The Undergraduate (UG) Program is designed for undergraduate transfer students interested in pursuing social action and psychology or the intersection of business and psychology to complete their bachelor’s degree in two years. This program consists of two Bachelor of Science degree programs: the Business Psychology (BP) Program and the Psychology of Social Action (PSA) Program. In this program, students develop a keen understanding of human behavior, motivation, and group processes, and learn how to apply that knowledge in a professional setting. Graduates prepare for careers in sales and marketing, human resources, and management. The Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action (PSA) is a degree program that focuses on developing the psychological knowledge and skills for community advocacy and outreach. The PSA curriculum includes classes in psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and economics, and a nine-month internship to gain real-world experiences. Graduates can find roles at nonprofits and community agencies or prepare for graduate programs in psychology.
The undergraduate program has five comprehensive learning goals that are consistent with the University’s mission statement and aligns with WASC Core Competencies as well as the APA Psychology Undergraduate Guidelines:
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking in Psychological Research and Application
Goal 5: Professional and Ethical Competency in Psychological Practice and Application
General Education Requirements
- Completion of general education requirements
- Completion of all classes required for the major
- 180 quarter units in total
- Completion of 90 upper-division quarter units
- 45 units must be completed at Palo Alto University
- Students must complete a minimum of 30 units in their major at PAU, and must be enrolled at PAU during the last two terms prior to graduation.
Completing General Education Requirements Prior to Enrolling
PAU's general education requirements largely mirror the requirements to transfer to a CSU. We have outlined below a general articulation plan as it relates to courses guaranteed to transfer from a CA community college to the CSU system. This list is not comprehensive - we encourage students to complete a transfer evaluation to get a clear sense of how many courses they may transfer to PAU. You can also visit assist.org to see a list of courses at your community college that are certified to meet the CSU general education requirements.
| PAU General Education Area |
Unit Requirements |
Any Course Designated as a CSU Transfer Area |
| Area A - English Language, Communication and Critical Thinking |
Minimum of 9 semester units or 12 quarter units |
A1-Oral Communication
A2-Written Communication
A3-Critical Thinking |
| Area B - Scientific Inquiry |
Minimum of 6 semester units or 8 quarter units. Includes one course from each: Physical Science and Life Science |
B1-Physical Sciences
B2-Life Science |
| Area C - Arts and Humanities |
Minimum of 9 semester units or 12 quarter units. Select courses in at least two disciplines. |
C1-Art
C2-Humanities |
| Area D - Social Sciences |
Minimum of 9 semester units or 12 quarter units. Select courses in at least two disciplines |
Any Area D |
| Area E - Human Understanding and Development |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units. |
Any Area E |
| Mathematics |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units of transfer-level math.
Students who have taken and passed an Introduction to Statistics course prior to enrolling at PAU will not be required to take MATH320 or MATH325. |
B4-Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning |
| Introduction to Psychology |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units. |
May also be called General Psychology |
Completing General Education Requirements at PAU
Students are encouraged to complete all general education requirements prior to enrolling, but may complete them while enrolled at PAU through dual enrollment at an accredited college or university, or through PAU courses designated as general-education-eligible (see chart below). Palo Alto University's general education requirements largely mimic the A-E requirements for the CSU system.
| General Education Area |
Unit Requirements |
Options for Completion: Psychology and Social Action Major |
| Area A1 - English Language |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units |
PSYC300 Psychological Writing |
| Area A2 - Communication |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units |
|
| Area A3 - Critical Thinking |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units |
PHIL310 Philosophy of Ethics |
| Area B1 - Physical Science |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units |
|
| Area B2 - Life Science |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units |
BIOL350 Biological Psychology |
| Area C - Arts and Humanities |
Minimum of 9 semester units or 12 quarter units. Select courses in at least two disciplines. |
PHIL300 Philosophy of Science
PHIL310 Philosophy of Ethics
ANTH370 Ethnic Identity, Social Stratification |
| Area D - Social Sciences |
Minimum of 9 semester units or 12 quarter units. Select courses in at least two disciplines |
ANTH350 Cultural Anthropology
ANTH370 Ethnic Identity, Social Stratification
POLI310 International Political Economy
PSYC360 Psychology of Gender
PSYC340 Research Design & Methods
PSYC375 Cross-Cultural Psychology
SOCI300 Social Problems
PSYC320 Social Psychology
PSYC380 Psychology of Lifespan Development
PSYC390 Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
SOCI320 Globalization |
| Area E - Human Understanding and Development |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units. |
SOCI340 Fundamentals of Social Action
PSYC320 Social Psychology
PSYC310 Psychology of Learning and Memory
SOCI300 Social Problems
PSYC380 Psychology of Lifespan Development |
| Mathematics |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units of transfer-level (non-remedial) math.
