Does Psychology Count Toward Your Science GPA? Comprehensive Guidance for Students

Understanding Whether Psychology Counts Toward Science GPA

Many students ask whether psychology courses contribute to their science GPA , particularly when planning for graduate study in fields such as medicine, psychology, or related sciences. The answer largely depends on your academic institution, your specific program of study, and the requirements of the professional or graduate schools to which you are applying. This article provides detailed explanations, examples, and actionable steps to help you determine how psychology coursework is categorized and how it impacts your science GPA calculation.

Defining Science GPA

The science GPA is typically defined as the average grade point earned in courses classified as natural sciences. This usually includes biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics but may also include other disciplines depending on institutional policies and professional application requirements. Science GPA is often a critical metric for admissions into graduate, medical, dental, and health professional schools. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), only grades from biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics (BCPM) courses are used to calculate the AMCAS science GPA for medical school applications. Psychology is generally
not
included in this calculation unless a course is cross-listed or primarily covers content from one of these core sciences. For interdisciplinary courses, students must consult course descriptions and their prehealth advisor for proper classification [5] .

Source: tffn.net

How Different Institutions Treat Psychology Courses

Universities vary widely in how they classify psychology courses:

• University of California, Santa Barbara: The Psychological & Brain Sciences major is designated as a Bachelor of Science (BS), which involves science coursework such as calculus, chemistry, biology, and statistics. However, psychology-specific courses are not considered part of the natural science GPA for medical school unless they meet BCPM criteria [1] .
• University of Wisconsin-Madison: The BS in Psychology is described as a science-focused program. The major requires a minimum GPA within psychology courses but does not specify that psychology courses count as natural sciences for the purposes of science GPA in medical or health professional applications [2] .
• University of Oregon: The psychology major falls under natural sciences, requiring a minimum GPA in psychology coursework for degree progress. However, for professional school applications, such as medical school, psychology courses usually do not count toward the science GPA unless they are classified as biological or experimental psychology [3] .
• UC Davis: The department offers Bachelor of Science pathways in Psychology with a biological and quantitative emphasis. To declare the major, students must meet minimum GPA requirements in introductory psychology and statistics, but these courses are not always included in science GPA for professional or graduate school applications [4] .

Step-by-Step Guide to Determining Science GPA Classification

To find out whether psychology courses count toward your science GPA at your institution or for specific applications:

1. Review Your Institution’s Course Classification: Check your university’s catalog and degree requirements. Look for whether psychology is listed under natural sciences or is treated separately.
2. Consult Academic Advisors: Speak with your program or prehealth advisor to clarify how psychology courses are classified for GPA calculations, especially if you plan to apply to graduate or professional schools.
3. Check Professional Application Guidelines: For medical school, refer to the AAMC’s official Course Classification Guide . For other graduate programs, consult the relevant professional association or school admissions office.
4. Review Course Descriptions: For interdisciplinary or cross-listed courses, read the official course descriptions to determine whether the main content aligns with biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics.
5. Calculate Your GPA: Use your institution’s online degree audit tools, or calculate manually using your transcript. Exclude psychology courses from science GPA unless explicitly listed by your advisor or application instructions.

Real-World Examples and Applications

Case Study 1: Applying to Medical School A student majoring in psychology at UC Santa Barbara wants to apply to medical school. They have taken several psychology courses but, according to the AAMC, only biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics grades will count towards their science GPA. Unless a psychology course is cross-listed as neuroscience or fulfills a biology requirement, it will not be included in the science GPA calculation [5] .

Case Study 2: Graduate Psychology Programs Some graduate psychology programs may consider the GPA in undergraduate psychology courses for admissions decisions or scholarships. However, these programs generally do not refer to this as a ‘science GPA’ unless the coursework is explicitly scientific in nature (e.g., behavioral neuroscience, psychobiology). Always check with each program’s admissions office for their specific criteria.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Ambiguity about whether a specific psychology course counts as science. Solution: Always consult your advisor and the official classification guide provided by the institution or professional body. Use qualifying language when reporting your GPA, such as “psychology GPA” versus “science GPA,” to avoid misrepresentation.

Challenge: Interdisciplinary courses with overlapping content. Solution: Review the course syllabus and official description. If the primary content is biological, chemical, physical, or mathematical, it may be classified as science. Ask your advisor to confirm.

Alternative Approaches to Strengthening Your Application

If your psychology coursework does not count toward your science GPA, consider these strategies:

• Take additional courses in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics to strengthen your science GPA.
• Highlight research experience and scientific skills gained in psychology courses in your personal statements and interviews.
• Seek out interdisciplinary psychology courses that are cross-listed with biological sciences or neuroscience.
• Participate in research with a strong scientific component to demonstrate your analytical and laboratory skills.
• Consult the admissions office of your target graduate or professional program for guidance on maximizing your application.

Summary of Key Takeaways

Whether psychology counts as science GPA varies by institution and application context. For medical school, psychology typically does
not
count toward the science GPA unless it is classified under biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics. For graduate programs in psychology, the discipline’s own GPA may be considered. Always consult official resources, advisors, and application instructions for definitive guidance.

How to Access Official Guidance and Support

If you are unsure how your psychology courses are classified, you can:

Source: neurolaunch.com

• Visit your university’s psychology department website and review major requirements (e.g., UC Santa Barbara Psychological & Brain Sciences [1] ).
• Consult the AAMC’s official Course Classification Guide [5] .
• Contact your academic advisor, prehealth advisor, or department for personalized assistance.
• Search your institution’s academic catalog for ‘course classification’ and ‘science GPA’.
• For graduate program guidance, search for ‘[Program Name] admissions GPA requirements’ using your target school’s official website.

References

• [1] UC Santa Barbara (2024). Psychological & Brain Sciences Major Requirements.
• [2] University of Wisconsin-Madison (2025). Psychology, BS – Guide to Major Requirements.
• [3] University of Oregon (2024). Psychology Major Requirements.
• [4] UC Davis (2025). Psychology Major & Minor Requirements.
• [5] AAMC (2024). AMCAS Course Classification Guide.