Psychology

Department Chair: Chi-Ah Chun 

Department Office: Psychology Building (PSY), Room 100
Telephone: (562) 985-5001
Fax: (562) 985-8004
Website: Psychology Department

Faculty: Courtney Ahrens, James H. Amirkhan, Barbara Caplan, Dan Chiappe, Young-Hee Cho, Chi-Ah Chun, Maricela Correa, Gino A. Galvez, Araceli Gonzalez, Brenda C. Gutierrez, May Ling Halim, Gabrielle M. Hancock, Gerry Hanley, David Illingworth, Danielle Kohfeldt, Lisa Maxfield, James D. Miles, Karissa G. Miller, William Pedersen, Sherry A. Span, Yada Treesukosol, Guido G. Urizar, Jr., Kim-Phuong L. Vu, Christopher R. Warren, Amy M. Wax, David J. Whitney, Arturo Zavala

Department Administrator: Sheri Hale

Advisors:
Undergraduate: ATLAS Advising Center / (562) 985-7804
Graduate: David Whitney (MSIO), Kim-Phuong Yu (MSHF), William Pederson (MAPR)

Psychology Resource Office: PSY 206 / (562) 985-5680

College: College of Liberal Arts  

Courses: PSY  

Career Possibilities

Those interested in entering the workforce with a Psychology BA often pursue the following careers:

Child care workers/preschool teachers • K - 12 teachers • Business management/corporate executives • Sales/Customer relations specialists • Human resources personnel, training, labor relations specialists • Insurance, real estate, business services professionals • Administrative assistants • Marketing specialists • Public relations specialists • Research lab technicians • Healthcare professionals • Pharmacy assistants • Auditors, financial services specialists • Behavior therapists •  Group home counselor or line staff • Geriatric or convalescent home staff • Counseling or outreach workers for a community service organization • Parole/probation officers • Safety officers • Employment /vocational/career counselors • Rehabilitation counselors • Social service caseworkers

Those interested in graduate training (master’s or doctoral) often pursue the following careers after their Psychology BA:

Clinical psychologists • Counseling psychologists • Marriage and family therapists • Psychiatrists • Neuropsychologists • School psychologists • Educational Psychologists • Student Services Professionals • Higher education counselors • Professors (University/college/community college) • College admissions counselors • Guidance counselors • Research scientists • Industrial/organizational psychologists • Human factors psychologists • Lawyers • Medical doctors • Physician’s assistants • Social workers

For more information and ideas about careers, see the Career Development Center website or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or visit PRO (Psychology Resource Office) in PSY room 206.

Introduction

The Bachelor’s degree in Psychology is ideal for individuals who seek an understanding of behavioral principles while pursuing a well-rounded education. A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology is also designed to provide a strong foundation for graduate study. Please visit our Psychology Department website for information about the Psychology Department and our degree programs. 

Graduate Programs

The department offers three graduate programs: Master of Arts in Psychological Research; Master of Science, Option in Human Factors, and the Master of Science, Option in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. 

Admission to Graduate Programs

A department application for admission may be obtained on the Psychology Department website (select “Graduate Programs”). Acceptance by the department is contingent upon (a) GPA based on last 60 semester units available at time of application; (b) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores; and (c) three letters of recommendation. For entry in the fall semester, all department application materials, including GRE scores and letters of recommendation, must be received by the department Graduate Advisor by December 1 for the Master of Science - Industrial/Organizational option, and January 15 for both the Master of Arts - Psychological Research option and the Master of Science - Human Factors option. A separate application to CSULB must be filed via CalStateApply by December 1 for the Industrial/Organizational option, and January 15 for the Psychological Research and Human Factors options - contact Enrollment Services for transcript deadlines.

Financial Support

Students accepted into the graduate programs may apply for graduate assistantships (which provide monthly stipends) in Psychology or related departments on campus. Federal Work Study assignments are available on campus, but must be applied for through the University Financial Aid Office one or two semesters prior to obtaining the assignment; other aid available includes the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF). One student from each graduate programs’ entering class may be awarded a J. Robert Newman Scholarship. Boeing University Relations Human Factors Graduate Scholarship and NASA University Research Centers Scholarships are offered through the Master of Science - Human Factors program.

Programs

• Psychology, Human Factors Option, M.S.
• Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Option, M.S.
• Psychology, Psychological Research Option, M.A.

• Psychology, B.A.
• Psychology, B.A. - Online Supplemental Cohort through CPaCE

• Psychology Minor

Courses

• PSY 683 - Issues Organizational Development
• PSY 686 - Issues in Training
• PSY 688 - Practicum in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• PSY 689 - Practicum in Human Factors
• PSY 694 - Human Factors Work-Based Research Project
• PSY 696 - Research Methods
• PSY 697 - Directed Research
• PSY 698 - Thesis
• PSY 699 - Directed Research and Portfolio