Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Psychology

College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Psychology

Program Description

Psychology is about people's behavior and experience. Psychologists teach, provide clinical services, and do research or other applied work on subjects relating to the social and behavioral sciences. In order to discover more about behavior, psychologists study both humans and animals. Psychology covers a wide range of topics, from the way our social environment influences us to the inner workings of our bodies. This diversity of topics is reflected in the psychology curriculum.

The Department of Psychology sees its mission as offering a solid foundation in the theories and scientific methods of psychology to diverse and nontraditional students who choose to study Psychology at the undergraduate and graduate level. The department offers courses in the empirical knowledge and research methods of scientific psychology and applied psychology for psychology majors and graduate students. Furthermore, the department helps meet the needs of those studying other subjects, such as Human Services majors, Liberal Studies majors, people minoring in Psychology, and other individuals. The department sees its mission as offering these educational experiences within a framework which values and encourages diversity. Within this broad mission, the department develops, evaluates, and alters, as needed, a set of specific goals and objectives for the psychology major.

The department publishes its goals and objectives for all Psychology students to review. It also engages in an ongoing Outcomes Assessment program to evaluate its success in achieving these goals and objectives. Psychology majors are required to participate in the Outcomes Assessment program in order to evaluate both the effectiveness of the department and student competencies.

Features

At the undergraduate level, the Department of Psychology provides opportunity for the study of three different aspects of the field. For students interested in the research and scientific aspects, courses on the application of the scientific method to the study of human and animal behavior are offered. For those with applied interests, courses relating to counseling, clinical psychology, health psychology and behavioral medicine, industrial and organizational psychology, computers, and service in community agencies are offered. For students with a general interest in psychology, many courses provide knowledge that is useful in understanding one's self and in understanding and relating to others effectively.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can be completed by attending class during the day or evening hours. At present, it may take six or more semesters to complete the upper division courses in the evening.

Pre-Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements.

Academic Advisement

The Psychology Department Sears Peer Advising Center and the faculty provide advising for the psychology major, minor, and electives as well as General Education advisement for psychology majors.

Students who are contemplating or have decided upon a major or minor in psychology or who have an interest in taking psychology courses as electives should see a peer advisor in the Psychology Department Sears Peer Advising Center at their first opportunity. Although not required, it is in each student's best interest to see a peer advisor once a semester and to keep his or her files in the Sears Center up to date.

Preparation

High school students are encouraged to take four years of English and three years of mathematics including algebra. Courses in biology and psychology and the other social and behavioral sciences are recommended. Knowledge of computers is helpful for some courses.

Transfer students should contact their counseling center or advisor to identify appropriate lower division major/minor preparatory courses. Whenever possible, transfer students who do not plan to transfer until their junior year should take the lower division equivalents of PSY 101 General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior, PSY 230 Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology, and PSY 235 Intro To Research Methods.

Student Organizations

The department has multiple clubs, including a SPSS Training Club, Toro Psych Club and a chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society for Psychology. There are also numerous opportunities for student involvement in research and service.

Graduation With Honors

An undergraduate student may be a candidate for graduation with Honors in Psychology by meeting the following criteria:

  1. A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills. 
  2. A minimum grade point average of at least 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper division requirements in the major.

Psychology Skill-Building Elective Course Clusters

Some students may be interested in gaining skills and knowledge in Psychology, but might not want to major in Psychology. Students with interests in gaining psychology-related skills are encouraged to use their general elective courses to take advantage of one of the following skill-building clusters. These clusters are designed to build a foundation in a key area of psychology-oriented skills, such as:

  • Business-related Skills:
    PSY 314Behavior Modification3
    PSY 340Social Psychology: Psychological Perspective3
    PSY 367Effective Communication Skills3
    PSY 372Industrial and Organizational Psychology3
  • Counseling and Related Services:
    PSY 342Interpersonal and Group Dynamics3
    PSY 360Theories Of Personality3
    PSY 363Abnormal Psychology3
    PSY 367Effective Communication Skills3
    PSY 464Introduction to Clinical Psychology3
    PSY 470Community Psychology: Issues and Practice3
  • Diversity/Community Issues:
    PSY 363Abnormal Psychology3
    PSY 368Human Sexuality3
    PSY 376Psychology Of Gender3
    PSY 380Psychology of the Mexican American I3
    PSY 383Black Psychology3
    PSY 464Introduction to Clinical Psychology3
    PSY 470Community Psychology: Issues and Practice3
  • Family Affairs:
    PSY 350Child Psychology3
    PSY 351Psychology of Adolescent Experience3
    PSY 352Psychology of Adult Development and Aging3
    PSY 353The Experience of Death and Dying: Psychological Perspectives3
    PSY 382Psychological Development of the Black Child3
  • Interpersonal Skills:
    PSY 340Social Psychology: Psychological Perspective3
    PSY 342Interpersonal and Group Dynamics3
    PSY 360Theories Of Personality3
    PSY 367Effective Communication Skills3
  • Children and Adolescents:
    PSY 350Child Psychology3
    PSY 351Psychology of Adolescent Experience3
    PSY 314Behavior Modification3
    PSY 367Effective Communication Skills3
    PSY 382Psychological Development of the Black Child3

For Psychology majors, the following cluster is suggested for those who plan to apply to graduate school:

  • Graduate School Preparation:
    PSY 240Biopsychology3
    PSY 322Cognitive Psychology3
    PSY 324Sensation & Perception3
    PSY 330Intermediate Statistics and Research Design3
    PSY 340Social Psychology: Psychological Perspective3
    PSY 360Theories Of Personality3
    PSY 363Abnormal Psychology3
    PSY 490Senior Seminar Psychology3
    additional upper-division Lecture/Laboratory courses