May 01, 2024  
General Catalog 2023-2024 
    
General Catalog 2023-2024

Psychology, B.A.


Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Major Requirements (48 units)


Psychology Electives:


(12-16 units)

Major Unit Requirements


Additional courses from the Foundation and Psychology Electives areas to reach a minimum of 48 units

Other Degree Requirements


In addition to the major program requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate degree requirements such as:

  • American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2 )
  • General Education Requirements (48 units)
  • Multicultural and International (MI)
  • Upper-division Writing
  • Sufficient Elective Units to Meet Required Total Units (varies); it is recommended that units in this area be utilized to complete a second major or minor.

A full description of the University’s graduation requirements can be found in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements 

Total Units: 120*


*General Education, MI, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.

Advising Notes


  1. Advising for psychology students is done by both the Psychology Advising Office in the Department of Psychology and by the Advising Resource Center (ARC) in the College of Science and Mathematics. The Psychology Advising Office primarily handles advising related specifically to the psychology major and minor. ARC primarily handles GE advising and is responsible for lifting second-semester advising and My Degree Plan holds.
  2. When students first apply to the major, they are given pre-psychology major status. They must then complete the Pre-Major Core courses or their equivalents with grades of C or better and have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 before applying for full psychology major status.
  3. Students should apply for full psychology major status during the semester in which they expect to complete the Pre-Major Core courses. Approval will be contingent on the satisfactory completion of these courses.
  4. Most upper-division psychology courses are restricted to students with full psychology major or minor status. Students with pre-psychology major status are limited to the Pre-Major Core courses, other lower-division courses (PSYCH 36  and PSYCH 66 ), and a small number of additional upper-division courses (PSYCH 162 , PSYCH 169 , and PSYCH 175 ).
  5. The number of units in the Pre-Major Core is 14 when students take the four-unit PSYCH 42 . It is 13, however, for students who transfer with a three-unit statistics course.
  6. The number of Psychology Elective units required depends on the umber of units taken in the Pre-Major Core and Foundation areas. It can range from 13 units for students who take the four-unit PSYCH 42  plus all six Foundation courses, to as many as 21 units for students who transfer with a three-unit statistics course and take the minimum of four Foundation courses.
  7. CR/NC grading is not permitted in the psychology major.