A bachelor's degree in Psychology provides graduates with versatile skills that are applicable to a variety of career paths. Unlike some majors that prepare graduates for a single specific job, the online BA in Psychology degree program at CSULB prepares graduates for a wide range of occupations in fields including healthcare, human resources, education, counseling, communications, social sciences, customer service, and much more. For those who want to pursue specialized careers, the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program provides a strong foundation to pursue graduate studies, including the prerequisites for admission to CSULB’s three Psychology master’s degree programs: MA in Psychological Research, MS in Human Factors, and MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
The BA in Psychology program provides a competitive degree for fully qualified transfer students who have already completed 60 lower-division units. This two-year, full-time undergraduate program provides students with an understanding of the biological, environmental, social, and cultural influences on behavior by introducing students to the diverse sub-disciplines that compose Psychology. The pre-selected series of classes are offered on a year-round course schedule, including a summer session, which gives students the benefit of taking fewer classes at any point in time (compared to a typical schedule that is limited to Fall and Spring semesters only). The "lock-step" cohort model helps students connect with their classmates, ensures timely access to all required program courses, and provides a supportive network of peers who work their way through the program together.
This program also provides students with greater flexibility through online coursework that includes both synchronous and asynchronous instructional elements. The program is offered in partnership between CSULB’s Psychology Department and the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for some forms of financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
Fully qualified transfer students who have already completed 60 lower-division units
Those wanting to pursue careers including, but not limited to, caseworker, psychiatric aide, teacher, research assistant, corrections officer, or employment relations specialist
100% online program combining primarily asynchronous instruction with some synchronous class meetings
A limited number of synchronous class sessions will be held on weekday mornings
Opportunity to practice skills in Field Work and Independent Study
Year-round schedule with reduced course loads at any one time
Cohort format provides camaraderie and social support
Students typically take only two courses per each 8-week term; one 16-week semester is included during the student’s second year to provide field and lab work opportunities
Courses taught by faculty within the CSULB Psychology Department and College of Liberal Arts
Coursework provides a sampling of major sub-disciplines within the diverse field of Psychology
Communication, numeracy, teamwork, and critical thinking skills to join the workforce or pursue graduate study
Knowledge of theory, research, and practice in Psychology disciplines including social, cognitive, statistics, clinical, developmental, human factors, industrial-organizational, and health
Skill in the use of scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena
Experience in how to apply psychological content and skills to career goals
Skill in the application of ethical standards to evaluate psychological science and practice
Appreciation and knowledge of the diversity of individuals, groups, and cultures
Maintain GPA of 2.0 or better in the program course requirements
Satisfaction of all university graduation requirements
Program Outline
Please note: this is a sample schedule and may not reflect the exact coursework or order of courses taken throughout the program.
Year 1
Year 2
Fall (first 8 weeks)
PSY 301: Psychology as a Career and a Discipline
PSY 351: Social Psychology
PSY 332: Human Cognition
PSY 457: Psychology of Sexuality
Fall (second 8 weeks)
PSY 337: Psychology of Happiness
SOC 346: Race, Gender and Class
PSY 314: Psychological Assessment
PSY 381: Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Spring (first 8 weeks)
PSY 370: Abnormal Psychology
PSY 476: Sleep & Dreams
CWL 320: Comic Spirit
Spring (second 8 weeks)
PSY 361: Child & Adolescent Development
PSY 477: Psychology of Addiction
PSY 499: Independent Study
Spring (16 weeks)
No 16-week courses in Year 1
PSY 310: Intermediate Statistics
PSY 405: Field Work in Psychology
Summer (8 weeks)
PSY 327: Human Factors Psychology
TBA: Writing Intensive GE course
PSY 331: Sensation and Perception
PSY 453: Group Dynamics
Information Sessions
Potential students interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.
Upcoming online Information Sessions are listed below when they are available. Choose a date and click the link to register for that Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.
If no sessions are listed below, then none are currently available. Please check this page at a later date to view updated sessions.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants must demonstrate the following:
Completion of at least 60 transferrable units
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
Minimum lower division preparation (grade C or better required)
The following suite of major preparation courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5:
PSY 100 General Psychology
PSY 110 Introductory Statistics with lab
PSY 220 Research Methods with lab
PSY 241 Psychobiology
Required General Education courses (grade C or better required):
Written Communication
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Mathematics
Additional Recommended Preparation Courses:
Ethnic Studies (GE Category F)
This is a graduation requirement, and therefore highly desirable.
