Psychology, B.A.: 120 units

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Offered by: College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, Psychology Department

Major Required
Major Electives

Unrestricted Electives
General Education Requirements

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program.

Major Required: 27-28 units

Major Electives: 31-32 units

Methods Electives: 4 units

Select one 4-unit methods course:

Breadth Electives: 12-13 units

Select at least four courses below and complete 12-13 units.

Emphases Electives: 15 units

Select any 5 courses from any of the Emphasis lists below and complete at least 15 units. The 5 courses you select do NOT have to be from a single Emphasis list.

Developmental Psychology Emphasis

Clinical Practice Emphasis

Note(s):

*If considering a clinical career with child/family focus.

Social Psychology Emphasis

I/O Psychology Emphasis

Cognitive Psychology Emphasis

Biopsychology/Health Psychology/Neuropsychology Emphasis

Pre-Doctoral Emphasis

PSY 4100 - History and Systems of Psychology (3)
PSY 4610 - Senior Project (2) and
PSY 4620 - Senior Project II (2)
PSY 4000 - Special Study for Upper Division Students (1-3) or
PSY 4990 - Special Topics for Upper Division Students (1-3) or
Peer Mentor or
Completion of McNair Scholars Program

One additional quantitative/advanced methods course, selected from:

PSY 3303 - Physiological Psychology (3) and
PSY 3303A - Physiological Psychology Activity (1)
PSY 4404 - Qualitative Methods in Psychology (3) and
PSY 4404A - Qualitative Methods in Psychology Activity (1)
PSY 4430 - Program Evaluation (3) and
PSY 4430A - Program Evaluation Activity (1)
PSY 4444 - Survey Research (3) and
PSY 4444A - Survey Research Activity (1)
PSY 4460 - Sensation and Perception (3) and
PSY 4460A - Sensation and Perception Activity (1)

Note(s):

Recommended additional courses for application to specific PhD programs. (Note that Emphases Electives must be taken from the lists above - the courses below are for informational purposes only). Premed students should pursue a minor within the Biological Sciences Department and receive advising from them for entry to medical school – a psychology degree will be insufficient without additional required courses. Students interested in psychiatry must pursue medical training first.

Cognitive

Social

STA 4320 - Applied Regression Analysis (4)

Neuroscience

Minor within the Biological Sciences Department
BIO 3090 - Biology of the Brain (3) (B5)
BIO 4190 - Neuroscience I: Cell and Molecular Processes (3) and
BIO 4190L - Neuroscience I: Cell and Molecular Processes Laboratory (1)

Unrestricted Electives: 13-25 units

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Major Required”, “Major Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

Students should consult the Academic Programs website https://www.cpp.edu/~academic-programs/general-education-course-listings.shtml for current information regarding this requirement. Unless specific courses are required, please refer to the list of approved courses under General Education Requirements, Areas A through E.

	Course	Term Taken	Grade
Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units) At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Oral Communication
2. Written Communication
3. Critical Thinking
Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units) At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Physical Sciences
2. Life Sciences
3. Laboratory Activity
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
5. Science and Technology Synthesis
Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units) At least 3 units from each sub-area and 3 additional units from sub-areas 1 and/or 2
1. Visual and Performing Arts
2. Literature, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Civilization
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis
Area D. Social Sciences (12 units) At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. U.S. History and American Ideals
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government
3. Social Sciences: Principles, Methodologies, Value Systems, and Ethics
4. Social Science Synthesis
Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

For an alternative and interdisciplinary way to complete some of their GE requirements, students may choose the Interdisciplinary General Education program, see below.

Interdisciplinary General Education: 21 units

An alternate pattern for partial fulfillment of GE Areas A, C, and D available for students is the Interdisciplinary General Education (IGE) program. Students should see an advisor for specific GE coursework required by their major. Please refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for additional information.

How IGE fulfills General Education Requirements:

Year	Completion of IGE Courses	Satisfies GE Requirements
Freshman	IGE 1100 , IGE 1200	A2 and C2
Sophomore	IGE 2100 , IGE 2200	C1 and C2
Junior	IGE 2300 , IGE 2400	D1 and D3
Senior	IGE 3100	C3 or D4

American Institutions: 6 units

Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Areas D1 and D2.

American Cultural Perspectives Requirement: 3 units

Refer to the University Catalog General Education Program section for a list of courses that satisfy this requirement. Course may also satisfy major, minor, GE, or unrestricted elective requirements.

Graduation Writing Test

All persons who receive undergraduate degrees from Cal Poly Pomona must pass the Graduation Writing Test (GWT). The test must be taken by the semester following completion of 60 units for undergraduates.