Bachelor’s Degree in Psychological and Behavioral Science

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• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychological and Behavioral Science

A psychological and behavioral science degree prepares you for various psychology-related careers and enhances your ability to work through challenges in everyday life. Studying psychology enables students to develop skills in evidence-based problem-solving and critical thinking. It also nurtures empathy and compassion: essential skills for those who want to transform the lives of others.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Behavioral Science degree opens doors to a variety of careers in counseling, education, social work, research and more. Our graduates are ready to take on graduate education or move into diverse professional paths. See the psychological and behavioral science curriculum.

Program Overview

Courses offered online or on campus in Thousand Oaks or Oxnard

Evening classes once per week, Monday – Thursday

Flexible part-time and full-time options

Complete the degree in as little as 18 months

At Cal Lutheran, we pride ourselves on providing personal attention to each of our students. Our classes are intentionally kept small so that you can connect with your instructors and peers. You’ll also have access to a personal academic counselor who will guide and support you every step of the way.

This major is part of our Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program, which is designed for working adults and lifelong learners resuming their education. Each student enters the program with a minimum of 24 transfer credits, with many bringing in even more credits.

What You’ll Learn

Students will learn about human thought and behavior while fostering the critical thinking and communication skills needed for psychology and behavioral science jobs. There are four main learning outcomes:

• Core psychological concepts – Students will know the major theoretical approaches and discoveries in the discipline
• Empirical and critical thinking – Students will understand the primary research methods used in psychology and be able to use the methods to formulate inquiries, analyze results and critically evaluate conclusions drawn from these methods
• Real-world application of psychology principles – Students will be adept at applying psychological concepts to solve real-life challenges at both individual and societal levels
• Communication skills – Students will be able to express themselves professionally and effectively in both writing and oral presentations

Psychological and Behavioral Science Degree Curriculum

Required courses

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted

Foundational courses

Research Writing for Professionals

Advanced Research Writing for Professionals

Essentials of Statistics

Introduction to Psychology

Research Methods in Psychology

Breadth courses

Biopsychology

Cognitive Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Social and Personality Psychology

Psychopathology

Applied courses

Select at least two from the following:

Counseling and Therapy

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Specialization courses

Select at least three from the following:

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Psychology of Gender

Personality and Individual Differences

Persuasion and Influence

Experiential learning courses

Select at least one from the following:

Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

Advanced Counseling and Therapy

Total Credits to Complete the Degree

To graduate, students must complete 124 credits minimum. This total includes:

• Major courses: At least 48 credits are completed through psychology and behavioral science major courses. Out of these, at least 39 credits must be upper-division courses (these courses are identified by course numbers in the 300 and 400 ranges).
• General education and other courses: The remaining credits can consist of general education courses, additional major courses if desired and any transferred credits.

Want to learn more about earning your psychological and behavioral science degree with California Lutheran University? Download our brochure and explore our FAQ page. Ready to apply? Start your application now.