Academic Catalog

Psychology

Program Description

Psychology stands at the intersection of the biological sciences and the humanities because of its study of mental processes, emotions, and behavior. Using the scientific method, psychology investigates many aspects of human behavior, including, but not limited to, how the brain and nervous system function, mental illness, therapies that help people manage mental illness and recover from trauma, social and emotional development over the lifespan, learning and memory, and social and group dynamics.

Psychology covers the total lifespan to learn more about how people function in family, work, and community settings. Psychologists conduct studies to investigate differences in development, research what can go wrong in development, and develop methods that help people resolve conflict. It is a dynamic field in which advanced research methods lead to new understandings of human behavior, which can be applied to help people thrive and live healthy lives.

Learn more about the program on the Psychology website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the Psychology AA-T listing.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to recognize the diversity of behavior of various populations and be able to explain, interpret, apply, and evaluate a broad base of concepts in the different fields of psychology.
  • Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills and psychological theories to real-world situations, and be able to apply research methodology and data analysis in the process of answering questions about human behavior.

Career Opportunities

Psychology graduates find positions in a wide range of work environments. Typical positions include personnel managers, industrial psychologists, psychiatric aides, probation officers, mental health workers, drug abuse counselors, employment counselors, and teachers. Advanced degrees, such as a Masters (MA), a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), a PsyD, and a PhD, can open opportunities for careers in research, counseling, and higher education. Psychologists also work as consultants in government and industry, as well as in human resources, marketing, business management, technology, software development, and education.

Award Type(s)

  • AA = Associate in Arts Degree

Units Required

  • Major: 35

Additional Information

Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.

Associate Degree Requirements

English Proficiency
Select one of the following:
ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
ENGL 1AHHONORS COMPOSITION & READING5
ESLL 26ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING5
or equivalent
Ethnic Studies
Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC
Mathematics Proficiency
College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra

A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:

  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • Core courses (15 units)
  • Support courses (20 units)
1

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses
PSYC 1GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY5
or PSYC 1H HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 7STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES5
or SOC 7 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or MATH 10 ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
PSYC 10RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS5
or SOC 10 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
Support Courses
Select 12 units from the following:12
CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO BIOPSYCHOLOGY
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
INTRODUCTION TO ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN SEXUALITY
And eight units from the following: 18
APPLIED RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
HONORS INSTITUTE SEMINAR IN PSYCHOLOGY
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PSYCHOLOGY
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA
THE AZTEC, MAYA, INCA & THEIR PREDECESSORS: CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS
HUMAN BIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
TRAUMA & THE ARTS
HONORS TRAUMA & THE ARTS
EX MACHINA: THE PARADOX OF BEING HUMAN IN THE DIGITAL AGE
PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
HONORS PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
Total Units35
1

Students may also use courses listed in the first section of support courses to fulfill the requirement for the second section of support courses.