The state of California offers its residents a host of options for earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Whether you plan to pursue graduate training in the field of psychology (or a related field) or to immediately enter the workforce, an undergraduate psychology degree offers the flexibility for both options. Many of the colleges and universities throughout the state allow students the option of hybrid or online learning. With this excellent option, more and more people are able to earn their college degree.
National University
The College of Letters and Sciences
Founded in 1971, National University (NU) is the second-largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in California. It’s the 12th largest in the United States. NU’s main campus in La Jolla, with campuses located throughout California, as well as other states through an online learning system. The College of Letters and Sciences promotes a style of teaching where students “learn how to learn.” This promotes a lifetime of learning and a greater depth of comprehension and understanding.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides students with the basic framework of the theories and application of psychological principles. The Program Learning Outcomes for this degree include:
- Ability to articulate the major theories, concepts, and historical trends in psychology.
- Explain behavior, cognition, and emotion from multiple schools of thought and multicultural perspectives.
- Identify a problem in psychology, examine available evidence, analyze assumptions, and apply research methods to solve the problem. This includes the ability to interpret numbers and apply basic statistical procedures.
- Write papers in psychology using different literary formats.
- Perform information searches relevant to psychology and organize and evaluate the soundness of the information.
- Use current technologies in both research and communication.
Bachelor of Arts in Sports Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Sports Psychology offers students an introduction to both psychology and the field of sports psychology. Graduates are prepared for employment in entry-level coaching positions as well as admission to graduate psychology programs at the master’s or doctoral level. The Program Learning Outcomes for this degree include:
- Discuss current trends in psychological research in both individual and team contexts within sport psychology.
- Analyze how psychological factors influence performance in sport, and techniques to increase performance and reduce anxiety.
- Examine the history of sport psychology and its role in contemporary psychological theories and systems.
- Discuss the influences of diversity and multiculturalism on group interactions and performance.
- Apply psychological theory to coaching situations.
- Communicate orally and in writing using proper sport and psychology terminology.
- Discuss the legal and ethical issues in sport psychology and performance enhancement.
- Discuss the physiological and motoric principles of performance in sport and physical activity
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Psychology
The Bachelor of Science in Organizational Psychology Program provides students with a solid framework for applying knowledge to the workplace and increasing the effectiveness of both individuals and work teams. The Program Learning Outcomes for this degree include:
- Ability to write a comprehensive paper in APA style that covers the empirical and theoretical study of a specific topic related to the major.
- Knowledge of ethics, responsibility, and legal obligations and apply these principles to personal and professional situations.
- Competency in applying group psychology and group dynamics to team building and cooperative/collaborative tasks.
- Knowledge of human resource development and training as applied to organizational effectiveness, performance management, motivation, and achieving individual, group, and organizational goals.
- Knowledge of the history and precursors of organizational theory and management practice and to articulate this in writing from a psychological perspective.
- Entry-level skills and techniques in diagnosing, planning, implementing and managing organizational change and technological innovation.
- Mastery of human communication and conflict resolution skills applied in diverse settings with diverse populations.
- Capacity to recognize multiple cultural perspectives and their implication for workplace success.
- Ability to apply basic methods of collection and interpretation of behavioral and organizational quantitative and qualitative data.
Accreditations
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)
Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
National University
The College of Letters and Sciences
9388 Lightwave Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 642-8577
E-mail: rfleck@nu.edu
http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/CollegeOfLettersAndSciences/Psychology.html
Notre Dame de Namur University
The College of Arts and Sciences
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) was formerly known as the College of Notre Dame. The University is a private, coeducational Catholic university in Belmont, California. NDNU is the fifth oldest college in California. It’s the first collegiate institution in the state authorized to grant the baccalaureate degree to female students. The College of Arts and Sciences focuses on both personal and professional growth. Upon graduation, Students will have the framework of their field of study as well as interpersonal skills. They will have empathy and respect for others as well as self-reflection and self-awareness. U.S. News & World Report ranked NDNU ranked #60 in the Western Region of the United States.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program is offered both as a traditional day and a part-time evening major. Both programs prepare students for immediate entry into their careers as well as graduate work in psychology. The Psychology Department offers a strong general psychology curriculum, as recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA). Students enrolled in this major will have the opportunity to study within the many subfields of psychology, including
- cognitive psychology
- social psychology
- developmental psychology
- abnormal psychology
Students are also encouraged to create a curriculum personalized to meet their career goals on top of the core requirements. This will help each student develop an innovative foundation for employment or graduate work.
