Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

The undergraduate major is a diverse 40-unit liberal arts program. It requires the completion of three laboratory courses which emphasize student-centered and active learning. Two computer-based laboratories and one wet lab provide exceptional opportunities for instruction and research. All students are also required to complete a senior seminar–either in the regular or honors program. Seminar topics vary from semester to semester and have included: Psychology and the Law; Brain Disorders: the Biology, the Behaviors, the Treatments; Evolutionary Psychology; Psychology and Spiritual Issues; and the Psychology of Human Aggression. 

The knowledge objectives of this 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, etiology and treatment of abnormal behavior, determinants of personality and health, and methodology and statistics in psychology. We want students to be able to critically evaluate research, design studies and statistically analyze data, write professional reports, make oral presentations, apply computer software to research problems, and use behavioral methods to study phenomena. California State University value studying human behavior from a scientific perspective, the importance of cultural influences in understanding behavior, using psychology to help others, emphasizing tolerance for ambiguity and skepticism of dogma, and promoting ethical responsibility for professional conduct.