Students who have taken and passed an Introduction to Statistics course prior to enrolling at PAU will not be required to take MATH320 or MATH325. |
MATH320 Statistics for the Social Sciences |
| Introduction to Psychology |
Minimum of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units. |
Must be completed prior to enrollment |
Completing General Education Units after Enrollment
Students will develop an Individualized Education Plan with their academic advisor, prior to the start of classes. This plan will outline:
- Remaining general education requirements
- Remaining major requirements
- Additional elective units needed to reach 90 upper-division quarter units and 180 quarter units in total, if necessary
- A reasonable enrollment load, personalized for each student. This is especially important if a student will dual-enroll to complete any requirements.
- Options for completing the required units would include:
- CLEP
- Accredited community college courses
- PAU courses at the undergraduate or graduate level
- Classes at other accredited 4-year institutions
Curriculum of Psychology and Social Action
Understanding human behavior and social issues requires a grasp of psychology along with an understanding of individual behaviors in social, cultural, ethnic, political, and economic contexts. Students explore these perspectives in their Psychology and Social Action classes.
Core Course Requirements (complete all courses, 56 units)
| PSYC300 | Psychological Writing | 4 |
| PSYC310 | Psychology of Learning & Memory | 4 |
| PSYC320 | Social Psychology | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC340 | Research Design and Methods | 4 |
| or | |
| MATH325 | Research Methods & Data Analysis | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC360 | Psychology of Gender | 4 |
| PSYC375 | Cross Cultural Psychology | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC380 | Psychology of Life Span Development | 4 |
| or | |
| PSYC381 | Development Psychology | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC385 | Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy | 4 |
| PSYC390 | Abnormal and Clinical Psychology | 4 |
| SOCI340 | Fundamentals of Social Action | 4 |
| PSYC395 | Senior Internship | 4 |
| PSYC400 | Senior Seminar | 4 |
PSYC395: Must take 3 times; 12 units.
Non-Core Course Requirements (select from courses below for a total of 36 units)
| ANTH350 | Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| or | |
| ANTH351 | Multicultural Studies | 4 |
| | |
| ANTH370 | Intercultural Studies-Ethnic Identity & Social Stratification | 4 |
| or | |
| ANTH351 | Multicultural Studies | 4 |
| | |
| BIOL350 | Biological Psychology | 4 |
| MATH320 | Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| PHIL300 | Philosophy of Science | 4 |
| PHIL310 | Philosophy of Ethics | 4 |
| | |
| POLI310 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| or | |
| ECON400 | Global Economics | 4 |
| | |
| SOCI300 | Social Problems | 4 |
| or | |
| ANTH351 | Multicultural Studies | 4 |
| | |
| SOCI320 | Sociology: Globalization | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC330 | Theories of Personality | 4 |
| or | |
| PSYC331 | Theories of Personality and Assessment | 4 |
| | |
| Special Topics in Psychology | 4 |
Internship
In their senior year, students in the Social Action program complete a nine-month internship at a community agency or nonprofit organization. Specifically, students intern in community agencies and research labs conducting research throughout the Bay Area serving and working with a wide array of populations and social issues including seniors, children, families, working poor, immigration advocacy, environmental issues, food insecurity, alcohol and drug addiction, individuals living with mental illness, LBGTQI advocacy and support services, suicide and crisis hotlines. Students can use their current employment for the internship, but many students intern in new organizations too. The internship provides valuable professional experiences that help students enter a professional field or gain admission to a graduate program.
Senior Capstone Seminar
Another major component of the senior year in the Psychology and Social Action program is the Senior Capstone course. The Senior Capstone course provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained in their courses to current psychological and social issues. This course is taught by faculty who are experts in their field.
The theme of the Senior Capstone course changes every year, to reflect current trends or research. Past topics have been: the Psychology of Good and Evil, Veteran Mental Health and Social Issues, Critical Issues in Adolescence, Substance Abuse, Community Mental Health, the Psychological Impact of Climate Change, Psychology and Technology, and Positive Psychology.
Total Credit Hours: 92
Curriculum of Business Psychology
The goal of the Business Psychology curriculum is to produce graduates who have the ability to apply the science of human behavior in business settings. Students in this program learn to apply theories in psychology to business challenges, such as employee motivation, sales and marketing, consumer behavior and human resource management. The students learn to analyze business problems through the lens of psychology and to develop effective solutions.
