Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biological Sciences

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Carnegie Mellon University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Psychology and Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University is an interdisciplinary four-year program designed for students interested in how biological systems and human behavior connect, combining training in both the social and natural sciences. Students develop knowledge across genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, behavioral science, and research methods while building practical skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, laboratory work, and psychological research.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish a strong scientific foundation through courses such as Modern Biology, Introduction to Modern Chemistry, Differential and Integral Calculus, and Physics for Science Students I, while beginning their psychology studies with a psychology elective. The year also develops communication, computing, and interdisciplinary skills through courses such as Interpretation and Argument and Computing @ Carnegie Mellon.

Second Year: Students move into core biological and psychological concepts through Genetics, Biochemistry, Introduction to Psychology, and psychology electives. Laboratory and quantitative preparation is strengthened through Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Techniques in Quantitative Analysis, Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis, and Reasoning with Data.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes more advanced and research-oriented with Cell Biology, Experimental Genetics and Molecular Biology, Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Biological Foundations of Behavior. Students can also undertake Experimental Biochemistry or Experimental Cell and Developmental Biology, alongside advanced psychology and biology coursework.

Fourth Year: Students deepen their specialization through Advanced Biology Electives, Advanced Psychology Electives, and Psychology Research Methods, while gaining additional exposure to research through Topics in Research. The final year also provides flexibility through biology, psychology, and free electives, allowing students to shape their studies around their academic and career interests.

Focus Areas: Psychology and Biological Sciences, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, behavioral science, research methods, cognitive science/neuroscience, cellular and molecular sciences, and systems/behavior.

Learning Outcomes: Scientific inquiry, data analysis, experimental design, research communication, information literacy, critical evaluation of scientific literature, teamwork, and responsible research practices.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Interdisciplinary preparation: The university describes the degree as preparation for professions requiring broad training across psychology and the natural sciences, including pathways such as psychiatry and clinical practice. Carnegie Mellon’s official program pages do not state a separate professional accreditation for this B.S. degree.

Reputation (Employability): Career preparation: Carnegie Mellon states that its Psychology programs emphasize cutting-edge research, research involvement, and the development of highly skilled graduates; the university also reports that about half of Psychology graduates continue to graduate or professional school, while others pursue employment using their problem-oriented skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Carnegie Mellon’s B.S. in Biological Sciences and Psychology gives students substantial opportunities to apply classroom learning through laboratory research, original studies, and faculty-led projects. Psychology students can begin working in faculty laboratories as early as their first year, while Biological Sciences students work with faculty and laboratory groups using current research techniques and equipment. The university reports that more than 80% of Biological Sciences students participate in undergraduate research, making practical research experience a major part of the academic environment.

Students can build practical skills across both psychology and biological sciences through these opportunities:

