Psychology, A.A-T

The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree is designed to fulfill the undergraduate requirements for students planning to major or minor in psychology or transfer to the CSU system. The patterns of courses offered for the degree are designed to prepare students to study, understand and to think critically about behavior and mental processes of humans and other organisms under a scientific paradigm. The areas of study encompasses consciousness, cognition, motivation and emotion, human development, the psychobiological foundations of behavior, the nature of psychological disorders, and the application of psychological principles to promote the quality of people’s lives founded on sound psychological models and research.

AA.PSYC.OPTBAAT or AA.PSYC.OPTCAAT

Design Your Future!

Begin by exploring MSJC program maps to find career or transfer opportunities.  Program maps show the recommended course sequence that leads to graduation or transfer. The maps were developed by program experts to give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.    

  • Starting in Spring? Choose Fall Semester 1 courses.   
  • Are you a part-time student?  Start Fall Semester 1 courses and follow the course sequence.

CSU: General Education Option B

This program provides students with focused program options. A focused program map contains courses that help students specialize in a distinct area and connects to careers.  Talk to a counselor about preparing for transfer to specific schools.

Business & Industry Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
ENGL-101 College Composition 3
PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC-102 Personal Growth 3
COMM-100 Public Speaking 3
PS-101 Introduction to American Government and Politics 3
 Units15
Spring Semester 1
ENGL-103 Critical Thinking and Writing 3
PSYC-103 Human Development 3
ANTH-101 Biological Anthropology 3
PSYC/SOCI-121 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 3
ANTH-111 Biological Anthropology Lab 1
ART-104
World Art
or History and Appreciation of Dance
or History of Jazz and Blues
3
 Units16
Fall Semester 2
PSYC-124 Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology) 4
ENVS-100 Humans and Scientific Inquiry 3
HIST-111 U.S. History to 1877 3
SPAN-101
Elementary Spanish I
or Elementary French I
or American Sign Language I
4
 Units14
Spring Semester 2
PSYC-107 Psychobiology 3
HIST/ETHS-160
Black History in the American Context
or Ethnic Politics in America
3
Select one of the following: 3
Psychology of Gender
Social Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Select one of the following: 3
Business Communications
Public Relations
Leadership Development (formerly LEAD-101)
Contemporary Social Problems
Select one of the following: 3-4
Introduction to Ethics
Elementary Spanish II
Elementary French II
American Sign Language II
 Units15-16
 Total Units60-61

Language Requirement: Some CSU's require the equivalency of an intermediate language proficiency for graduation. Please see a counselor for more detail regarding specific CSU major and graduation requirements. 

Education & Advocacy Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
ENGL-101 College Composition 3
PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC-102 Personal Growth 3
COMM-100 Public Speaking 3
PS-101 Introduction to American Government and Politics 3
 Units15
Spring Semester 1
ENGL-103 Critical Thinking and Writing 3
PSYC/SOCI-121 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 3
BIOL-115 Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Topics in Biology) 4
PSYC/SOCI-105 Social Psychology 3
ART-104
World Art
or History and Appreciation of Dance
or History of Jazz and Blues
3
 Units16
Fall Semester 2
PSYC-124 Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology) 4
ENVS-100 Humans and Scientific Inquiry 3
PSYC-104
Psychology of Gender
or Gender and Social Interaction
3
SPAN-101
Elementary Spanish I
or Elementary French I
or American Sign Language I
4
 Units14
Spring Semester 2
PS/ETHS-103
Ethnic Politics in America
or Black History in the American Context
3
PSYC-103
Human Development
or Psychobiology
3
HIST-111
U.S. History to 1877
or U.S. History Since 1865
3
Select one of the following: 3-4
Elementary Spanish II
Elementary French II
American Sign Language II
Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (formerly Introduction to Language and Linguistics)
Adolescent Literature (formerly ENGL-132)
Children's Literature
Select one of the following: 3
Principles of Sociology
Contemporary Social Problems
Marriage and the Family
Intercultural Relations
 Units15-16
 Total Units60-61

Language Requirement: Some CSU's require the equivalency of an intermediate language proficiency for graduation. Please see a counselor for more detail regarding specific CSU major and graduation requirements. 

Neuroscience Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
ENGL-101 College Composition 3
COMM-100 Public Speaking 3
PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC-102 Personal Growth 3
PS-101 Introduction to American Government and Politics 3
 Units15
Spring Semester 1
ENGL-103 Critical Thinking and Writing 3
PSYC/SOCI-121 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 3
HIST-111 U.S. History to 1877 3
ART-104
World Art
or History and Appreciation of Dance
or History of Jazz and Blues
3
Select one of the following: 3
Ethnic Politics in America
Black History in the American Context
Latinx/Chicanx Literature
Multiethnic Literature (formerly ENGL-280)
 Units15
Fall Semester 2
PSYC-124 Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology) 4
CHEM-101
General Chemistry I
or Introduction to Chemistry
4-5
SPAN-101
Elementary Spanish I
or Elementary French I
or American Sign Language I
4
Select one of the following: 3
Human Development
Psychology of Gender
Social Psychology
Human Sexuality
Cultural Anthropology
 Units15-16
Spring Semester 2
PSYC-107 Psychobiology 3
PSYC-108 Abnormal Psychology 3
HS-123 Drugs, Health and Society (formerly Drugs: Use and Abuse) 3
BIOL-100
Human Biology
or Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Topics in Biology)
4
SPAN-102
Elementary Spanish II
or Elementary French II
or American Sign Language II
4
 Units17
 Total Units62-63

Language Requirement: Some CSU's require the equivalency of an intermediate language proficiency for graduation. Please see a counselor for more detail regarding specific CSU major and graduation requirements. 

