A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is a great option for people who wish to pursue a career in psychology, sociology, business, law, medicine, and many other fields. California is fortunate to have a variety of options for a college education in psychology. With small, intimate campuses and large metropolitan areas, students can choose the environment that will suit them ideally. Additionally, more and more California higher ed institutions are offering coursework fully or partially online. Options range from fully online, to completely on campus and almost every option in between. Studentscan work within their lifestyle and their schedule.
Fresno Pacific University
The School of Humanities, Religion & Social Sciences
Fresno Pacific University (FPU) was originally formed as Pacific Bible Institute. FPU is an accredited Christian Liberal Arts University located in Fresno, California. The Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches founded the school in 1944. The School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences is a diverse and creative academic community established in the Fresno Pacific University Idea.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
FPU’s Psychology department places a strong emphasis on student mastery of the scientific method. This flexible program allows students to study clinical and experimental theories of psychology equally. Students can attend daytime courses, evening courses, and complete coursework online. In addition to traditional coursework, students have the opportunity to participate in an applied practicum experience or assist in conducting psychological research. This hands-on approach gives students the benefit of classroom and real-world learning.
Accreditations
Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Fresno Pacific University
The School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences
1717 South Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, California 93702-4709
(559) 453-2000
E-mail Form: http://www.fresno.edu/inquire
http://www.fresno.edu/program/psychology-major
Holy Names University
The Division of Social Sciences
Holy Names University (HNU) is a private, coeducational intitution located in Oakland, California. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and is administered by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. In 2006, for the third year in a row, US News & World Report rated Holy Names University a “Best Value” among universities that do not offer doctorates on the West Coast. It also ranked them #75th in the Western Region. In 1949 the college became one of the charter members of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is still fully accredited by this body.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program at HNU offers students opportunities to learn about human experience, development, and interaction through:
- classroom instruction
- research activities
- internships
Courses include the traditional areas of:
- cognitive psychology
- developmental psychology
- social psychology
- clinical psychology
Students work directly with faculty members. They learn how to conduct psychological research and how to present work at professional meetings and conferences. Returning adult students with some college credits may be able to complete a degree in less than two years. With weekend and evening classes available, students can accelerate their degree and even be eligible to take up to six units of graduate courses in the final year of the program.
Accreditations
California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CBBS)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Holy Names University
The Division of Social Sciences
The Department of Psychology
3500 Mountain Boulevard
Oakland, California 94619
(510) 436-1000
E-mail: lampert@hnu.edu
https://www.hnu.edu/academics/undergraduateMajors/psychology.html
Hope International University
College of Psychology and Counseling
Hope International University (Hope) is a Private Christian University in Fullerton, California. The campus is located just south of California State University, Fullerton. While Hope is a non-denominational institution, the university has strong ties with the Restoration Movement and the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Many of the tenets of the Christian religion can be found in the teachings throughout the university. The University motto at Hope is “A Christian university integrating faith, service, and learning.” The College of Psychology and Counseling offers students a number of on-campus and fully online degree options This provides flexibility in how and where to earn a degree.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology major is for individuals pursuing careers in psychology, while also providing the preparation needed to enter graduate study. It also provides students with a strong liberal arts education in preparation for careers including:
- counseling
- teaching
- human resources
- ministry
- marketing and more
Christian perspectives are integrated with psychological principles, allowing students to examine the overlap as well as possible tensions between psychological theories and their Christian faith.
Bachelor of Science in Human Development
The Bachelor of Science in Human Development is offered fully online. It can be earned with no concentration or a concentration in Child, Adolescent and Family Studies or Community Mental Health and Counseling. The 120-credit program gives students the flexibility to continue working while earning a degree. The online program provides students with an interactive learning environment. Online video lectures, online discussion threads, and an online dropbox enable students to virtually submit their assignments. Students can stay in direct contact with faculty members and fulfill the same requirements they would in a traditional classroom setting.
Accreditations
Commission of Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Hope International University
College of Psychology and Counseling
Laura L. Steele, Dean of College of Psychology & Counseling
2500 East Nutwood Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 879-3901
E-mail: llsteele@hiu.edu
Psychology Program Website: https://www.hiu.edu/academics/undergrad/psychology/
Human Development Program Website: https://www.hiu.edu/academics/adult/hd/
John F Kennedy University
College of Undergraduate Studies
John F. Kennedy (JFK) University is a nonprofit, private university located in Pleasant Hill, California, with satellite campuses in San Jose and Berkeley. Founded in 1964, JFK University provides continuing opportunities for non-traditional learners. Enrollment is about 1,600 with no on-campus housing.
