Undergraduate Frequently Asked Questions
PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
When can I apply for a Psychology major?
Please see the Undergraduate Major Declaration page for detailed information.
When can I apply for a double-major in Psychology?
Your primary program must be eligible for double major participation based on your admit term. You may apply while you are still actively enrolled in your degree program.
Applications can be submitted earliest for the third and the latest for the fifth term.
Please also check for the other requirements from the Double Major Diploma Programs page.
Can I switch from other majors to the Psychology major?
Yes, but students may switch their majors only once. Please see the Diploma Program Change for requirements to switch majors.
Please get in touch with the FASS Dean’s office to apply to change your major to Psychology.
Can I take Psychology courses before declaring my major in Psychology? After I declare my major, do these courses count towards my major?
Yes, you can take Psychology courses before declaring your major, and these courses will count towards your major.
What are the required courses for the Psychology major program?
Please see the “Program Requirements” webpage to check the program requirements according to your first admit semester. Our recommended course plan page is also a very useful resource for planning your psychology major.
What courses should I start with if I am considering a Psychology major?
Generally, we recommend starting with introductory courses such as PSY 201 (Mind and Behavior) or PSY 202 (Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I). These courses provide foundational knowledge about different areas of psychology and research methods. You can then take core courses. Be sure to take courses representing different subfields, such as Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, and Introduction to Neuroscience. After that, you can move on to specialized or advanced courses with 3XX and 4XX course codes. We strongly recommend that you take at least one or two 4XX-level courses before graduating.
Why are statistics courses required for a Psychology major?
Statistics is an indispensable part of psychology education at every university. A basic understanding of statistics is essential for conducting data analysis, keeping up with the psychology literature, designing surveys, and acquiring the skills necessary for a professional career. PSY 202 is a required course for both major and minor students. PSY 304, however, is required only for students who began the program in 2019 or earlier; for those who started after that date, it is a foundational (but not required) course.
Can I participate in research studies to increase my grades?
Yes. Most psychology courses (and some business, economics, and computer science courses) offer bonus points for research participation, which can boost your grade. If you are enrolled in such a course, an account will be created for you in the Research Points System called SONA. There, you can view available research studies and schedule an appointment to participate.
I am a FENS student and want to take a psychology course to complete ECTS Basic Science requirements. Which psychology course should I take?
FENS students cannot earn Basic Science Credits from Psychology courses.
MINOR PROGRAM
Is there a Psychology Minor?
No, but the interdisciplinary Decision and Behavior minor has Psychology at its core. Consider pursuing this minor to learn more about psychology and related disciplines.
When can I apply for the Decision and Behavior minor?
Once students declare their major, they can apply for a minor program. To apply, students must be enrolled in at least their second semester and at most their fifth semester.
Please see the Minor Programs page for more detailed information regarding minor program applications.
Can I complete the Psychology Major and Decision & Behavior Minor simultaneously?
Yes. The Decision and Behavior Minor is an interdisciplinary minor that includes, but is not limited to, Psychology courses.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
What are career opportunities for psychology majors?
Career opportunities for psychology graduates are quite diverse. A significant portion of graduates from Sabancı University’s Psychology Program enter the professional workforce directly after completing their undergraduate studies. Some of our graduates work in fields such as human resources, marketing, data analytics, and research firms. Many of our graduates, however, pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology in Türkiye or abroad, and subsequently continue working in the field of clinical psychology. Our graduates successfully apply their psychology education in both people-centered and data-driven fields.
Graduates pursuing an academic career are accepted into highly competitive doctoral programs and continue their education at prestigious institutions in Türkiye and abroad. Among our graduates are those pursuing doctoral studies at world-renowned universities such as the University of Cambridge, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto.
In short, Sabancı Psychology graduates, as individuals with a deep understanding of human behavior, are successfully advancing in a wide range of professional and academic fields.
What are the events organised by the Psychology Program?
PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH SEMINARS are organized regularly by the Psychology program. These seminars offer an opportunity to get acquainted with and discuss the research conducted by local and international researchers who study psychology. They aim to encourage both intellectual and social exchanges between the students, guests, and faculty members. All interested students and faculty members are welcome to attend these seminars. Please visit our Announcements page for more information.
CROSS-CUTTING PANELS. Every semester, we organize cross-cutting panels as part of the PSY201 - Mind and Behavior course, where students can observe Psychology faculty members discussing their research and its implications for day-to-day life. The goal of the cross-cutting panel is to give students the opportunity to see that different fields in psychology share the common goal of understanding human behavior. Students can see the similarities and differences between a variety of approaches, research questions, and learn about the diverse practical applications of psychological research.
HUMAN LIBRARY is an international non-for-profit project dedicated to diversity in our society and developing dialogue between people from different social, professional, religious, and ethnic groups. Such a dialogue, in an informal and safe environment, helps get rid of stereotypes causing discrimination and raise understanding and acceptance of diversity in society. If you want to be a volunteer, look for announcements about the Human Library, usually in the middle of the Fall semester, or contact olesya.blazhenkova@sabanciuniv.edu.
What are the research opportunities for students?
PROJ 201. In this course students are introduced to basic research environments and skills through working on a project with members from different faculties. They will conduct hands-on work, learn presentation skills and teamwork. Students team up as small groups and register to a project of their choice and work closely with the supervisor throughout the semester to fulfill the requirements of their chosen project. As the deliverables of the project work, students are expected to write a project proposal and make either a group presentation or design a poster explaining the project and its results.
Independent study I and II (PSY 398 and PSY 399). Under the close supervision of a Psychology faculty member, students develop research skills and gain hands-on experience in carrying out a research study. If you want to do an independent study project, you must first receive the approval of a supervisor faculty member prior to enrollment. Please bear in mind that this is an honors project, and faculty members have the right to select students based on their academic performance, research fit, and other project-related factors. Contact psychology faculty members in advance to ask if they are willing to supervise you and what their research projects are. If a faculty advisor agrees to work with you, you need to apply for a ‘Special Approval’ for their section of the course on bannerweb.
PURE. Sabancı University Program for Undergraduate Research (PURE) is intended for undergraduate students from all domestic and international universities who would like to pursue guided research projects. Undergraduate students at all levels can apply and they will be selected according to the projects’ requirements and the applicant's background. The goal of the program is to introduce undergraduate students to real research problems early in their studies. For more info, read the PURE web page.