General Education (GE) Certification
General Education (GE) Certification should be requested when transferring to CSULB from a community college in California. This documentation verifies that certain lower-division GE requirements for CSULB programs have already been completed at a California community college via the CSU Breadth or CSU Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) tracks.
Please note: A full GE Certification does not include two courses, U.S. History and U.S. Constitution & American Ideals, which are additional lower-division requirements for this program and may be eligible for transfer separately. For more information on obtaining a GE Certification or determining which GE courses are eligible for transfer, contact your community college counselor or visit Assist.org.
Once obtained, official GE Certification can be emailed to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu. This documentation can be accepted in the form of either the official transcript or as another official document from a community college. Visit ccctransfer.org/ge/ for helpful resources on this subject.
Please Note:
The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) benefit of guaranteed priority admission does not apply to this program. However, any coursework taken at a community college will be used to determine admissions eligibility for this program.
How to Apply
Admission to the BA in Psychology degree program requires approval by the University and the program's Undergraduate Applicant Review Committee. Please follow all directions closely.
Admission Criteria, Documentation, and Information
You must apply for admission online using the California State University admissions portal called Cal State Apply. You can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process. Note the following steps to begin the application process:
Select a term to apply for (must specify Fall).
Sign in or create an account.
Select CSU Long Beach as your campus and Select Extended Education as the Source.
Select "Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Online Program" from the list of available programs; and once chosen, the program title will be highlighted in green with a check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program.
Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program.
You will be asked to provide the following:
Personal Information
Academic History
Supporting Information
Program Materials
Note the following admissions criteria and information:
You must have already earned 60 transferrable lower-division units from a regionally accredited university or have completed equivalent academic preparation at a foreign university, as determined by the appropriate campus authority.
You must be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended.
Note the following documentation requirements and information:
Official transcripts from all previously attended academic institutions after high school must be sent directly to CSULB Enrollment Services. Do not send transcripts to faculty, staff, or the Department, because they will be returned unopened. Some academic institutions will send your transcripts electronically to CSULB. Other institutions will need to send your transcripts by U.S. Postal Service to the following address:
Office of Admissions and Records California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90840-0106
The Cal State Apply website requests transcript entry. Applicants only need to enter courses that are in-progress or planned. Select “I am Not Adding Any College Transcripts” if you do not have in-progress or planned coursework. Do NOT enter individual course information from each individual institution attended, unless you want the system to calculate your grade point average. Entering all of this information is not necessary for admission to our program.
Review and submit your application with the fee by the published deadline.
Wait for an admissions decision to come by email directly from CSULB Enrollment Services. If you are admitted to the program, you will receive course scheduling and enrollment instructions from the advisor at least two weeks before the semester begins.
If you have special admissions needs or questions, please contact the appropriate CSULB office directly:
The two programs offer the same degree, and appear identical on the CSULB diploma. However, this BA in Psychology program is fully online, cohort-based, and self-supported through CSULB's College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE), which guarantees access to the specially selected courses that compose the program. Instruction is primarily asynchronous online with synchronous online course meetings for certain coursework.
The program is cohort-based and classes are offered 100% online. Students pursue coursework on a unique year-round calendar.
Year-round scheduling of classes primarily within 8-week terms means students will typically take only two classes at any one time compared with the typical five courses taken by students on a traditional fall and spring semester schedule. However, the two courses per term will be on an accelerated schedule since they are offered on an 8-week schedule, rather than a typical 15-week plus finals week. During the Spring semester of the student’s second year, lab and field work courses will be scheduled on a 16-week schedule to provide ample opportunity for experiential skill development.
Although many of the courses in this program will be offered with asynchronous online instruction, several courses will have synchronous online instruction. Additionally, asynchronous instructors may wish to meet with students synchronously for an initial class meeting to provide a welcome and overview of the course. Any courses with regularly scheduled synchronous class meetings will be scheduled during select weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon. Students will be notified of the scheduling of a course with synchronous online instruction at least six months in advance of the start of the class to allow any necessary adjustment to their non-academic responsibilities. Students must attend synchronous online class sessions, just as they would be expected to attend a traditional in-person course.
No. This is a fully online program that students can complete from wherever they are living. Some courses may require students to perform activities in their local community. For example, the PSY 405: Internships in Psychology course requires students to complete internship hours in addition to participating in class activities.
Approximately 35 students will be in each cohort.
Yes, this program's cohorts are “lock-step” in nature. This means that all members of the cohort will take the same courses in the same sequence. Each course is offered only once per year.
