Major Requirements

Credits Required: 

Total credits: 120

Credits at CSUMB: 25

Credits in the major: 41

Lower-division requirements:

  1. PSY 100: Introduction to Psychology
  2. GE-certified statistics CSU-B Area B4 (e.g., STAT 100: Introduction to Statistics)
  3. PSY 200/L: Intro/Research/Methd/Data/Anal (Please note: PSY 100: Introduction to Psychology and STAT 100: Introduction to Statistics are prerequisites for PSY 200/L: Intro/Research/Methd/Data/Anal)

To officially begin the major, complete the Lower Division Core. Then, move on to the upper-division requirements.

Upper-Division Requirements:

  1. Preparation for upper-division: During the first term of your junior year, enroll in PSY 300: Expermntl/Psy & Human/Assesmnt where you will work with your professor to create an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). That ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Major Learning Outcomes designed below by successfully completing the listed courses or alternative assessment options.
  2. Research Tools: Plan to enroll in PSY 301/L: Adv/Psychological Statistics or PSY 305/L: PSY Testing & Measurement before your last term (i.e., do not plan to take these courses with PSY 400: Psychology Capstone during your last term). In addition plan to enroll in PSY 302/L: PSY/Resear/Methods/Data/Analys before your last term (i.e., do not take this course with PSY 400: Psychology Capstone). The methods and tools you learn in these classes prepare you to do well in PSY 400: Psychology Capstone. It is not necessary to take 301 or 305 before 302.
  3. Area Courses: You must take one course from each of the following five areas (i.e., 5 courses in total):
    1. Biological Psy
      1. PSY 310: Biological Psychology
      2. PSY 315: Psychopharmacology
    2. Clinical Psy
      1. PSY 320: Psychopathology
      2. PSY 321: Clinical Psychology
      3. PSY 322: Theories & Methds of Counselng
      4. PSY 329: Health Psychology
    3. Cognitive Psy
      1. PSY 330: Cognitive Psychology
      2. PSY 331: Human Learning & Memory
      3. PSY 332: Decsn Making & Prblm Solving
      4. PSY 333: Cognitive Neuroscience
      5. PSY 334: Perception
    4. Developmental Psy
      1. PSY 340: Developmental Psychology
      2. PSY 341: Psych of Thought & Language
      3. PSY 346: Cognitive Development
      4. PSY 347: Social & Emotional Development
    5. Social Psy
      1. PSY 350: Social Psychology
      2. PSY 352: Theories of Personality
      3. PSY 353: Social Psych of Sex & Gender
      4. PSY 354: Psychology of Law
      5. PSY 355: Social Psych of Social Justice

4. Capstone: You conclude the major by completing your Capstone ( PSY 400: Psychology Capstone), a publicly presented project that displays your cumulative learning in the major. Learn more at CSUMB.EDU/capstone.

The Psychology major adheres to the five recommended goals for "knowledge, skills and values consistent with the science and application of psychology" by the American Psychological Association Board of Educational Affairs.

Major Learning Outcomes

MLO 1 Theory and Content of Psychology

Demonstrate familiarity with major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends. Outcomes include describing and applying psychology's concepts, language and theories, explaining its major perspectives and demonstrating understanding of its breadth and depth.

Required Courses

  • MLOs 1, 3 and 5 require you to take five area courses total (not five courses for each MLO). Each of the five area courses meet different parts of MLOs 1, 3 and 5.

MLO 2 Research Methods in Psychology

Understand and apply basic research methods, including research design, data analysis and interpretation. Outcomes include differentiating research methods, evaluating aptness of research conclusions, designing and conducting basic studies and generalizing research conclusions appropriately.

Required Courses

  • PSY 301/L: Adv/Psychological Statistics (4 units)
  • OR
  • PSY 305/L: PSY Testing & Measurement (4 units)
  • AND
  • PSY 302/L: PSY/Resear/Methods/Data/Analys (4 units)

MLO 3 Critical Thinking Skills in Psychology

Respect and use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach. Outcomes include using and engaging in critical thinking, using reasoning in arguments and persuasion and approaching problems with sophistication.

Required Courses

  • MLOs 1, 3 and 5 require you to take five area courses total (not five courses for each MLO). Each of the five area courses meet different parts of MLOs 1, 3 and 5.

MLO 4 Application of Psychology

By applying psychological training, the interdisciplinarity of the program becomes evident. Students understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social and organizational issues. Outcomes include identifying psychology's major applications, articulating how it can be used toward social understanding and public policy, and recognizing the ethical complexities of applying psychology.

Required Courses

  • PSY 400: Psychology Capstone (3 units)

MLO 5 Values in Psychology

This outcome demonstrates the interdisciplinarity of the major, especially through its emphasis on ethics and respect for science. Students weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically and reflect other values underpinning psychology. Outcomes include understanding the need for ethical behavior, tolerance of ambiguity, demonstration of skepticism and intellectual curiosity, attunement to scientific evidence, civic responsibility and respect for human diversity.

Required Courses

  • MLOs 1, 3 and 5 require you to take five area courses total (not five courses for each MLO). Each of the five area courses meet different parts of MLOs 1, 3 and 5.

Concentrations