Core Course Requirements (complete all courses, 56 units)
| BUSI302 | Business Writing Fundamental | 4 |
| BUSI303 | Business Communication | 4 |
| BUSI309 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| BUSI310 | Employee Motivation and Satisfaction | 4 |
| BUSI320 | Fundamentals of Management | 4 |
| BUSI340 | Human Resources Management | 4 |
| BUSI381 | Career Planning & Development | 4 |
| BUSI383 | Introduction to Marketing | 4 |
| BUSI395 | Fundamentals of Accounting &Finance | 4 |
| BUSI405 | Information Technology Management | 4 |
| BUSI406 | Senior Seminar | 4 |
| BUSI412 | Corporate Accounting and Finance | 4 |
| BUSI430 | Business Ethics | 4 |
| | |
| MATH325 | Research Methods & Data Analysis | 4 |
| or | |
| PSYC360 | Psychology of Gender | 4 |
Non-Core Course Requirements (select from courses below for a total of 36 units)
| ANTH350 | Cultural Anthropology | 4 |
| or | |
| ANTH351 | Multicultural Studies | 4 |
| or | |
| ANTH370 | Intercultural Studies-Ethnic Identity & Social Stratification | 4 |
| or | |
| SOCI300 | Social Problems | 4 |
| | |
| ECON400 | Global Economics | 4 |
| or | |
| POLI310 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC320 | Social Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC325 | Psychology of Leadership & Team Development | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC331 | Theories of Personality and Assessment | 4 |
| or | |
| PSYC330 | Theories of Personality | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC365 | History of Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC440 | Human Behavior/Interpersonal Effectiveness | 4 |
| | |
| PSYC381 | Development Psychology | 4 |
| or | |
| PSYC380 | Psychology of Life Span Development | 4 |
| | |
| MGMT400 | Strategic Management & Negotiations | 4 |
| BUSI490 | Senior Internship | 4 |
| Special Topics in Psychology | 4 |
Senior Capstone Seminar
In the Business Psychology Program, the Senior Seminar is a capstone course offered during the last quarter of the BP program. This course is adapted each year to reflect current business trends and issues. The course helps students integrate the principal psychological theories and concepts of the program in business settings and demonstrate the skills that they will be applying in their careers following graduation.
Senior Internship
The senior internship is a professional learning experience that students may opt to do in the place of two classes in the last two quarters of the Business Psychology program. Students are required to either find an internship in a local business or organization, or develop one with their current employer (in consultation with the Internship Advisor/Professor) prior to registering. Applying at companies hiring an intern is usually a competitive process. Students must apply, interview, and secure an internship prior to registering. The internship required a minimum of 8 hours per week of work during two academic quarters. Students will need to receive satisfactory evaluations from their internship site supervisor, and they must complete several academic assignments to receive credit and a grade for the senior internship.
Total Credit Hours: 92
Early Start Program
Undergraduate students may request to take courses in the MA in Counseling or MS in Psychology program as additions to or substitutes for undergraduate coursework.
Guidelines
- Students are required to complete an Independent Learning Plan with a faculty advisor prior to receiving approval to enroll in graduate coursework. Faculty advisors must provide approval for students to enroll in graduate courses, and document explicitly any course substitutions.
- Student requests to enroll in graduate courses are evaluated each term. Student requests may be denied if there is insufficient space available in courses, or if the student’s performance in past graduate coursework is substandard.
- Students are charged for courses by unit at the undergraduate rate.
- Courses taken at the graduate level may be used to satisfy undergraduate graduation requirements, and may complete major requirements (core and non-core courses) if approval is granted prior to enrollment in the course. Graduate-level courses are considered upper-division units.
- In the case that a graduate course is more units than the undergraduate course for which it is substituting, excess units may be used by the student as upper-division elective units toward their undergraduate degree requirements.
- Students who complete courses at the graduate level are not guaranteed admission to the MA or MS program upon graduation from their undergraduate degree.
- Students who wish to enroll in the MS or MA program upon completion of their undergraduate degree, must apply to the graduate program as a new student.
- MA students may take no more than 24% of their required MA courses as a PAU undergraduate. Upon formal matriculation into the MA programs, students will meet with an academic advisor to create an individualized education plan which accounts for courses already completed. Students should also be aware that all MA courses must be passed with a B grade or better, in order to count toward the MA degree.
- MS students may take no more than 24% of their required MS courses as a PAU undergraduate. Upon formal matriculation into the MS programs, students will meet with an academic advisor to create an individualized education plan which accounts for courses already completed. Students should also be aware that all MS courses must be passed with a B grade or better, in order to count toward the MS degree.
- Upon successful completion of the course, the Office of the Registrar will post the course as completing the undergraduate course requirement. Once enrolled officially in the graduate program, the student should petition the Office of the Registrar for the course to appear on their graduate transcript.