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 lifelong 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:
KNOWLEDGE BASE IN PSYCHOLOGY:
- Describe apply concepts, principles and overarching themes in psychology.
- Develop a working knowledge of the major theoretical approaches, findings, historical trends and content domains in psychology.
- Apply psychological principles to explain and evaluate personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Develop innovative approaches and solutions to an existing or emerging challenge in psychology that also draw on disciplinary perspectives in ethics, other humanities and/or social sciences.
CRITICAL THINKING, SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, INFORMATION LITERACY, AND QUANTITATIVE FLUENCY:
- Apply scientific reasoning to interpret and explain phenomena.
- Locate, evaluate and apply information, using a variety of research tools and methods from the field of psychology.
- Address complex problems in psychology using innovative and integrative strategies and insights leading to actionable solutions.
- Demonstrate abilities to interpret, design, and conduct basic psychological research, including qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Identify and evaluate sociocultural factors in scientific inquiry.
- Analyze, interpret and explain quantitative data about topics and issues in psychology, including complex statistical findings in graphs, studies and reports.
- Analyze and interpret quantitative data about a topic in psychology and apply results in business/organizational or interpersonal settings, habits, and/or practices.
ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
- Apply ethically acceptable standards to evaluate psychological science and practice.
- Apply ethically sound principles and values to ameliorate and/or mitigate real-world personal and/or professional challenges and to build and enhance personal relationships.
- Identify and express common values that build community at local, national, and global levels.
- Explain how psychology can elaborate and deepen the understanding of cultural diversity, and human biology, and lifespan development.
COMMUNICATION:
- Construct written communications that clearly articulate ideas and arguments appropriate to various audiences.
- Demonstrate interpersonal communication and project management skills, either through persuasive speech, and/or in providing clear oral directions, instructions, and/or guidelines, that address a problem in psychology.
- Demonstrate effective presentation skills for various purposes.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING:
- 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.
- Apply 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.)
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