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The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements 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.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

  • PSYC 401 is an approved GE Capstone substitution.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must complete the GE Written Communication (A2) requirement before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 39-41 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

6 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
PSYC 101 Principles of Psychology   3.0 FS  GE
Introduction to concepts and problems in psychology. Topics include perception, learning, development, motivation, personality, abnormal behavior, and biological and social bases of behavior. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (007881)
PSYC 261 Research Methods in Psychology   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher. Prerequisite or corequisite: PSYC 101.
Aspects of psychological research process and research methods, including measurement and quantitative description of behavior, problem definition and hypothesis formation, major research approaches to psychological phenomena, bibliographic resource use, and professional report writing. 3 hours lecture. (007898)
PSYC 324 Biological Psychology   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, PSYC 101, PSYC 261.
An introduction to basic processes involved in brain function and an overview of the biological bases of behaviors such as sleep, biological rhythms, sex, emotions, learning and memory, language, laterality, and psychophysiological states such as depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. The laboratory includes the study of neuroanatomy and experiments on topics such as EEG, GSR, biofeedback, hemisphere specialization, and cardiovascular reactivity. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (007901)
PSYC 334 Cognition   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, PSYC 101, PSYC 261, or faculty permission.
An in-depth examination of current research and theory in cognition. Topics include attention, memory models, language, problem solving, creativity, reasoning, decision making, human and artificial intelligence, and cognitive development. 3 hours lecture. (007903)
PSYC 364 Statistical Methods in Psychology   4.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, PSYC 101, PSYC 261.
The analysis of research data in psychology using inferential statistical methods, with an emphasis on relevant statistical designs, understanding statistical conclusions in published research, and professional report writing. Descriptive statistics, graphing, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, chi-square, t-tests, and analysis of variance. Single factor designs and ANOVA, post-hoc comparisons, repeated measures ANOVA, and simple factorial designs. Professional reporting of research. Laboratory provides examples, applications, and development of research data analysis and statistical evaluation skills. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (007904)
PSYC 466 Elements of Learning and Behavior   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, PSYC 101, PSYC 261.
An examination of the principles of learning and the environmental determinants of behavior change, emphasizing fundamental mechanisms such as habituation, sensitization, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning. Includes a laboratory in the methods used to investigate learning processes and to analyze behavior. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (007905)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
PSYC 401 Capstone Seminar in Psychology   3.0 FS  GW
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Written Communication (A2) requirement, PSYC 101, PSYC 261, PSYC 364, and four additional courses in the major.
This is the capstone course in the major. Students integrate different topics and perspectives, previously examined in the core and elective courses. This integration centers on important contemporary issues and problems in the discipline of psychology. After an in-depth examination of the issue, students generate solutions to problems, new lines of research or fusions of perspectives, depending upon the topic under investigation. Multiple sections of PSYC 401 are offered each semester, each focusing on a unique topic. Students in this seminar participate in advanced readings, writing, reporting, discussion, demonstration, oral presentation, and experiential components. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (007990)
PSYC 499H Honors Seminar in Psychology II   3.0 SP  
Prerequisites: Completion of PSYC 399H with a B or higher, faculty permission.
A seminar for Honors students. Prepare the creative project begun in PSY 399H for presentation and publication. 9 hours supervision. (007992)

4 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
PSYC 315 Environmental Psychology Green Leaf Representing that this course is Sustainable 3.0 FS  
This course examines the social-psychological aspects of the interdependence of humans and their environment. The course emphasizes psychological theory and current research along with a practical focus on environmental issues. 3 hours lecture. (007971)
PSYC 323 Health Psychology   3.0 FS  
This course provides an introduction to the field of health psychology which is the field within psychology devoted to understanding psychological influences on how people stay healthy, why they become ill, and how they respond when they do get ill. Topics include a study of health psychology as a profession, the bio-psychosocial model of health, health belief models and human behavior, health-compromising and health-enhancing behaviors, cognitive-behavioral approaches to behavior change, stress and coping, personality and health, and psychological issues in heart disease, cancer, AIDS, and other diseases. 3 hours discussion. (007975)
PSYC 333 Human Perception   3.0 FS  
A review of the major theories, phenomena, and research associated with the structure and function of the sensory and perceptual systems. Primary emphasis is on the visual and auditory systems, but gustation, olfaction, and skin perception are also reviewed. 3 hours lecture. (007985)
PSYC 355 Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychology   3.0 FS  
Physical, mental, social, and emotional factors of human growth and development from infancy through adolescence. Supervised experience working with children is strongly encouraged. 3 hours lecture. (007925)
PSYC 381 Abnormal Psychology   3.0 FS  
Introduction to the study, definition, and classification of deviant behavior, including experimental psychopathology, psychodiagnostic methods, and psychotherapeutic procedures. 3 hours lecture. (007939)
PSYC 382 Psychology of Personality   3.0 FS  
Introduction to the nature and development of personality, with emphasis on the normal adult, including theories of personality, techniques of assessment, and a survey of current research. 3 hours lecture. (007944)
PSYC 395 Social Psychology   3.0 FS  
An overview of social psychology, emphasizing the variety of social factors that influence individual behavior. 3 hours lecture. (007952)
PSYC 463 History and Systems of Psychology   3.0 INQ  
Development of psychology from ancient to modern times. Relationship of this development to twentieth-century systematic viewpoints in psychology. 3 hours lecture. (007986)

2 courses selected from:

Any psychology (PSYC) courses except those graded Credit/No Credit only; 3.0 units must be upper division.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

  1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
  2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
  3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
  6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.

Honors in Psychology

In addition to the requirements above, specific requirements in the Honors in Psychology program include:

1. You must complete PSYC 101, PSYC 261, PSYC 364, and 9 units of other upper-division psychology courses before being considered for admission to the Honors in Psychology program.

2. You must apply in the spring semester preceding your two-semester participation in the program.

3. To complete the Honors in Psychology program, you must complete PSYC 399H in the fall semester and PSYC 499H in the spring semester with minimum grades of B. You must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and must make a public presentation of the results of your Honors project.

Catalog Cycle:16