The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a rich liberal arts program, giving students a solid foundation in the scientific study of mind and behavior. The knowledge objectives of our major include the biological bases of human behavior, cognitive and perceptual mechanisms, learning and memory processes, social and cultural influences on behavior, the psychological aspects of human development, analysis and treatment of abnormal behavior, and determinants of personality and health. We also want students to learn about the role of methodology and statistics in psychology by critically evaluating research, designing studies, and statistically analyzing data. The major offers many opportunities to practice and develop professional communication skills by writing professional reports and making oral presentations.
We value studying human behavior from a scientific perspective. We also emphasize the importance of ethical and social responsibility and cultural influences on human behavior in a diverse world. The psychology program is interested in using psychology to help others, emphasizing tolerance for ambiguity, the development of critical thinking skills, and promoting ethical responsibility for professional conduct.
To accomplish these learning goals, the psychology major is a diverse program offering a variety of learning experiences. It requires the completion of two laboratory courses that emphasize student-centered and active learning. All students are required to complete a senior seminar—either in the regular or honors program. We also encourage students to participate in internships and in research with faculty. The major consists of 42 to 44 units, leaving room for majors to add a minor, choose a number of electives, or work on prerequisites for postgraduate plans, giving flexibility for a multitude of career plans.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 42-44 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Select any two Psychology (PSYC) courses or approved substitutions. One course must be a letter graded three unit (or more) course. The other course may be a letter graded or credit/no credit one unit (or more) internship, independent study, special topic, or traditional course.
4-6
Total Units
42-44
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.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework 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:
You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework 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.
Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
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 six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
In addition to the requirements above, specific requirements in the Honors in Psychology program include:
You must complete PSYC 101, PSYC 261, PSYC 364, and nine units of other upper-division psychology courses before being considered for admission to the Honors in Psychology program.
You must apply in the spring semester preceding your two-semester participation in the program.
To complete the Honors in Psychology program, you must complete PSYC 399HW 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.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
PSYC 301W Navigating Psychology: The Major and Beyond (W)
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
