Psychology

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (120 units)

Admission Under Impaction

Refer to the following website for additional impaction criteria: http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/admissions/impacted_major.html.

Learning Goals and Technical Skills

Students who graduate with a major in psychology should have current knowledge of: the major theories in psychology; the methodologies of psychological research and statistical concepts; the biological processes underlying behavior; sensation, perception, information processing and retention; how behaviors develop and change; how internal, environmental, and social factors influence behavior; individual differences in behavior, including those related to gender, ethnicity, and culture; different perspectives on the origin and treatment of abnormal behavior; ethical issues in teaching, research, and the practice of professional psychology.

Requirements

The psychology curriculum is designed to provide undergraduate students with a broad background in the principles of Psychology.

Lower Division (14 units):

Take all of the following courses:

PSY 100 General Psychology (3)
PrerequisiteCorequisite: GE A1 requirement.
PSY 210 Introductory Statistics (4)
Prerequisites: PSY 100, GE A1 requirement, and eligible to take a General Education Mathematics course.
PSY 220 Research Methods (4)
Prerequisites: PSY 100, 210, GE A1 requirement.
PSY 241 Psychobiology (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 100, GE A1 requirement.

Upper Division:

Take the following course:

PSY 301 Intro to Psychology as Discipline & Profession (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 100, GE Foundation requirement and upper division standing.

Take two courses (6 units) from the following:

PSY 331, 332, 333; 336 or 337; 340 or 341 or 342; 343;

Take two courses (6 units) from the following:

PSY 351, 356; 361 or 365;

Take two courses (6 units) from different groups:

1. PSY 354, 362, 363, 368, 370, 383;
2. PSY 310, 314, 315, 359;
3. PSY 327, 346, 373, 375, 378, 381;

Take 6 units of 400-level PSY courses. No more than 3 units from 405, 406A or 406B may be counted in this category. PSY 499 cannot be counted to satisfy this requirement.

Take 6 units of any upper division psychology courses not used to satisfy the requirements above;

Take 6 units of upper division units in American Indian Studies, American Studies, Asian and Asian American Studies, Anthropology, Africana Studies, Chicano and Latino Studies, Economics, Educational Psychology, Geography, History, Human Development, Political Science, Social Work, Sociology, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. At least 3 units must have an emphasis in contemporary U.S. ethnic studies. A list of acceptable ethnic studies courses may be obtained from the Psychology Advising Office in PSY 206.

Students are advised to consult with the Psychology Advising Office (in PSY 206) for course choices most relevant to their individual goals.