Psychology Research Methods: Students design their own original studies, formulate hypotheses, recruit and test participants, analyze data, and present their findings. Research Methods courses use tools including IBM SPSS Statistics and BrainVoyager for data analysis and fMRI-related research.
Faculty Research Laboratories: Psychology undergraduates can work as research assistants in Social/Health, Developmental, Cognitive, and Neuroscience laboratories, collecting and preparing data, running research sessions, recruiting participants, and contributing to manuscripts.
Biological Sciences Laboratories: Students can work directly with faculty and laboratory groups on research in areas including cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, computational biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and neuroscience, learning laboratory procedures and using research equipment.
Research for Academic Credit: Biological Sciences students can register for Research for Credit (03-445), Independent Study (03-210), or Honors Research for Credit (03-545). Research projects may be conducted on or off campus under the supervision of a research mentor and require a final research deliverable.
Psychology Research for Credit: Psychology students can receive academic credit for laboratory research, with opportunities to work on ongoing faculty projects or contribute to new research projects. Students may receive 3–12 credits per semester for qualifying laboratory work.
Clinical & Field Experience: Psychology students can pursue an Internship in Clinical Psychology and have opportunities to gain experience in clinical settings. CMU identifies previous student internships at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, The Children’s Institute, and Matilda Theiss Therapeutic Nursery and Preschool.
Neuroscience Facilities: Students interested in neuroscience can access the CMU-Pitt BRIDGE Center, which houses an fMRI machine, providing exposure to advanced brain-imaging research.
Biological Imaging: The Center for Advanced Biological Imaging Solutions (CABIS) provides access to advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques and flow cytometry, supporting research in biological imaging and related fields.
Children’s Research: Students interested in developmental psychology can conduct research involving children aged 3–5 through the Carnegie Mellon University Children’s School, connecting psychological research with direct observational experience.
Summer Research: Psychology students can pursue the Summer Program for Undergraduate Researchers (SPUR), an eight-week experience involving direct participation in psychological research, including data collection and laboratory meetings.
Independent Research & Thesis: Students can progress from laboratory participation to an independent research project and senior thesis. Biological Sciences also offers an Honors Program in Research Biology, requiring an independent project and formal thesis defended during the senior year.
Research Funding: Students can apply for Small Undergraduate Research Grants (SURG) through CMU’s Undergraduate Research Office to support research expenses, summer research, and conference presentations.
New Undergraduate Biology Laboratories: CMU is expanding its undergraduate biology laboratory spaces, with teaching laboratories designed around active learning where students practice laboratory skills, solve problems, make decisions, and explain their findings through writing and discussion.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Psychology and Biological Sciences combines biological science with psychology, giving graduates research, laboratory, analytical, and behavioral-science skills applicable across healthcare, life sciences, research, and other interdisciplinary fields. Carnegie Mellon specifically notes that the program can prepare students for careers that combine biological and psychological expertise, including clinical practice and psychiatry, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate and professional study.

Typical Job Roles: Research Assistant, Clinical Research Coordinator, Laboratory Researcher, Behavioral Researcher.

Career Support & Industry Connections:

Career Advising: Students receive departmental advising and can use CMU's Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC), including Handshake for internships and jobs, career consultants, career fairs, workshops, resume development, interview preparation, and networking opportunities.
Research Mentoring: Psychology students can work directly with faculty in research laboratories, while Biological Sciences provides faculty mentoring, career counseling, professional-development seminars, and networking events.
Internship Support: The Pittsburgh Summer Internship Program provides eligible Dietrich College students with application assistance, career workshops, direct mentorship, and a $3,000 stipend for 175–200 hours of work at a Pittsburgh nonprofit, startup, or small business.
Employer Connections: CMU's Biological Sciences graduates have moved into organizations including the National Institutes of Health, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Procter & Gamble.

Employment & Salary Outcomes:

Biological Sciences Outcomes: For the Class of 2025, 88% of Biological Sciences graduates were employed or in graduate school six months after graduation, with an average salary of $69,975.
Psychology Career Paths: CMU reports psychology graduates entering research, medicine, social work, nutrition, project management, marketing, writing, and education, with about half of Psychology graduates continuing to graduate or professional school.
Salary Data: CMU's CPDC maintains first-destination data covering starting salaries, employers, job titles, industries, locations, and continuing-education destinations; the university does not publish a separate salary figure specifically for the Psychology and Biological Sciences unified major on the program page.

University–Industry Partnerships: CMU's CPDC works directly with employers through on-campus recruiting, career events, experiential learning, and partnership opportunities. Recent Biological Sciences destinations include the NIH, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Procter & Gamble, while Dietrich College's Class of 2025 employers included organizations such as UPMC, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Apple.

Long-Term Accreditation Value: Institutional accreditation: Carnegie Mellon University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), providing institution-level accreditation for the university. CMU does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the BS in Psychology and Biological Sciences.

Graduation Outcomes: Graduates can progress into employment, research, healthcare and other professional fields, or continue into graduate and professional education. CMU's Psychology department reports that approximately half of its graduates continue to graduate or professional school, while Biological Sciences graduates pursue academia and research, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences, government, and health professions.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor's degree, students can pursue graduate and professional programs in psychology, biological sciences, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, genetic counseling, and related health fields. At Carnegie Mellon, relevant continuation options include the Ph.D. in Psychology, Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience, Ph.D. in Psychology and Behavioral Decision Research, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, and master's programs such as M.S. in Computational Biology and M.S. in Quantitative Biology & Bioinformatics.