Mar 13, 2025  
2023/2024 University Catalog 
    
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2023/2024 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

(Major Code: 20011) (SIMS Code: 778301)

Also Offered at SDSU Imperial Valley

All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements .” No more than 56 units in psychology courses can apply to the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree.

A minor is not required for this major. However, depending on career goals, students may wish to consider minors in areas such as biology, business, public administration, recreation, social work, statistics, and others.

Preparation for the Major

(20 units)

With the exception of PSY 201 , these prerequisite courses may not be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC). The minimum grade in each class is C (2.0) or better.

Note

Psychology majors may use PSY 280  to satisfy Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning General Education requirement.

Note Also

A college level statistics course will be accepted from another department (CIV E 160 ; ECON 201 ; LING 270 ; POL S 201 ; SOC 201 ; STAT 119  or STAT 250 ) combined with PSY 281  in lieu of PSY 280 .

Language Requirement

Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one language other than English to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to section of catalog on “Graduation Requirements .”

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements ” section for a complete listing of requirements.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 31 upper division units in psychology to include courses that meet the methods requirement and the breadth requirement.

Methods

All majors must complete PSY 301  or PSY 410  or both. PSY 301  is suitable for most psychology majors, including those planning to enter the job market after graduation, those undecided about career plans, and those planning to pursue graduate work in related fields such as counseling.

Students planning to pursue graduate work in psychology (research degrees) should take PSY 370  and PSY 410  as early as possible.

Note

Students enrolling in these courses must have earned a grade of B (3.0) or better in PSY 280  or its equivalent. Students unsure of their statistical or computer competence may wish to take PSY 301  before enrolling in PSY 370  or PSY 410 .

Breadth

All majors must complete four courses or 12 units; one course selected from each of the following groups:

Group I

Group II

Group III

Group IV

Additional Psychology Units

An additional 14-15 elective units selected from 300- to 500-level psychology courses and WMNST 325 * to satisfy the 31 units required for the psychology major.

Note

* WMNST 325  for SDSU Imperial Valley students only.

Recommendations for Psychology Electives

Employment with the B.A.

Electives should be selected in accord with general career goals. Students interested in health and human services may take courses that focus on psychological health and well-being or issues related to child development. Those interested in business may take courses that focus on industrial, organizational and consumer issues or that emphasize computer skills, measurement, data analysis, or some combination of these.

Masters Programs in Counseling

At SDSU, a Master of Science degree in Counseling is offered by the College of Education and a Master of Social Work degree is offered by the College of Health and Human Services. For these programs students have considerable latitude in the selection of psychology electives, but it is important to develop an appropriate profile of volunteer or work experience.

Graduate Programs in Psychology

Most masters or doctoral programs in psychology require students to have strong research profiles. SDSU psychology majors can accomplish this by completing PSY 370 , PSY 410 , and becoming involved as early as possible in faculty-sponsored research.