Are you currently pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Psychology? We have compiled all relevant information for you on this page. In case any questions are left unanswered, please visit the subject-specific academic advising team.
As a bachelor’s student of Psychology, you will acquire basic subject-specific knowledge within six semesters. There is at least one module for each psychological field, and they cover three areas of study: general principles, methods, and applied subjects. Depending on the module, course types may vary and include lectures, exercise courses, and seminars.
During the first three semesters of the program, you will complete most of the general and methodological modules; from the third semester onwards, you will add more and more courses from the applied modules. You can choose three out of four applied subjects and you will also do a mandatory internship, which is part of the career development module. Towards the end of the program, you will write your bachelor’s thesis. In addition, you will choose a minor, which allows you to gain insights into another discipline. Throughout your studies, you are also required to earn research participation credit by taking part in 30 hours of experiments. Spending a semester abroad is possible, though not mandatory.
The examination regulations inform you about your rights and duties as a student and about the coursework and examinations you are required to complete during the course of your studies. This document also contains information on examination deadlines, circumstances in which an examination can be re-taken, the number of ECTS credits required to start the final thesis, and the exact degree awarded.
You can find the document on the central website of the University of Mannheim under Psychology. If you are aware of the examination regulations’ (in German) content, you can answer many questions yourself.
As suggested by the degree plan, you will start taking courses in the applied subjects from the third semester onwards. The following subjects are available:
You will give the degree program your individual focus by choosing three out of four subjects, which consist of a basic module (3rd and 4th semester) and an advanced module (5th and 6th semester) each. In case individual subjects are in especially high demand, we reserve the right to limit the number of attendants. As a result, some subject combinations may not be available at a given time.
Tip: You are unsure which applied subjects to take? Don’t worry: you don’t have to decide right away. Just attend all four lectures in your third semester to get a better idea of the topics covered in the respective modules. That way, you will be able to make a well-founded decision. Your choice will become official when you register for your courses in the fourth semester: In the basic module, you are required to take one seminar in each of the three applied subjects and you will need to stick to the same combination of subjects in the advanced module (5th and 6th semester).
The minor allows you to branch out into another scientific discipline. Psychiatry and Business Administration are among the most popular subjects. Apart from that, you can choose a minor from the following list: Informatics, Linguistics, Mathematics, Media and Communication Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, or Economic and Business Education. By taking one of these minor, you can tailor the program to your individual interests and acquire valuable skills that prepare you for your future career. The choice is up to you!
During your program, you will earn research participation credit for acting as a subject in studies and experiments conducted by your fellow students or by the chairs. You are required to complete at least 30 hours of experiments in total. This way, you will gain important insights into the varied and exciting research projects at the Department of Psychology. You can manage your research participation in SONA, our online sign-up system.
Procedure
Usually, students will write their bachelor’s thesis in the sixth subject-specific semester, though they can also opt to write their thesis in the fifth semester instead. Finding a supervisor for your bachelor’s thesis is your responsibility.
Tip: The departmental student committee regularly organizes information events on the bachelor’s thesis at the beginning of each semester. If you are looking for a supervisor for your thesis, you should contact a chair or a teacher of your choosing to make specific arrangements.
You need to agree on your topic with your supervisor and the first evaluator. The first evaluator must be a professor of psychology at the University of Mannheim. Please also discuss any potential second evaluators with your supervisor.
If you want to register for your bachelor's thesis, you will need to file a request with the chair of the examination committee. Once you have completed the form, you can submit it to the Central Examination Committee. Your registration for the bachelor’s thesis is deemed to be official as soon as the form has been signed by the first evaluator. The preparation period for your thesis is 12 weeks. The chair of the examination committee will indicate the due date for your thesis on the form.
If you need to extend the preparation period, you can file a request with the examination committee citing a valid reason. Extension can only be granted once and for no more than six weeks.
For more information on how to write and organize your bachelor’s thesis, please contact your supervisor or the respective chair.
You need to submit your bachelor’s thesis to the first evaluator’s secretary by the due date at the latest. Please hand in three copies in total, one copy for each evaluator and one copy for the Mannheim University Library. Please include a signed copy of the consent to publication declaration with the copy of your thesis that is to remain in the library.
The examination committee for the bachelor’s program in Psychology is chaired by Prof. Michaela Wänke. Starting with the Autumn term 2020, the office of the Examination boards of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Philosophy (ZPA)will take over the processing of the procedures of the examination boards. As a student, please contact the ZPA from the Spring term 2020 onwards to apply for e.g., a recognition, an extension of the deadline (e.g. maximum study time, completion time of your bachelor thesis) or an extraordinary minor subject (further application options are regulated by your examination regulations).
If you have any subject-specific questions regarding your degree program (course contents, program structure, stays abroad), don’t hesitate to contact our program managers. If you have any questions on organizing your studies (examinations, grades, re-registration, academic leave of absence), please contact the Student Services office II team.