Therapy & Counseling Focus

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
ENGL-101 College Composition 3
PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC-102 Personal Growth 3
COMM-100 Public Speaking 3
PS-101 Introduction to American Government and Politics 3
 Units15
Spring Semester 1
ENGL-103 Critical Thinking and Writing 3
PSYC/SOCI-121 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 3
BIOL-100
Human Biology
or Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Topics in Biology)
4
PSYC-108 Abnormal Psychology 3
ART-104
World Art
or History and Appreciation of Dance
or History of Jazz and Blues
3
 Units16
Fall Semester 2
PSYC-124 Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology) 4
ENVS-100 Humans and Scientific Inquiry 3
HIST-111 U.S. History to 1877 3
SPAN-101
Elementary Spanish I
or Elementary French I
or American Sign Language I
4
 Units14
Spring Semester 2
PSYC-103
Human Development
or Psychobiology
3
COMM-103
Interpersonal Communication
or Intercultural Communication
or Small Group Communication
3
PS/ETHS-103
Ethnic Politics in America
or Black History in the American Context
3
PSYC-104
Psychology of Gender
or Social Psychology
3
Select one of the following: 3-4
Introduction to Ethics
Elementary Spanish II
Elementary French II
American Sign Language II
 Units15-16
 Total Units60-61

Language Requirement: Some CSU's require the equivalency of an intermediate language proficiency for graduation. Please see a counselor for more detail regarding specific CSU major and graduation requirements. 

UCR/UCLA: General Education Option C

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Semester 1Units
ENGL-101 College Composition 3
PS-101 Introduction to American Government and Politics 3
PSYC-101 Introduction to Psychology 3
PSYC-102 Personal Growth 3
COMM-100 Public Speaking 3
 Units15
Spring Semester 1
ENGL-103 Critical Thinking and Writing 3
ART-104
World Art
or History and Appreciation of Dance
or History of Jazz and Blues
3
PSYC/SOCI-121
Statistics for Behavioral Sciences 1
or Introduction to Statistics
3
BIOL-100
Human Biology 2
or Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Topics in Biology)
4
HIST-111
U.S. History to 1877
or U.S. History Since 1865
3
 Units16
Fall Semester 2
PSYC-124 Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology) 4
CHEM-101
General Chemistry I
or Introduction to Chemistry
4-5
PSYC-103 Human Development 3
SPAN-101
Elementary Spanish I
or Elementary French I
or American Sign Language I
4
 Units15-16
Spring Semester 2
MATH-110 Pre-Calculus 4
PHIL-105 Introduction to Ethics 3
SPAN-102
Elementary Spanish II
or Elementary French II
or American Sign Language II
4
Select one of the following: 3
Ethnic Politics in America
Black History in the American Context
American Indian Literature (formerly ENGL-240)
Latinx/Chicanx Literature
Multiethnic Literature (formerly ENGL-280)
 Units14
 Total Units60-61
1

UCLA articulates MATH-140 only. PSYC-121 articulates to UCR only.

2

UCLA articulates BIOL-115 only.

NOTE: For students who did not meet the LOTE requirement in high school, they may fulfill Area 6 by demonstrating proficiency by completing ASL-100 American Sign Language IFREN-101 Elementary French I or SPAN-101 Elementary Spanish I with a grade C or better. Languages other than English for Native Speakers are also acceptable for meeting this requirement.  

Course Title Credits
Required Core Courses
MATH-140Introduction to Statistics3
or PSYC/SOCI-121 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSYC-101Introduction to Psychology3
or PSYC-101H Honors Introduction to Psychology
PSYC-124Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Social Research Methodology)4
or PSYC-124H Honors Social Research Methodology With Lab (formerly Honors Social Research Methodology)
List A: Select one
Select one of the following:3-4
Human Biology
Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Topics in Biology)
Honors Introductory Topics in Biology: Cells to Ecosystems (formerly Honors Topics in Biology)
General Biology I
Honors General Biology I
Psychobiology
Honors Psychobiology
List B: Select one
Select any course from List A not already used above or one of the following courses:3
Human Development
Honors Human Development
List C: Select one
Select any course from List A or B not already used above or one of the following courses:3
Child Development
Honors Child Development
Personal Growth
Psychology of Gender
Honors Psychology of Gender
Social Psychology
Honors Social Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Honors Abnormal Psychology
Total Units19-20
Course Title Credits
Units for Major19-20
CSU General Education or IGETC Pattern37-39
Possible double counting: 16-19 units
Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 CSU transferable units)

Total Units for A.A.-T Degree: 60 units

The overall requirements for this Associates Degree for Transfer (ADT) can be met by:

  • Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC).
  • Completion of California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements (CSUGE)  or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
  • Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
  • Completion of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

ADTs also require that students earn a C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A “P” (Pass) grade is acceptable if pass is defined as a grade of C or better. ADTs are intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. A student completing an ADT is guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not a particular campus or major. Students should meet with a Counselor to develop a comprehensive educational plan to further understand university and transfer requirements.

Discover information about careers that interest you!

  1. Take a Career Quiz to learn about yourself and receive career suggestions based on your interests. 
  2. Search available in-demand jobs in your career areas of interest and find up-to-date salaries and education requirements. 
  3. Find the MSJC Program that connects your interests to a career.

Note: There are no guaranteed positions for students completing these programs. Education and work experience required will vary by employer. The salary and benefits for specific occupations will be dependent on work experience, education, background, and employer.