As a student you 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 how to apply psychology to personal, social, and organizational issues.
In addition to gaining a core knowledge of psychology, you will develop essential
skills in effective oral and written communication, critical thinking and problem-solving,
techniques to ensure information literacy, and methods for quantitative fluency —
experiences that will put you on a path to lifelong learning.
TOTAL UNITS — 123
45 GENERAL EDUCATION UNITS
REQUIRED COURSES — 18 UNITS
- UGP 10
- Gateway to Success (to be taken in first term of program)
- CRTH 10
- Critical Thinking
- ENGL 1A
- Expository Writing
- ENGL 1B
- Research Writing
- ENGL 120
- Business Writing
Plus one of the following:
- COMM 35
- Speech Communication
- COMM 40
- Understanding Communication
LIBERAL STUDIES CORE — 21 UNITS
- ARTS 50
- Contemporary Arts and Culture (or any other ARTS course offered)
- HIST 50
- Contemporary American Economic History (or any other HIST course offered)
- HUM 50
- Examining the Humanities (or any other HUM course offered)
- LIT 50
- Principles of Storytelling (or any other LIT course offered)
- PHIL 50
- Professional and Personal Ethics (or any other PHIL course offered)
- SCI 50
- Science, Technology and Social Change (or any other SCI course offered)
- SOSC 50
- American Government in the 21st Century (or any other SOSC course offered)
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS — 6 UNITS
- MATH 20
- Intermediate Algebra
- MATH 40
- Statistics
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES — 27 UNITS
- PSYCH 10
- Introduction to Psychology
- PSYCH 102
- Lifespan Development: Theories & Applications
- PSYCH 108
- Research Design & Experimental Methods
- PSYCH 115
- Introduction to Biopsychology
- PSYCH 120
- Principles & Methods of Counseling
- PSYCH 121
- Abnormal Psychology
- PSYCH 125
- Psychology of Death, Dying, & Bereavement
- PSYCH 143
- Psychology of Leadership
- PSYCH 190
- Strands of a System: Psychology Capstone
PSYCHOLOGY ELECTIVE COURSES — 6 UNITS
Two of the following
- LIT 100
- Business, Psychology, & Modern Literature (If not used to fulfill Liberal Studies Core Requirement.)
- MGT 141
- Organizational Leadership
- OLHS 110
- Emotional & Social Intelligence at Work
- OLHS 111
- Engagement, Thriving, & Well-Being in Organizations
- OLHS 115
- Diversity & Inclusion in Organizations
- PSYCH 113
- Psychology and Technology
- PSYCH 198A-ZZ
- Special Topics In Psychology
ELECTIVE COURSES — 45 UNITS
Fifteen 3-unit upper or lower-division courses from any subject.
Each course listed carries three semester units of credit, unless otherwise noted.
Pathway Program
This program can serve as a pathway to GGU’s graduate 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 following program descriptions for more information: MA in
Counseling Psychology, MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Conflict Resolution
Graduate Certificate, Counseling Skills Graduate Certificate, Industrial-Organizational
Psychology Graduate Certificate.
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 Quantitive 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.