No electives are offered in this program. All of the course work is pre-selected to provide an introduction to a variety of sub-disciplines within Psychology and explore some of the most popular courses in the CSULB Psychology Department. Completion of the program satisfies prerequisite courses required by many master’s and doctoral programs in Psychology, including CSULB Psychology Department graduate programs.
Program coursework will take place on a unique schedule that encompasses not only the traditional Fall and Spring semesters, but also an 8-week Summer term from approximately late May through mid-July. This year-round program provides students two substantial breaks: a one-month Winter break from the third week of December to the third week of January, as well as a one-month Summer break from the third week of July to the third week of August. In addition, the program provides brief Thanksgiving holiday and Spring breaks.
Students will typically take two courses at a time during 8-week terms, with year-round coursework. In this program, the coursework including instruction, studying, reading, homework, and project work would be expected to total approximately 34 hours per week.
In contrast, a student enrolled in a traditional program concentrated in Fall and Spring semesters only would take five courses per semester, resulting in an expected total of approximately 45 hours per week.
The program can be completed in two years.
The program is designed for fully qualified transfer students who have already completed 60 lower-division units.
Unlike some majors that prepare graduates for a single specific job, the BA in Psychology qualifies graduates for a wide variety of occupations. The program prepares students for jobs in fields including but not limited to:
Healthcare
Human Resources
Education
Counseling
Business & Sales
Specific job titles of graduates with a BA in Psychology may include:
Caseworker
Psychiatric aide
Research assistant
Corrections officer
Employment relations specialist
A number of specific careers in Psychology require a master’s degree or PhD in a particular sub-discipline in the field including:
Professor
Counseling psychologist
School psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Applied Behavior Analyst
Students are encouraged to manage their employment responsibilities in accordance with the substantial academic expectations of the program presented above.
No. Students in this program are expected to pursue the degree as part of the cohort with which they entered. Each course in the program is a required part of the curriculum, and is offered only once per year. Therefore, students must take all courses when offered in order to stay on track for timely graduation.
Yes, unless you take an Educational or Medical Leave. Students who are not enrolled for one or more semesters without an Educational or Medical Leave must reapply to the University.
Students must have access to a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone as well as a reliable Internet connection (broadband access preferred) with an updated web browser.
The program admits for the Fall semester only. The application deadline is February 1.
You would need to apply to the next cohort admission cycle in the following year.
You will need to contact the University's International Admissions office in the Center for International Education.
You will need a 2.5 GPA in your undergraduate coursework from an accredited institution.
Yes, you must be a fully qualified transfer student who has already completed 60 lower-division units with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Applicants must demonstrate the following:
Completion of at least 60 transferrable units
Completion with a “C” or better, of all CSU GE requirements in Written Communication, Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Oral Communication by Spring 2023
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.5
Minimum lower division preparation
The following suite of major preparation courses must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5:
PSY 100 General Psychology (grade C or better required)
PSY 110 Introductory Statistics with lab (grade C or better required)
PSY 220 Research Methods with lab (grade C or better required)
PSY 241 Psychobiology
Required General Education courses not covered by major preparation courses:
Written Communication
Oral Communication
Critical Thinking
Mathematics
Recommended: Ethnic Studies (GE Category F)
This is a graduation requirement, and therefore highly desirable.
Please note: A full GE Certification does not include two courses, U.S. History and U.S. Constitution & American Ideals. These are part of GE sub-areas D1: U.S. History and D2: Constitution and American Ideals, which are additional lower-division requirements for this program and may be eligible for transfer separately.
Students who apply to this program should complete the FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) application. This application will determine if you are eligible for financial aid. Once admitted to the program, you will be able to consult with a CSULB financial aid advisor.
While the online BA in Psychology program was selected to include all prerequisite coursework of the CSULB Psychology graduate programs, completion of this program does not guarantee admission to the graduate programs. Each graduate committee makes its own independent decisions regarding which students to admit to their graduate programs.
You may utilize ASSIST, the online student-transfer information system. Visit www.assist.org and follow instructions to find out if the course credits you’ve already earned are transferable to CSULB.
Students admitted to the program will be required to comply with all CSULB graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Currently, the CSULB graduation requirements include the following:
Earn the number of units for the degree
Earn a minimum of 30 units in residence
Earn a minimum of 40 upper-division units
Complete the General Education (GE) pattern
Satisfy major requirements
Maintain minimum GPA requirements (for the University and major)
Satisfy the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
Receive formal faculty approval from the major department
Cost: $380 per unit/$1,140 per 3-unit course
Total Number of Units: 60
Total Program Cost: $22,800
Additional costs for books, software, or other course materials are not included in the course fees
Fees are due at the time of registration. If you have any questions regarding payments, please email the CPaCE Student Services Center at cpace-info@csulb.edu.
