Psychology, AA-T
Program Description
The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree will enable students to develop a strong foundation in research methods, statistics, and biological aspects of behavior, and will also offer a wide variety of elective courses in psychology and other related fields for students to develop a broad knowledge base of human behavior. In addition, students will develop strong critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for the requirements of upper division course work.
The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree is designed to prepare students to transfer to local California State Universities (CSUs). Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to local CSUs as Psychology majors and majors in related disciplines. The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many local CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific local CSUs and to validate which CSUs are considered local.
Learn more about the program on the Psychology website.
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.
Units Required
- Major: 28-31
Associate Degree Requirements
Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units, including:
- Core and support courses for the major (28-31 units)1
- Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth) or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2 (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
- Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3 (45 units) (full certification is required)
- Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement
- 1
Some units from the core and support courses may be used to satisfy the GE requirement. Please see a counselor for more information.
- 2
Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information. Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.
- 3
Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PSYC 1 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 5 |
| or PSYC 1H | HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| PSYC 7 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | 5 |
| or SOC 7 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | |
| or MATH 10 | ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | |
| or MATH 17 | INTEGRATED STATISTICS II | |
| PSYC 10 | RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS | 5 |
| Support Courses | ||
| List A | ||
| Complete one course from List A: | 5 | |
| GENERAL BIOLOGY: BASIC PRINCIPLES | ||
| HUMAN BIOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO BIOPSYCHOLOGY | ||
| List B | ||
| And complete one course from List B: | 4-6 | |
Any course not used in List A | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING METHODOLOGIES IN C++ | ||
| INTERMEDIATE SOFTWARE DESIGN IN C++ | ||
| ADVANCED DATA STRUCTURES & ALGORITHMS IN C++ | ||
| COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE | ||
or ENGL 1BH | HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE | |
| CALCULUS | ||
or MATH 1AH | HONORS CALCULUS I | |
| CALCULUS | ||
or MATH 1BH | HONORS CALCULUS II | |
| CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT | ||
| PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENTS | ||
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
or SOC 30 | SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | ||
| List C | ||
| And complete one course from List C: | 4-6 | |
Any course not used in List A or List B | ||
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
or ANTH 2AH | HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES | ||
| POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | ||
| CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES | ||
or WMN 21 | PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES | |
| PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS | ||
| HUMAN SEXUALITY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | ||
or SOC 1H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| Total Units | 28-31 | |