Psychology, Bachelor of Arts

Requirements

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree

See the "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

Elective Requirements

Completion of elective courses (beyond the requirements listed below) to reach a total of a minimum of 120 units.

General Education Requirements (43 units)

See the "General Education" requirements in the University Catalog or the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 Units)

See the "Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement" section in the University Catalog.

Statutory Requirements: United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (6 Units)

See the "University Graduation Requirements" section in the University Catalog. 

Minor Requirements

No minor required. Students completing this major do not need to complete a minor in another field. However, Psychology majors are encouraged to use their general elective courses to take advantage of the Skill-Building Elective Clusters described above. This will further enhance their psychology-related skills.

Major Requirements (42 units)

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
PSY 101	General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior 1	3
PSY 230	Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology 1	3
PSY 235	Intro To Research Methods 1	3
Select one Quantitative Methods course from the following: 2		3
PSY 330	Intermediate Statistics and Research Design
PSY 331	Measurement In Psychology
Upper Division Major Electives
Select one course from Groups 1 - 6:
Group 1: Biopsychology:		3
PSY 240	Biopsychology
PSY 320	Psychopharmacology
PSY 324	Sensation & Perception
Group 2: Cognitive:		3
PSY 312	Theories Of Learning
PSY 322	Cognitive Psychology
Group 3: Social Community:		3
PSY 306	Design Your Life
PSY 340	Social Psychology: Psychological Perspective
PSY 371	Forensic and Legal Psychology
PSY 376	Psychology Of Gender
PSY 380	Psychology of the Mexican American I
PSY 383	Black Psychology
PSY 470	Community Psychology: Issues and Practice
Group 4: Developmental:		3
PSY 350	Child Psychology
PSY 351	Psychology of Adolescent Experience
PSY 352	Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
PSY 382	Psychological Development of the Black Child
Group 5: Individual Abnormal:		3
PSY 360	Theories Of Personality
PSY 363	Abnormal Psychology
PSY 368	Human Sexuality
PSY 370	Health Psychology
PSY 464	Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Group 6: Select one course from groups 1-5 or from the following:		3
PSY 305	History and Systems of Psychology
PSY 314	Behavior Modification
PSY 342	Interpersonal and Group Dynamics
PSY 353	The Experience of Death and Dying: Psychological Perspectives
PSY 367	Effective Communication Skills
PSY 372	Industrial and Organizational Psychology
PSY 480	Sport Psychology
PSY 494	Independent Study
PSY 497	Seminar in Peer Advising
PSY 498	Directed Research
Group 7: Select one course from either Group 3, Group 4, or Group 5		3
Research Experience
Select one of the following:		6
PSY 411 & PSY 412	Advanced Research Methods in Personality and Social Psychology and Research Seminar in Personality and Social Psychology
PSY 413 & PSY 414	Advanced Research Methods in Learning and Evolutionary Psychology and Research Seminar in Learning and Evolutionary Psychology
PSY 415 & PSY 416	Advanced Research Methods in Cognitive Psychology and Research Seminar in Cognitive Psychology
PSY 417 & PSY 418	Advanced Research Methods in Biological Psychology and Research Seminar in Biological Psychology
PSY 419 & PSY 420	Advanced Research Methods in Forensic and Legal Psychology and Research Seminar in Forensic and Legal Psychology
Senior Seminar
PSY 490	Senior Seminar Psychology	3
Total Hours		42

¹

Should be taken in the order listed prior to taking other courses in the major.

²

Both courses listed in the Quantitative Methods section are recommended for students planning to pursue graduate Studies. PSY 230 Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology or MAT 131 Elementary Statistics and Probability is a prerequisite for both courses.

