Psychology, Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer
Banner Code: 2_AAT_PSYC
Control Number: 30713
Financial Aid Eligible
The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer degree covers the contemporary perspectives on understanding human behavior including biological, psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, and sociocultural, as well as the effects of nature verses nurture on behavior and abilities. Students learn how to analyze the various methods used to study behavior, including the naturalistic observation method, the correlational method, the experimental method, kinship studies, the epidemiological method, and the case-study method.
In this program, students will gain the solid foundations they’ll need to be successful in the field and in their continued studies by taking a range of classes that focus on both knowledge and skills. Students who complete the psychology curriculum start with a broad overview of the discipline, begin to develop their writing and research skills, then take a deep dive into particular topics in our specialty classes including Lifespan Development, Abnormal Behavior, Social, and Biopsychology. Psychology majors learn to characterize the nature of psychology as a science; understand and apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues; use reasoning to recognize, develop, defend, and criticize arguments related to conclusions about psychological issues; identify appropriate applications of psychology in solving problems. Students come out of the program with a working knowledge of discipline applicable statistics and research methods, a solid writing experience across our curriculum, critical thinking skills, and a comprehensive knowledge base that helps them discover their particular interests and direction.
Students who successfully complete this major will have a solid foundation for a psychology transfer program and many careers in the social service fields. A Master's degree or higher is required for most counseling or research psychologist positions.
Program Level Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Characterize the nature of psychology as a science.
- Apply psychological principles to personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Use reasoning to develop, defend, and criticize arguments related to conclusions about psychological issues.
- Identify theoretical applications of psychology in solving problems, such as the origin and treatment of abnormal behavior, pursuit and effect of healthy lifestyles, psychology-based interventions in clinical, educational community, and other settings.
Associate Degree for Transfer Graduation Requirements
Associate Degrees for Transfer require students to meet the following requirements:
- Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of degree-applicable courses,
- Minimum overall grade point average of 2.0,
- Minimum grade of “C” (or “P”) for each course in the major, and
- Completion of IGETC and/or CSU GE-Breadth.
Students should consult a GWC counselor in order to select the best pathway to meet their educational goals. For students who intend to transfer, the choice of general education will be specific to both their major and transfer institution.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| PSYC G140 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (recommended) | 3-4 |
| or ECON G160 | Statistics for Business and Economics | |
| or SOC G125 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology | |
| or MATH G160 | Introduction To Statistics | |
| PSYC G100 | Introduction To Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC G280 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| List A | ||
| PSYC G250 | Psychobiology | 3 |
| List B | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Any course from List A not used above | ||
| PSYC G116 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSYC G118 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC G260 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| List C | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Any course from List A or List B not used above | ||
| PSYC G110 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 |
| PSYC G165 | Principles of Human Sexuality 1 | 3 |
| PSYC G167 | Psychology of Racism and Oppression | 3 |
| or ETHS G167 | Psychology of Racism and Oppression | |
| PSYC G255 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOC G100 | Introduction To Sociology | 3 |
| Major Total | 19-20 | |
| GE Pattern (CSU GE-Breadth or IGETC) | 37-39 | |
| Total units that may be double-counted | 16-18 | |
| Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 units) | 18-20 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
Recommended Program Sequence
These sequences are general course maps for students to finish all major and general education requirements for two-year completion of degrees, completion of short-term certificates, and/or fulfillment of transfer requirements. However, this may not be an appropriate path for all students. The two-year sequence is based on English and Math placement and meeting other course prerequisites. Students are advised to meet with a GWC Counselor to review course selections and sequences to ensure that completion of this program will meet a student's transfer and career goals.
Year 1:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| PSYC G100 | Introduction To Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL G100 | Freshman Composition ^ | 4 |
| Area A1: Oral Communication course | 3 | |
| Area E: Lifelong Learning & Self-Development course | 3 | |
| Area C1: Arts course | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 | ||
| PSYC G116 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSYC G130 | Critical Thinking in Psychology (recommended) | 3-4 |
| or ENGL G110 | Critical Thinking, Reading And Writing Through Literature | |
| PSYC G140 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (recommended) | 4 |
| or MATH G160 | Introduction To Statistics | |
| Area C: Arts & Humanities course | 3 | |
| PSCI G180 | American Government (Area D: Social & Behavioral Science course) | 3 |
| or PSCI G181 | American Government: The Politics of Race and Ethnicity | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| PSYC G118 | Life Span Developmental Psychology (recommended) | 3 |
| PSYC G260 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| Units | 19-21 | |
Year 2:
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 3 | ||
| PSYC G280 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| HIST G170 | History Of The United States To 1876 (Area C2: Humanities course) | 3 |
| or HIST G175 | History of the United States Since 1876 | |
| Area B1: Physical Science course (with lab) | 4 | |
| Select one of the following NOT already taken: | 3-4 | |
| PSYC G110 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 |
| PSYC G165 | Principles of Human Sexuality 1 | 3 |
| PSYC G255 | Abnormal Psychology (recommended) | 3 |
| PSYC G260 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC G100 | Introduction To Sociology | 3 |
| Units | 14-15 | |
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 4 | ||
| PSYC G167 | Psychology of Racism and Oppression | 3 |
| or ETHS G167 | Psychology of Racism and Oppression | |
| PSYC G250 | Psychobiology (recommended) | 3-4 |
| or BIOL G100 | Introduction to Biology | |
| CSU Transferable elective coursework to reach a minimum of 60 units | 4-8 | |
| Units | 10-15 | |
| Total minimum units required | 60 | |
- ^
Program sequence may not be recommended for students who self-place into ENGL G100S. Students should see a Counselor for appropriate advisement.