The College of Undergraduate Studies allows students to advance towards their educational goals with help from two distinct programs:
• Credit by Assessment– Students in the Business Administration, Health Sciences, and Psychology programs can earn credit up to 30 quarter units of undergraduate credit for work-related projects. This includes corporate training, professional workshops, and volunteer training.
• Link to Graduate Study — Qualified students in the undergraduate degree programs can take graduate-level units toward a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program is offered at the Pleasant Hill and San Jose campuses. This program engages students in the processes of:
- intellectual inquiry
- self-discovery
- critical thinking
- creative synthesis
- interpersonal communication
The Program Learning Outcomes include:
• Proficiency in critical and creative thinking and writing
• Proficiency in conducting academic research and using information technologies
• Proficiency in quantitative thinking, especially statistical skills
• Proficiency in bringing interdisciplinary perspectives to issues and problems
• Recognition, understanding, and respect for socio-cultural diversity
• Knowledge and understanding of major concepts, theories, techniques, and historical trends in psychology
• Interpersonal communication skills, including effective speaking and listening, ethical understanding and behavior
• Self-awareness and the ability to apply psychological principles and practices to personal issues and questions
• Understanding how to implement psychological knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits
Accreditations
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
John F Kennedy University
College of Undergraduate Studies
100 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-4817
(800) 696-5358
E-mail: proginfo@jfku.edu
https://www.jfku.edu/program/clinical-psychology/ba-psychology/
La Sierra University
The College of Arts and Sciences
La Sierra University (La Sierra) is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational university located in Riverside, California. Founded in 1922 as La Sierra Academy, it later became La Sierra College. It was merged into Loma Linda University in 1967. In 1990, La Sierra separated from Loma Linda University to become an independent institution. The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences states: “As a community of Christian scholars, the fundamental purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is to provide an environment for learning and personal growth that challenges and enables students to develop p their intellectual skills, to examine their values, and to mature in character and in Christian commitment.”
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Upon graduation, students in the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program should demonstrate the following abilities and skills:
• Understanding appropriate breadth and depth in selected content areas of psychology.
• Design and conduct basic studies to address psychological questions, using appropriate research methods.
• Use critical thinking effectively.
• Identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems.
• Seek and evaluate scientific evidence for psychological claims.
• Tolerate ambiguity and realize that psychological explanations are often complex and tentative.
• Demonstrate information competence in relevant areas.
• Use information and technology ethically and responsibly.
• Demonstrate effective writing skills in various formats and for various purposes.
• Reflect on their experiences and find meaning in them, including as they relate to their personal spiritual commitments and the Seventh-day Adventist orientation of the University.
Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology
The Psychobiology major was created to further study metacognition, which is reflecting on how we think and study mental processes. This idea is also emphasized throughout the curriculum as students practice the integration of faith with the discipline of psychology, practice and self-awareness. Students are asked to embrace critical evaluation and to value alternative points of view even when they contradict their own view or create ambiguity. This degree program places an emphasis on empathy and integrity as important components of effective problem-solving.
Accreditations
Adventist Accrediting Association
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
La Sierra University
The College of Arts and Sciences
Ambs Hall 109
4500 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, CA 92515
(951) 785-2099
E-mail: psychology@lasierra.edu
http://lasierra.edu/psychology/
Loyola Marymount University
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private, co-educational university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles. The university is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education. As of 2010, LMU was one of the largest Roman Catholic universities on the West Coast with just over 9,000 undergraduate, graduate and law school students. U.S. News & World Report ranked Loyola Marymount 3rd amongst colleges and universities in the Western Region.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students in this program learn how the human mind functions in relation to individual and social influences. The curriculum presents psychology as a scientific discipline that employs an empirical approach to study and practice. Students learn to use, respect, and value:
- skeptical inquiry
- critical thinking
- the scientific approach to understanding behavior
Students will also:
- examine theory and methodology
- demonstrate mastery of content
- understand the application of knowledge and the scientific method
- comprehend biopsychosocial development across a lifespan.
