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    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology, BA


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Available beginning Fall 2019

Program Information


The Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology integrates a rigorous investigation of the foremost topics, major concepts, and core theoretical perspectives within the discipline of psychology along with the essential tenets of liberal arts education, including: effective oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving strategies, techniques to ensure information literacy, methods for quantitative fluency, and an appreciation of life long learning. Fundamental psychological areas of study include: biological, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social approaches to the field of psychology. Throughout, students will become familiar with the major theoretical approaches, findings, and historical trends in psychology; understand and use major research methods in psychology, including design, data analysis, and interpretation;  and gain an understanding of applications of psychology to personal, social, and organizational issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the BA in Psychology, including the general education curriculum, will be able to:

  • Address a complex problem in psychology using strategies and insights that lead to the development of an actionable solution.
  • Apply knowledge of and tools from psychology to analyze solutions for personal and/or professional problems.
  • Analyze and interpret quantitative data about a topic in psychology and apply results to improve business/organizational or interpersonal strategies, habits, and/or practices.
  • Apply ethically sound psychological principles to ameliorate and/or mitigate real-world personal and/or professional challenges.
  • Locate, evaluate and apply information, using a variety of research tools from the field of psychology, in analysis of a complex problem.
  • Construct written communications that clearly articulate and promote psychological ideas, arguments, or solutions to analyze a problem.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, either through persuasive speech, and/or in providing clear directions, instructions, and/or guidelines, that address a psychological aspect of a problem.
  • Demonstrate the self-awareness and habits required to identify, integrate, and apply new information and skills that increase personal and professional effectiveness, including: applying psychological insights and skills to career goals; exhibiting self-efficacy and self-regulation; and developing meaningful professional direction for life after graduation.
  • Develop innovative approaches and solutions to an existing or emerging challenge in psychology that also draw on disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives from organizational leadership, sociology, business, and other disciplines in the humanities and/or social sciences.
  • Identify common psychological values that build community at local, national, and global levels.
  • Define, explain, and correctly apply concepts, principles, and overarching themes in psychology, including:
  • Articulating the major theoretical approaches, findings, and historical trends in psychology.
  • Demonstrating use of the major research methods in psychology, including design, data analysis, and interpretation.
  • Applying psychology to personal, social, and organizational issues.
  • Explaining how psychology can elaborate and deepen the understanding of cultural diversity, and human biology, and lifespan development.
  • Applying psychological principles to career goals.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The degree requires completion of 123 units as follows: 39 units of general education coursework (including 21 units of liberal studies core), 39 units required for the major (including 6 units of foundation courses and 33 units of major courses), and 45 units of general elective courses. Each course listed carries three semester units of credit, unless otherwise noted. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 “C” or higher is required in all courses taken at Golden Gate University.

All degree-seeking undergraduate students must complete their English, mathematics and critical thinking requirements within their first 27 units at Golden Gate University, unless they have already earned credit for the equivalent courses from another institution and have had those courses accepted in transfer by Golden Gate University. If either Math or English requirements for the degree have not been satisfied, newly enrolled students must take placement tests to ensure proper placement in the appropriate Math or English course. Students may also choose to waive the placement tests and enroll in the first course in either series, which are ENGL 10A  and MATH 10 . (See the course descriptions below to identify courses that have prerequisite course requirements.)

General Education Requirements


Liberal Studies Core - 21 units


Major Requirements


Elective Courses - 45 units


Fifteen 3-unit upper or lower-division courses from any subject.

Pathway Program


This program can serve as a pathway to GGU’s Master of Arts in Psychology programs. Applicants to these programs who have previously earned bachelor’s degrees from GGU may receive a waiver for certain required graduate-level courses with comparable undergraduate-level coursework completed at GGU and used to satisfy the requirements of their GGU bachelor’s degree program. See the Counseling Psychology, MA or Industrial-Organizational Psychology, MA program for more information.

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