least 37 credits.

Required Courses

PSYC 110, PSYC 200, and PSYC 300 or SOC 351.

Capstone

PSYC 400 or PSYC 490.

Internship

PSYC 494 Human Services Internship, six hours a week at an unpaid placement.

Concentration and Delivery

Human Services concentration; online option available.

Program Sources: Psychology | UW-Stevens Point AcademicsPsychology Online | UW-Stevens Point Academics

Research Methods in Psychology is the one fixed upper-level course in Green Bay's psychology major, and four area requirements surround it: physiological or cognitive, social or personality, culture or gender, and clinical or counseling. You pick one course in each area, for example Physiological Psychology or Psychology of Cognitive Processes, Cultural Psychology or Psychology of Women and Gender, and Psychopathology or Counseling and Psychotherapy. Twelve elective credits come from the rest of those areas or from topics like Forensic Psychology, Conservation Psychology, Health Psychology and Wrongful Convictions. Supporting work includes Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, a statistics course and a biology course. The major runs 40 to 45 credits, and teaching and research assistantships and internships are encouraged but not required.

Major Credits

40 to 45 credits.

Required Upper-Level Course

PSYCH 300 Research Methods in Psychology.

Area Requirements

Physiological/Cognitive, Social/Personality, Culture/Gender, and Clinical/Counseling.

Statistics

PSYCH 205, BUSAN 220 or MATH 260.

Experiences

Teaching assistantship, research assistantship or internship, encouraged.

Program Sources: Psychology | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Catalog 2026-2027

River Falls' psychology BS rests on two foundations, experimental and social, and you take at least three courses from each list. The experimental list covers Learning and Motivation, Memory and Thinking, Sensation and Perception and Physiological Psychology. The social list covers Personality, Abnormal Psychology and Developmental Psychology for childhood and adolescence or adulthood and aging. Required courses also include General Psychology, Careers in Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Sciences, a statistics course, Research Methods, Psychological Measurement and Evaluation and a Senior Seminar. At least six elective credits can come from Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Health Psychology, Sport Psychology, Behavior Modification, Introduction to Clinical Psychology, an internship or undergraduate research. You can specialize in gender, industrial, health, sport, clinical or animal psychology.

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Research Courses

PSYC 201 Behavioral Statistics (or a math or economics option), PSYC 216 Research Methods and PSYC 315.

Foundations

At least three experimental and at least three social courses.

Capstone

PSYC 450 Senior Seminar in Psychology.

Electives

At least six credits, including internship and undergraduate research.

Program Sources: PSYC.AS Psychology, Undergraduate | UW-River Falls CatalogPsychology | University of Wisconsin-River Falls

UWM's PhD in Psychology is offered through three programs, Clinical Psychology (accredited by the APA), Health Psychology and Neuroscience, although Health Psychology is not currently accepting applications. All three are combined MS/PhD programs, so you earn the master's degree on the way, unless you arrive with a master's in psychology or neuroscience that included an empirical thesis. The academic part can be finished in four years, but most students need five or more, and everyone is expected to enroll full time and finish within seven years, apart from the one-year internship the clinical program requires. The clinical program takes a theoretically diverse, biopsychosocial view of research and practice. The department also has an on-campus training clinic and refers counseling and school psychology applicants to Educational Psychology.

Programs

Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology and Neuroscience.

Degree Structure

Combined MS/PhD; MS waived with an empirical master's thesis.

Timeline

Four years possible for coursework, five or more typical; seven years maximum.

Clinical Internship

One year, required in the clinical program.

Training Clinic

On-campus clinic plus hospital and agency placements in Milwaukee.

Program Sources: Psychology, PhD | UW-MilwaukeePhD Program | Psychological and Brain Sciences | UW-Milwaukee

Marquette's psychology PhD is a clinical psychology specialization, accredited by the APA, and it requires 81 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. Along the way you complete six credits of master's thesis work and defend an approved master's thesis, which doubles as the master's exam and earns the master's degree. You then pass a doctoral qualifying examination, complete 12 credits of dissertation work and finish an approved clinical internship. Courses cover scientific areas of psychology, research methods, and professional skills in assessment, psychotherapy, consultation and supervision, and supervised clinical experiences are planned throughout. Practica run through the department's Center for Psychological Services and collaborating Milwaukee agencies. The Multicultural Awareness and Professional Integration Program adds specialized training on multicultural issues.

Total Credits

81 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate.

Master's Thesis

Six credits and an oral defense; also serves as the master's exam.

Qualifying Exam

Doctoral qualifying examination required before candidacy.

Dissertation

12 credit hours and a public defense.

Internship

Approved clinical internship, PSYC 8986.

Program Sources: Psychology, PHD | Marquette University Bulletin