Accreditations
California Board of Behavioral Sciences (CBBS)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Notre Dame de Namur University
The College of Arts and Sciences
1500 Ralston Avenue
Belmont, CA 94002
Gretchen Wehrle, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Psychology and Sociology
(650) 508-3659
E-mail: gwehrle@ndnu.edu
http://www.ndnu.edu/arts-and-sciences/undergraduate/psychology/
Occidental College
The Department of Psychology
Occidental College is a private, co-educational Liberal Arts College located in the historic Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. The College was founded in 1887, by a group of Presbyterian clergy, missionaries, and laypersons. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected Occidental as a “community engagement institution”. Occidental set forth a core set of curriculum and education standards for all students. These were designed by the faculty to unify and enrich the liberal arts education offered by the school. The Core Program requires students to achieve the following:
- Complete two first-year writing seminars; one course in the fall, another in the spring (called CSPs).
- Complete a set number of courses in 3 of 6 available geographical areas worth at least 12 units: Africa and the Middle East, South, Central, and East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the United States, Intercultural.
- Complete a 102-level language course or be granted an exemption.
- Complete a course concerning the pre-1800s era and one focused on the fine arts.
- Complete three math and science courses; one of which must be a lab science.
- Pass a senior-year comprehensive examination within the student’s chosen major
U.S. News and World Report ranked Occidental #41 amongst National Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States.
Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science
This degree program draws from the fields of:
- mathematics
- philosophy
- psychology
- neurobiology
- computer science
- linguistics
The cognitive science major outlines:
- the nature of consciousness
- the interaction of mind and matter
- the relationship between cognition and language
The curriculum tackles thought-provoking queries about the nature of:
- cognition
- intelligence
- perception
- emotion
- other aspects of our mental life
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program encompasses the study of mental and behavioral processes. Students in this program will study a wide range of complex phenomena in humans and other species. This ranges from basic processes to real-world applications of scientific knowledge.
Accreditations
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Occidental College
The Psychology Department
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, California 90041
(323) 259-2796
E-mail: psychology@oxy.edu
http://www.oxy.edu/psychology
Palo Alto University
The Undergraduate Psychology Department
Palo Alto University was previously the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. It’s a non-profit, freestanding educational institution in Palo Alto, California. The Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PGSP) was founded in 1975. In 2009, PGSP officially reincorporated and changed its name to Palo Alto University. The undergraduate programs at Palo Alto University are offered in partnership with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It includes Foothill Community College and De Anza Community College. These undergraduate degree programs in psychology have been created for community college students wishing to transfer to a Bachelor’s program and for college graduates wishing to re-specialize in psychology or business psychology. It is expected that students applying to these programs will have completed the first two years of their college education at a California Community College.
Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology
The two-year Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology is offered to students on a full-time traditional schedule or a part-time evening and online schedule. The full-time program is at the Foothill College Campus, while the part-time program is at the Palo Alto University campus and online. This degree program will prepare students for a variety of career opportunities, including:
- General Management
- Human Resources
- Marketing/Sales
- Communications
- Finance
- Research
Classes are taught by Silicon Valley business leaders and professors with many years of academic experience.
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Psychology
The Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Psychology was developed by Stanford Business School Professor Emeritus Dr. Jerry Porras, co-author of the international best seller Built to Last and Dr. Richard Kass, who’s been at Stanford for over three decades. These business education leaders set out to design a program to teach future entrepreneurs about the psychological workings of critical entrepreneurial behaviors like:
- developing business plans
- generating ideas
- building sustainable businesses,
- forming strong and effective networking relationships
This program is offered completely online, which gives students the flexibility of determining when and where they complete their coursework.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action (PSA) program is offered with both a full-time, day schedule or part-time, evening and online schedule. It offers students a traditional undergraduate Psychology major with an emphasis on applications to social problems and social action. The two-year program is designed for California Community College students who have completed two years of lower-level college coursework and their general education requirements. The PSA program consists of two years of full-time course work in general psychology and an internship in a field related to psychology and/or social action.
