About the Major
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology is both a preparation for advanced study and a terminal liberal arts degree.
The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology is 120 units, of which 50-52 units are in the major depending on the courses selected (Note: This applies to undergraduate students who begin at Cal State LA in Fall 2016 or later. For more information, see Semester and Quarter requirements below). Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.
Advisement in the Major
Check out our Advisement page for advisement appointments, information about permits, forms, handouts, and more...
SEMESTER - REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
(For students who started at Cal State LA in Fall 2016 or later)
Requirements for the Major (50-52 units)
The major requires a lower division core of 9 units, an upper division core of 14-15 units and 27-28 units of electives from designated categories as explained below. All Psychology majors must receive a grade of C- or higher in all psychology courses.
Upper Division Core Courses (14-15 units)
- PSY 3020 - Statistics in Psychology (4)
- PSY 3040 - Research Methods in Psychology (4)
- PSY 3080 - History and Systems of Psychology (3)
- One course from Group V see below (3-4 units)
Upper Division Electives (27-28 units)
Select two courses each from Groups I-IV (24 units). Select any one additional course from Groups I-V (3-4 units). A total of three units of courses listed in the Applied Psychology/Community Engagement Category can be taken toward fulfillment of upper division elective requirements and applied to any group.
Group I : Developmental
- PSY 3620 - Psychological and Psychosocial Developmental Stages in Maturity and Aging (3)
- PSY 3880 - Sex and Gender (3)
- PSY 4030 - Child Maltreatment and Domestic Violence (3)
- PSY 4120 - Psychology of Human Development: Infancy and Childhood (3)
- PSY 4130 - Psychology of Human Development: Adolescence and Young Adulthood (3)
Group II: Social /Community
- PSY 3030 - Positive Psychology (3)
- PSY 3070 - Physiology and Psychology of Violence and Aggression (3)
- PSY 3220 - Social Psychology (3)
- PSY 3300 - Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (3)
- PSY 4020 - Media Psychology (3)
- PSY 4150 - Interpersonal Relationships (3)
- PSY 4190 - Psychology of Gender (3)
- PSY 4450 - Community Psychology - Service Learning (3)
- PSY 4500 - Principles of Health Psychology (3)
- PSY 4640 - Psychology and the Law (3)
Group III: Brain, Behavior, and Cognition
- PSY 3230 - Psychology of Emotion and Motivation (3)
- PSY 3430 - Child and Adolescent Cognition (3)
- PSY 4010 - Physiological Psychology (3)
- PSY 4210 - Psychology of Learning and Behavior (3)
- PSY 4240 - Cognitive Psychology (3)
- PSY 4250 - Sensation and Perception (3)
- PSY 4280 - Introduction to Analysis of Behavior (3)
- PSY 4350 - Behavior Analysis & Treatment of Developmental Disabilities (3)
- PSY 4400 - Behavior Analysis and Autism (3)
- PSY 4900 - Human Memory (3)
Group IV: Individual/Abnormal
- PSY 3090 - Human Violence and Individual Change (3)
- PSY 3100 - Abnormal Psychology I (3)
- PSY 3180 - Psychology of Personality (3)
- PSY 4100 - Abnormal Psychology II (3)
- PSY 4160 - Human Sexuality (3)
- PSY 4260 - Family Therapy Dynamics and Perspectives (3)
- PSY 4360 - Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology: Theories and Professional Issues (3)
- PSY 4370 - Counseling and Psychotherapy: Process and Skills (3)
- PSY 4390 - Racial/Ethnic Minority Mental Health (3)
Group V: Methodology
- PSY 4110 - Advanced Research Methods in Psychology (3)
- PSY 4140 - Analysis of Variance (3)
- PSY 4170 - Single Case Research Design (3)
- PSY 4310 - Statistical Methods in Psychological Assessment (4)
- PSY 4650 - Multicultural Psychology: Current Issues and Research (3)
- PSY 4910 - Multivariate Statistics (4)
NEW: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Specialization Certificate
The ABA Specialization option in psychology provides undergraduate students whose major is psychology the option to pursue a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The ABA option consists of six courses approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) that along with other requirements (e.g., the required number of supervised clinical hours), would permit students to sit for the Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) examination. The six courses are offered by the psychology department and listed in the University Catalog. These courses satisfy Groups 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 (see course list below), and are designed to prepare students not only to pass the BCaBA examination, but once certified, to be employed by one of numerous agencies in California and across the country to provide ABA services to clients. The PSY 3950 course allows the students to complete their field experience at Easterseals of Southern California, or at one of many agencies across the greater Los Angeles area, who then will most likely offer the student employment upon graduation.
