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 about how people function in family, work, and community settings. Psychologists investigate differences in development, research what contributes to effective work environments, and develop therapies that help people resolve conflict and emotional hardship. It is a dynamic field that engages in research to discover new knowledge that 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
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to complete the associate degree, including:
- Core and support courses for the major (35 units total)
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
- Foothill College General Education
- Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)2
- Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2
- Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
- 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.
- 3
Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.
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 | |
| PSYC 10 | RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS | 5 |
| 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 | ||
or WMN 21 | PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES | |
| PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION | ||
| PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENTS | ||
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
or SOC 30 | SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | |
| INTRODUCTION TO PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS | ||
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | ||
| HUMAN SEXUALITY | ||
| And eight units from the following: 1 | 8 | |
| 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 | ||
or ANTH 2AH | 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 | ||
or HUMN 4H | HONORS TRAUMA & THE ARTS | |
| EX MACHINA: THE PARADOX OF BEING HUMAN IN THE DIGITAL AGE | ||
| PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES | ||
or PHOT 8H | HONORS PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES | |
| INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | ||
or SOC 1H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER | ||
| ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY | ||
| Total Units | 35 | |
- 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.