Accreditations
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Palo Alto University
The Undergraduate Psychology Department
1791 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(800) 818-6136
E-mail: Admissions@paloaltou.edu
Pacific Union College
The Department of Psychology and Social Work
Pacific Union College (PUC) is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Napa Valley. It is largely a residential college. PUC is the only Liberal Arts College affiliated with the Adventist Christian Church. U.S. News & World Report ranked Pacific Union College as one of their Top Tier Schools in the Western Baccalaureate Colleges category for 17 straight years. U.S. News ranked PUC second among liberal arts colleges for diversity in both 2011 and 2012.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Upon graduation, students in the Bachelor of Arts program will be prepared for either immediate employment or entrance into a graduate degree program. The Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Major Student Learning Outcomes include:
- Graduates will demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of psychology.
- Graduates will demonstrate competence in information gathering and synthesis, including research skills, data analysis, and interpretation.
- Graduates will demonstrate high levels of skill in thinking critically.
- Graduates will demonstrate effective communication in APA style, writing, speaking, and in interpersonal and collaborative contexts.
- Graduates will demonstrate the application of their psychological knowledge and skills in personal, social, and organizational areas.
- Graduates will demonstrate a realistic understanding of the broad range of career options available to a Psychology Major.
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology uses the same learning objective outcomes as the Bachelor of Arts program. In addition to the general curriculum covered in the BA, students in the BS program will be required to complete an additional 11 hours of core elective course work.
Accreditations
Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)
Council of Social Work Education (CSWE)
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
SDA North American Division Commission on Accreditation
Contact
Pacific Union College
The Department of Psychology and Social Work
One Angwin Avenue
Angwin, CA 94508
(707) 965-6311
E-mail: enroll@puc.edu
https://www.puc.edu/academics/departments/psychology-social-work
Pepperdine University
Seaver College – Social Science Division
Pepperdine University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. George Pepperdine founded the school in 1937, during the Great Depression. It was founded as a Christian liberal arts college in the city of Los Angeles. In the 1960s the school found itself surrounded by turmoil, crime, and unrest during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1967 the school determined that it would branch out into a multi-campus university to offer education to a broader range of students. Pepperdine is nationally ranked #100 by Forbes Magazine, #53 by U.S. News and World Report and #137 by Washington Monthly.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Students in this program learn the theoretical framework of psychological study and practice. In addition to the general curriculum, students have opportunities for many interesting fieldwork placements and internships. Students have worked with:
- a local detention facility for juvenile delinquents
- the local state hospital
- agencies dealing with child abuse
- adult mental retardation
- drug abuse
- educationally or physically handicapped children
- mental illness
The Program Learning Objectives for the Psychology major include the ability to:
- Critique the quality of published psychological literature and empirical research.
- Design and conduct an empirical study to answer a research question.
- Describe and explain the major contributions of the core sub-specialties of psychology.
- Integrate personal faith, sense of vocation, scientific knowledge, and APA Ethical Principles.
- Recognize and articulate the importance of diversity (including cultural, ethnic, racial, gender, sexual, age, and religious) as it applies to each subspecialties.
Accreditations
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Contact
Pepperdine University
Seaver College – Social Science Division
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
(310) 506-4000
E-mail: admission-seaver@pepperdine.edu
From large universities with enrollment in the thousands to small intimate college campuses, California has something for everyone. everyone is different and so are their learning styles. There are many options, including:
- a choice of online learning versus a traditional on-campus experience
- a large university setting versus a small college
- whether or not to pursue a subspecialty in psychology
Each student can customize their college education to suit his or her goals and aspirations. For those people interested in a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, there is a school out there that is ideal for you.
For more Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in California – California State University – A-F
For more Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in California – A-B
For more Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in California – C-E
For more Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs in California – F-M