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 50-51 units are in the major depending on the courses selected (Note: This applies to undergraduate students who begin at Cal State LA in Fall 2022 or later.) Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.
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.
Semester-Requirements for the Major
(For students who started at Cal State LA in Fall 2022 or later)
Requirements for the Major (50-51 units)
The major requires a lower division core of 9 units, an upper division core of 17-18 units and 24 units of electives from designated categories as explained below. All Psychology majors must receive a grade of C- or higher in all psychology courses, and a grade of C or higher in PSY 3040.
Upper Division Core Courses (17-18 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)
- One course from Group VI see below (3)
Group V: Methodology
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)
- PSY 4400 - Behavior Analysis and Autism (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 4500 - Principles of Health Psychology (3)
- PSY 4640 - Psychology and the Law (3)
- PSY 4770 - Ethics and Supervision in Applied Behavior Analysis (3)
- PSY 4850 - Directed Field Experience in Community Clinical Psychology (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 4900 - Human Memory (3)
Group IV: Individual/Abnormal
- 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)
Other Psychology Courses:
- PSY 1600 - Psychology of the Developing Person (3)
- PSY 3950 - Field Experience in Psychology (1-3)
- PSY 3980 - Cooperative Education (1-3)
- PSY 4990 - Undergraduate Directed Study (1-3)
Any of these courses except PSY 1600 can apply towards the Electives or Group VI category.