Accreditations
International Association of Counseling Services (IACS)
National Association of School Psychology (NASP)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Loyola Marymount University
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
School University Hall Suite 4600
1 LMU Drive
Janice Meichtry, Departmental Contact
Los Angeles, California 90045
(310) 338-2982
E-mail: jmeichtr@lmu.edu
http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/psychology/
Mills College
The Psychology Department
Mills College is an independent liberal arts and sciences college in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was founded in 1852 as a women’s seminary in Benicia, California. Mills became the first women’s college west of the Rockies. Currently, Mills is an undergraduate women’s college with graduate programs for women and men. In 2013, US News & World Report ranked Mills 5th among colleges and universities in the Western Region and one of the top colleges and universities in the Western United States in “Great Schools, Great Prices.” Additionally, The Princeton Review ranked Mills as one of the Best 378 Colleges in the nation in 2013.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology integrates scientific approaches to human behavior and its development, with practical issues of working with people. It addresses their individual problems and struggles. Students work with their academic advisor to create a study plan for the major that is the most appropriate for their career and educational goals. These plans include psychology courses along with course work in other academic areas. Qualified students may cross-register at other nearby institutions for specialized courses not taught at Mills. This allows specialization in almost any area of psychology or related social sciences.
Dual Degree – 4+1 – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Arts in Infant Mental Health
This is an accelerated five-year program. It’s for eligible students interested in the development of young children in the context of their family and community. Students can earn both a BA in Psychology as well as an MA in Infant Mental Health. Students begin planning their curriculum with their advisors during their sophomore year and will apply for the 4+1 program in their junior year of enrollment. Acceptance to the IMH 4+1 Program requires:
- approval of the faculty
- successful completion of the course prerequisites
- an application to the graduate portion of the program through the Mills Graduate Division
Students may also elect a separate two-year master’s degree program in infant mental health if their prerequisites or course work do not permit acceptance to the 4+1 program.
Accreditations
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Mills College
The Psychology Department
5000 MacArthur Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94613
(510) 430-2176
E-mail: psychology@mills.edu
https://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/majors-minors/psychology.php
Mount St Mary’s College
Name of College, Department, or school containing the program
Mount St. Mary’s College is a private, independent, Catholic liberal arts college, primarily for women, in Los Angeles. The college was founded in 1925 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. It has two campuses– Chalon and Doheny– which are just over 16 miles apart. Nearly 60 percent of the entering freshman class are first-generation college students. Three-quarters of the student body is made up of minority students, while women make up nearly 95% of first-year undergraduate students. This purposefully diverse population makes for an ideal learning environment.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology program keeps class sizes small to better serve their students. The faculty has a diverse range of expertise and practice within many sub-specialties of psychology. In addition to the core coursework in general psychology, students can look into areas of specialization and current topics such as:
- health
- sexuality
- technology
Graduates are prepared for a practical career or graduate school. Students can choose one of the following areas of specialization:
- Counseling/Clinical
- Child & Adolescent
- Research,
- Applied Psychology
In addition to a specialization, students can double major or minor in another subject and still graduate in four years.
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology
Offered in a weekend program, the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology Program offers a weekend course of study that leads to a fully accredited Bachelor’s Degree. The Weekend College program is designed to allow working adult students to complete a Bachelor’s Degree Program in just four years. Students will be required to complete nine to 12 units each semester and maintain year-round attendance. Therefore, a student with 90 units of coursework left to complete could expect to graduate in 9 semesters (at 9-12 units per semester). A student with 60 units completed could graduate in 6 semesters. A student with 30 units left to complete could do so within one year.
The Applied Psychology degree provides a broad foundation in psychology with an emphasis on how to apply psychological knowledge to real-world problems. Applied psychology encompasses, though is not limited to:
- education psychology
- forensic psychology
- sports psychology
- health psychology
- industrial psychology
- organizational, school, clinical, and research psychology.
Accreditations
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Mount St Mary’s College – Chalon Campus
12001 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Dr. Pam Gist
– Chair, Psychology Department
(310) 954-4160
E-mail: pgist@msmc.la.edu
http://www.msmc.la.edu/undergraduate-bachelor-programs/psychology.asp
California is a hotbed of academic opportunities. With options for online learning, traditional classroom learning as well as hybrid and web-enhanced programs; flexibility continues to grow for students. Even busy working adult students can find a schedule that works in their lifestyle. Throughout California, students can choose a school, a program and a setting that allows them to earn their Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in a way that works for them.
For more Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in California – California State University – A-F
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