Psychology, B.A.

Transfer Students:

Other courses that can transfer and are recommended to be completed at a Community College (but can also be completed at SSU) are: PSY 280 - Psychological Research Methods  (with a “C” grade or better”), MATH 165 - Elementary Applied Statistics , as well as the math equivalents of BUS 211 - Business Statistics , or ECON 217 - Statistics for Economics and Business  with a “C” grade or better. Please note that PSY 270 - Psychology of Self-Discovery , must be taken at Sonoma State.

Transfer Students must have completed the following courses (or the equivalent):

• ENGL 101 - Expository Writing and Analytical Reading Unit(s): 4 (with a letter grade of “C-” or higher)
• PSY 250 - Introduction to Psychology Unit(s): 3 (with a letter grade of “C” or higher)

Major Requirements

The Psychology major consists of 40 units in the major, plus a 4-unit course in statistics. Many psychology majors take more than 40 major units, and add a second major or a minor in another discipline. Students are encouraged to work in community internships and to expand their knowledge of diversity issues with coursework within the department and the university.

In addition to statistics, no more than 11 units in the major may be lower-division psychology units. At least 29 units must be upper-division psychology (SSU courses numbered 300 or higher). All courses for the major must be taken for a grade if this is offered, and must be passed with a grade of C or better. A maximum of 8 units may be taken credit / no credit in the major—this includes internships and special studies courses. Psychology GE courses count for the major as well as for GE. (PSY 250 , PSY 302 , and PSY 325 .)

Units

Total: 44

Required Courses for the Major

PSY 250 - Introduction to Psychology , gives students a broad overview of the diverse theories and methods that psychologists use to investigate questions about human behavior and experience. An equivalent course may be taken at other colleges and universities. An AP exam score of 3 or a pass in the CLEP test of introductory psychology meets this course requirement.

MATH 165 - Elementary Applied Statistics , provides the foundation to understand how psychologists and social scientists evaluate the evidence obtained in empirical studies. An equivalent course in Math or Psychology may be taken at other colleges or universities, or ECON 217 , BUS 211 , or MATH 165X , may be used to fill the statistics requirement. Most students use this course to meet the GE Area B4 requirement.

PSY 270 - Psychology of Self-Discovery , develops skills characteristic of healthy, engaged, growth-oriented persons in areas such as mindfulness, emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationships, dreamwork, and self-reflection.

PSY 280 - Psychological Research Methods , provides foundational knowledge and skills in psychological research methods, data collection and data interpretation. An equivalent course may be taken at other colleges and universities.

Upper-Division Breadth Areas

Students must complete one upper-division course from 4 out of 5 Breadth areas: Holistic, Clinical / Counseling, Developmental, Social / Personality, and Cognitive / Physiological. Courses marked with (Diversity) represent courses that focus on Diversity issues.

Upper-Division Additional Courses

Students must complete a total of 40 units in psychology (11 lower division and 29 upper division). After taking the required 11 lower division units AND one upper division course from 4 out of the 5 Breadth areas (15 to 16 units), students complete the remaining units (13 to 14 units) by taking ANY other upper division psychology courses. A maximum of 8 Credit/No Credit (C/NC) units may count toward the major.)

• PSY 306 - History of Modern Psychology Unit(s): 4
• PSY 311 - Psychology Dialogue Series Unit(s): 1-2
• PSY 313 - Careers in Psychology Unit(s): 2-4
• PSY 399 - Graduate Student-Instructed Course Unit(s): 1-3
• PSY 445 - Advanced Research Design and Analysis Unit(s): 4
• PSY 481 - Research Internship Unit(s): 1-8
• PSY 482 - Teaching Internship Unit(s): 1-8
• PSY 483 - Advanced Teaching Internship Unit(s): 1-4
• PSY 495 - Special Studies Unit(s): 1-4
• PSY 499 - Internship Unit(s): 1-4
• PSY 490 - Psychology Seminar Unit(s): 1-4

Advising

During the first two years at SSU, students take the lower-division major requirements, (PSY 250 , PSY 270 , PSY 280 ) and the lower-division Freshman GE courses. The School of Social Sciences GE academic advisor provides information on GE lower-division course selection. Psychology department faculty advisors answer questions about the major, provide information about specific psychology courses, and provide information about graduate study in psychology. Students must participate in group advising sessions before registration period. Students should meet within an advisor in the psychology department no later than the second semester of the sophomore year. Please see the Psychology Department website (www.sonoma.edu/psychology) to identify the department’s academic advisors and their office hours and locations. Transfer students must attend summer transfer orientation, group advising, and meet with their psychology advisor during their first semester.

To make the most of their education, students are encouraged to consult the psychology department website which has extensive career information and web links to graduate schools and programs. Students are encouraged to do their own research on graduate programs and course prerequisites.

Sample Four-Year Program