Personal Check, Cashier’s Check or Money Order
Payable to: California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
Mail to: CPaCE Student Services Center, 6300 E. State University Dr. Suite 100, Long Beach CA 90815 (Please allow 3-5 business days to process).
The University is not responsible for delayed or lost mail via U.S. Postal Service.
Payable in $USD and must be written in blue or black ink.
Be sure to write your student ID number on the check.
The university has contracted with TRANSACT SmartPay to accept credit card payments. SmartPay charges a 2.65% service charge on all payment transactions. There is no convenience fee to pay by E-Check at MyCSULB or in person with an ATM/Debit, check, money order, or cash.
Third Party Fee Payment If a company or organization wishes to pay your fees, a sponsorship agreement and authorization of services must be received prior to registration via email at cpace-info@csulb.edu. If your sponsor does not pay some or all of your fees, it is your responsibility to pay or your classes may be canceled, a financial hold placed on your record, and services withheld until fees are paid.
Veterans If you are a veteran or dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for financial assistance for your higher education. For more information, go to Veterans' Affairs Services or the Veterans Affairs Office, Foundation Building, Room 265, call 562.985.5115, or visit the Veterans Services webpage.
Financial Aid If you have applied for and accepted a financial aid award for the current academic year, you may register without paying. Your aid will be disbursed according to your program schedule set by the Financial Aid office.
Dishonored Payments A $20 dishonored check fee will be charged to your account if a check is returned for any reason. If a credit card charge is disputed, a $20 dishonored credit card fee will be charged to your account. Contact Student Account Services at 562.985.8280 before disputing a credit card charge through your bank. Personal checks will not be accepted for repayment of dishonored checks or disputed credit cards.
No, neither the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) nor Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degrees are eligible for the online BA in Psychology program. Therefore, the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) benefit of guaranteed priority admission does not apply to this special program. However, the coursework you take at your community college will be used to determine your admissions eligibility for this program. Click here for complete admission requirements.
Please note: this program accepts 60 lower-division units completed in a community college. Students admitted to the online BA in Psychology program then complete an additional 60 upper-division units at CSULB to complete the BA degree.
You should receive a decision from admissions by mid-March.
Admitted applicants/students must accept their decision by June 1st each year.
The deadline to submit all transcripts is July 15th each year.
Students enrolled in this program are eligible for some forms of financial aid, with the exception of the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Vet College Fee Waiver.
GI Bill benefits can be used for this program. Click here to learn more about eligibility, rates, and other details.
Instructors
An expert in the subjects of gender-based violence, Dr. Ahrens is an active member of Not Alone at the Beach, a campus-based organization dedicated to preventing sexual assault and dating violence; and a co-founder of the advocacy organization Academic Alliance for Survivor Choice in Reporting Policies. Over the past 30 years, she has worked as an advocate, trainer, and program evaluator for community-based agencies and has received numerous awards for her teaching, research, and service. She earned a BA in Psychology from Smith College as well as an MA and PhD in Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Courtney Ahrens, Instructor
Dr. Chiappe’s areas of expertise include cognitive science and evolutionary psychology, and his research on concepts of rationality, presence, and situational awareness has informed courses including Psychology of Happiness, Animal Cognition, and others. He holds BS, MA, and PhD degrees in Psychology from the University of Toronto.
Dan Chiappe, Instructor
Dr. Chun teaches courses in Abnormal Psychology and General Psychology. Her areas of expertise include mental health for Asian Americans, immigrants, and refugee communities, as well as mental health disparities and undergraduate research training. In addition, she is a Principal Investigator of the CSULB Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative, Phase II. She holds a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley, and both an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from Korea University and UCLA, respectively.
Chi-Ah Chun, Instructor
Dr. Correa specializes in Developmental Psychology, and teaches courses including Child and Adolescent Development, Psychology as a Discipline and Profession, and Professional Development in Psychology. She earned BA degrees in both Anthropology and Psychology from UCLA; and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Maricela Correa, Instructor
Dr. Fisher specializes in cognitive neuroscience, perceptual expertise, and narrative development. She teaches courses on Human Cognition and Psychology of Addiction. She earned BA degrees in Geology and Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Northwestern University.
Joan Fisher, Instructor
Dr. Maxfield’s areas of expertise include topics such as human attention, word reading, and long-term memory processes. She teaches courses on Psychology as a Discipline and Profession, and Human Cognition. She earned a BA in Psychology and PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Syracuse University.
