Below is a sample academic plan that shows you how you can complete your Associate's Degree in two years. Your path may look different depending on your circumstances?for example, if you attend part-time, choose to take Intersession or Summer courses, or have earned prior credit (Credit for Prior Learning, Dual Enrollment, Transfer Credit). The plan includes four semesters, each with an average course load of 15 units, and follows the Plan 1 General Education pattern. You are required to meet with a counselor to set up a comprehensive education plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals.

The associate degree in psychology prepares students to move into a curriculum at a four-year institution leading to a baccalaureate degree for specialization in any of more than twenty branches of psychology including child, clinical, personal, vocational and marriage counseling, industrial, mental health, and college teaching.  Completion of the two-year program is appropriate for students whose career plans include helping people, e.g., teaching, social welfare, probation, criminology, nursing, law, or personnel work.  Consult a counselor for information about course requirements for specific universities.

Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, core empirical findings, career pathways, and historic trends in psychology.

Understand the impact of diversity on psychological research, theory and application, including (but not limited to): age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, socio-economic status, disability, and sexual orientation.

Have an understanding of the relationship between biology and psychological processes as it relates to typical, atypical, and psychopathological behavior and mental processes.

Be able to think critically and objectively, problem-solve, and employ the scientific method of inquiry to address psychological questions.

Be able to conduct academic research, understand the logic of statistical methods, and determine the validity and relevance of the research literature.

Be able to conduct descriptive and inferential statistics on data sets, understand the logic of hypothesis testing and apply this logic to the evaluation and interpretation of research data and findings.

Have an understanding of the logic of hypothesis testing and apply this logic to the evaluation and interpretation of research data and findings.

Be able adequately distinguishing between primary and secondary sources and communicate in writing using the standards and conventions of the American Psychological Association.

Program Map

GE General Education Course
M Major Course
E Elective Course
SI Summer/Intersession Course *
* Course is appropriate for Summer and Intersession, which are accelerated terms.

Getting Started

First Semester

15-16 units

Second Semester

16 units

Third Semester

15 units

Fourth Semester

16 units