Program Learning Outcomes

Critical Understanding of Psychology

• The objective of Learning Outcome #1 is that psychology professors provide clear, up-to-date information and appropriate learning contexts so that psychology majors can describe, explain and apply knowledge in the following domains:
  • 1.1 Historical events of importance in psychology
  • 1.2 The major theories and schools of psychological thought
  • 1.3 Models of the person
  • 1.4 Basic descriptive and inferential statistics, written and oral skills, quantitative analysis, professional behavior
• The objective of Learning Outcome #2 is that psychology professors will provide opportunities to learn, and psychology majors will exhibit progress in attaining an understanding of and demonstrating the ability to do the following:
  • 2.1 Explain behavior using different psychological theories or models
  • 2.2 Use the basic terminology of the discipline
  • 2.3 Understand the general underlying logic of conducting research and have a beginning applied knowledge of how to do it. Scientific method, personal and professional ethics and values
• The objective of Learning Outcome #3 is that psychology professors will model, and thus psychology majors will (a) be exposed to the value and worth of, and (b) describe and apply the following:
  • 3.1 Scientific methods and reasoning
  • 3.2 Knowledge of individual differences and diversity, including but not limited to
    • 3.2a self and others as people with a set of skills
    • 3.2b the perspectives of others
    • 3.2c studying the causes and effects of racism, sexism and other “isms”
  • 3.3 Personal and professional ethics, including academic integrity and professional codes of behavior
  • 3.4 Consideration of education and life itself to be a process of lifelong learning
  • 3.5 Some of the skills of taking multiple perspectives and relativistic thinking, scientific method, personal and professional ethics and values

4- Year Roadmap

4- Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
GE Area A2 Composition I		3
PSY 101	General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior	3
HIS 101	History Of United States	3
POL 101	American Institutions	3
GE Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development		3
	Hours	15
Spring
GE Area A2 Composition II		3
PSY 230	Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology	3
GE Area B4 Quantitative Reasoning		3
GE Area B1 Physical Sciences OR B2 Life Sciences		3
GE Area C or D		3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
PSY 235	Intro To Research Methods	3
GE Area A1 Oral Communication		3
GE Area B1 Physical Sciences OR B2 Life Sciences		3
GE Area B3 Science Laboratory		3
GE Area C or D		3
	Hours	15
Spring
PSY 240	Biopsychology	3
GE Area A3 Logic/Critical Thinking		3
GE Area F Ethnic Studies		3
GE Area C or D		3
GE Area C or D		3
	Hours	15
Third Year
Fall
PSY 330 or PSY 331	Intermediate Statistics and Research Design or Measurement In Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area C3 Integrative Studies in the Humanities		3
ENG 350	Advanced Composition (GWAR satisfying course)	3
	Hours	15
Spring
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area B5 Integrative Studies in Natural Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
Research Experience Lecture		3
Research Experience Seminar		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area D3 Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Spring
PSY 490	Senior Seminar Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	120

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
PSY 101	General Education Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior	3
HIS 101	History Of United States	3
POL 101	American Institutions	3
GE Area 1A English Composition		3
Elective to meet 120		2
	Hours	14
Spring
PSY 230	Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology	3
Elective to meet 120		3
GE Area 2 Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning		3
GE Area 5A Physical Sciences OR 5B Biological Sciences		3
GE Area 3B Humanities		3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
PSY 235	Intro To Research Methods	3
GE Area 1C Oral Communication		3
GE Area 5A Physical Sciences OR 5B Biological Sciences		3
GE Area 5C Laboratory		1
Elective to meet 120		3
4A Perspectives on Individual, Groups, and Society OR 4B Global and Historical Perspectives		3
	Hours	16
Spring
PSY 240	Biopsychology	3
GE Area 1B Critical Thinking		3
GE Area 6 Ethnic Studies		3
GE Area 3A or 4A		3
Elective to meet 120		3
	Hours	15
Third Year
Fall
PSY 301	Introduction to the Psychology Major	3
PSY 330 or PSY 331	Intermediate Statistics and Research Design or Measurement In Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area 3UD Integrative Studies in the Humanities		3
ENG 350	Advanced Composition (GWAR satisfying course)	3
	Hours	15
Spring
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area 5UD Integrative Studies in Natural Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
Research Experience Lecture		3
Research Experience Seminar		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area 3UD Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences		3
	Hours	15
Spring
PSY 490	Senior Seminar Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	120

2-Year Roadmap (transfer students)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
PSY 330 or PSY 331	Intermediate Statistics and Research Design or Measurement In Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area C3 Integrative Studies in the Humanities		3
ENG 350	Advanced Composition (GWAR satisfying course)	3
	Hours	15
Spring
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area B5 Integrative Studies in Natural Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
Research Experience Lecture		3
Research Experience Seminar		3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
GE Area D3 Integrative Studies in the Social Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Spring
PSY 490	Senior Seminar Psychology	3
Major Elective (select one from groups 1-7)		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	60