Lisa Maxfield, Instructor
Dr. Miles investigates topics related to the interaction between human perception and action, conducting this work in the Miles Action and Perception (MAP) Lab. In addition to teaching the Independent Study research course for the BA in Psychology - Online Program, Dr. Miles also teaches Sensation and Perception. Dr. Miles has published his work in multiple journals on topics such as stimulus-response compatibility effects and prospective memory. His lab research engages haptic warning systems and avatar control in virtual reality environments. He has BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Psychology from the University of Virginia as well as a Postdoctoral study in Human Factors at Purdue University.
Jim Miles, Instructor
Dr. Span is Chair of the CSULB Psychology Department. Focusing on clinical science, she teaches the Psychology of Sexuality course as well as General Psychology, Introductory Statistics, Research Methods, and Abnormal Psychology. She earned a BA in English from Tufts University, an MA in Psychological Research from CSULB, and both an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from USC.
Sherry Span, Instructor
Dr. Pedersen specializes in social psychology, statistics, and factors that impact aggressive behavior and violence. He teaches Social Psychology as well as Introductory Statistics, Psychology and Contemporary Social Issues, and Statistical Design and Analysis of Experiments. His research focuses on personality traits like narcissism, impulsivity, and religiosity at his Aggression and Intergroup Relations Lab. Among his many honors is the CSULB President’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Achievement in 2018 and Outstanding Faculty Mentor for Student Engagement in Research, Scholarly or Creative Activities in 2008. He has two BA degrees in Psychology and Humanities from Seattle University, and both an MA and PhD in Social Psychology from USC.
William Pedersen, Instructor
Dr. Rosenberg’s areas of expertise including biopsychology and sleep. He teaches the Sleep and Dreams course as well as Elementary Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods, Health Psychology, and History of Psychology. He earned an AA in Psychology from Los Angeles Pierce College; a BA in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley; and both an MA in Social Science and PhD in Biopsychology from University of Chicago.
Richard Rosenberg, Instructor
Dr. Vu teaches Introduction to Human Factors and Human Cognition for CSULB’s online BA in Psychology program. She is also Associate Director of the Center for Usability in Design and Accessibility and the Center for Human Factors in Advanced Aeronautics Technologies at CSULB. She is the recipient of the American Psychological Association’s 2021 Franklin V. Taylor Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Applied Experimental/Engineering Psychology. Dr. Vu has over 150 peer-reviewed publications relating to human performance, human factors, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); has co-edited several books; and served as Associate Editor for the journals Behavior Research Methods and Human Factors. She has a BA in Psychology from CSULB as well as both MS and PhD degrees in Cognitive Psychology from Purdue University.
Kim Vu, Instructor
Dr. Warren specializes in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. He teaches Group Dynamics in CSULB’s online BA in Psychology program as well as courses including Research Methods, Issues in Training, and Directed Research and Portfolio. He is a mentor to Honors, McNair, and Master of Science students; and an ally to those in the (Dis)Ability, LGBTIQ, Undocumented, and Veteran student communities. He has a BS in Psychology from University of South Florida, and both MS and PhD degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Tulane University.
Christopher Warren, Instructor
Dr. Wax specializes in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, with an emphasis on topics such as workplace diversity, teamwork, and social network analysis. She teaches Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology as well as General Psychology, Social Network Analysis, Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, and more. She holds a BA in Psychology from Occidental College as well as both MS and PhD degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Amy Wax, Instructor
Dr. Whitney is the Director of CSULB’s BA in Psychology – Online Program. An expert in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and research specialist in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Employment, he teaches Psychological Assessment as well as additional courses including Introductory Statistics, Test Construction, and Issues in Personnel Psychology. He holds a BS in Psychology from Union College (New York) and both MA and PhD degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Michigan State University.
Dave Whitney, Instructor
Dr. Zavala specializes in neuropharmacology and animal models of addiction, teaching the Psychology of Addiction course as well as Psychobiology, Physiology of Behavior, and Psychopharmacology. He is also Co-Director of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) program, which aims to increase the number of underrepresented students entering health-related careers. Dr. Zavala has received the Distinguished Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Mentoring Award from CSULB and the National Award of Excellence in Mentorship from the National Hispanic Science Network. His research program investigates the consequences of early exposure to psychoactive drugs and later susceptibility to drug abuse. He earned a BA in Psychology and MA in Experimental Psychology from CSU San Bernardino, and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from Arizona State University.