Admission to the Program:
Application to the Department of Psychology is required as is an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 in last 60 semester units attempted.
“The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.”
Requirements for the Program (18 units)
Required Courses:
- PSY 3950 - Field Experience in Psychology (Group VI)
- PSY 4170 - Single Case Research Design (Group V)
- PSY 4210 - Psychology of Learning and Behavior (Group III)
- PSY 4280 - Introduction to Analysis of Behavior (Group III)
- PSY 4770 - Ethics and Supervision in Applied Behavior Analytic Settings (Group II)
- PSY 4400 - Behavior Analysis and Autism (Group I)
Note: You can take these courses as part of your overall major in psychology, therefore these do not have to be 'extra' courses but rather can be part of your program.
For more information on the ABA Specialization Program in Psychology, please contact Dr. Hank Schlinger at [email protected].
Psychology has 'Major Specific Admission Requirements.' What does this mean?
» If you are interested in applying to Cal State LA as an incoming freshmen or transfer student, please review the information regarding Major Specific Admission Requirements for the psychology major. If you have questions about these requirements, you can contact the Office of Admissions at (323) 343-3901, send an email to [email protected], or visit the Student Information Center located in Student Affairs, Room 101.
» Current Cal State LA students interested in changing majors to psychology: please review the requirements and application.
QUARTER - REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR
(For students who started at Cal State LA in Summer 2016 or prior)
Requirements for the Major (76-79 units)
The major requires a lower division core of 17 units, an upper division core of 19 to 20 units and 40 to 42 units of electives from designated categories as explained below. All psychology majors must receive a grade of C- or higher in all psychology courses.
Upper Division Core Courses (19-20 units)
- PSY 302 - Inferential Statistics in Psychology (5)
- PSY 304 - Research Methods in Psychology (6)
- PSY 308 - History and Systems of Psychology (4)
- One course from Group V see below (4-5 units)
Upper Division Electives (40-42)
Select two courses each from Groups I-IV (32 units). Select any two additional courses from Groups I-V (8-10 units). A total of four units of courses listed in The Applied Psychology / Community Engagement Category can be taken toward fulfillment of upper division elective requirements and applied to any group.
Group I : Developmental
- PSY 362 - Psychological and Psychosocial Developmental Stages in Maturity and Aging (4)
- PSY 388 - Sex and Gender (4)
- PSY 403 - The Psychosocial Dynamics of Child Maltreatment and Family Violence (4)
- PSY 412A - Psychology of Human Development: Infancy and Childhood (4)
- PSY 412B - Psychology of Human Development: Adolescence and Young Adulthood (4)
- PSY 426 - Family Therapy Dynamics and Perspectives (4)
- PSY 433 - Psychology of Cognitive Development (4)
- PSY 462 - Psychology of Human Development: Maturity and Aging (4)
Group II: Social /Community
- PSY 307 - Physiology and Psychology of Violence and Aggression (4)
- PSY 322 - Social Psychology (4)
- PSY 330 - Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination (4)
- PSY 402 - Media Psychology (4)
- PSY 415 - Interpersonal Relationships (4)
- PSY 419 - Psychology of Gender (4)
- PSY 445 - Community Psychology – Service Learning (4)
- PSY 450 - Principles of Health Psychology (4)
- PSY 464 - Psychology and the Law (4)
Group III: Brain, Behavior, and Cognition
- PSY 323 - Psychology of Emotion and Motivation (4)
- PSY 343 - Child and Adolescent Cognition (4)
- PSY 401 - Physiological Psychology (4)
- PSY 421 - Psychology of Learning and Behavior (4)
- PSY 424 - Cognitive Psychology (4)
- PSY 425 - Sensation and Perception (4)
- PSY 428 - Introduction to Analysis of Behavior (4)
- PSY 435 - Behavior Analysis & Treatment of Developmental Disabilities (4)
- PSY 440 - Behavior Analysis and Autism (4)
- PSY 490 - Human Memory (4)
Group IV: Individual/Abnormal
- PSY 309 - Human Violence and Individual Change (4)
- PSY 310 - Abnormal Psychology I (4)
- PSY 318 - Psychology of Personality (4)
- PSY 410 - Abnormal Psychology II (4)
- PSY 416 - Human Sexuality (4)
- PSY 427 - Family Therapy Techniques: Strategies for Change (4)
- PSY 436A - Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories, Methods, and Issues (4)
- PSY 436B - Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories, Methods, and Issues (4)
- PSY 438 - Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology (4)
- PSY 439 - Racial/Ethnic Minority Mental Health (4)