Psychology
The psychology program presents psychology as the science of mental processes and behaviors, providing research results applicable to everyday life and benefiting human welfare. A second purpose is to prepare students for transfer to a university. Upon completion of their program, psychology majors will be able to describe psychological science as a diverse field of research with both academic and practical applications, that encompasses more than a dozen major subfields. They will be able to identify and explain the four goals of psychology (really, the four goals of science). These goals are description, explanation, prediction and control of mental processes and behaviors occurring within an individual as well as within inter- personal, cultural, and global contexts. Students completing the psychology major program will be equipped to use the scientific method to explore healthy mental processes and behaviors, as well as the pathological ones. Psychology coursework is done in a variety of subspecialties including social psychology, abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and personality, psychology of gender and sexuality and research methods. Psychology curriculum introduces students to many of these subspecialties in preparation for upper division coursework at a four-year college or university.
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will cover critical thinking and the scientific method, biopsychology, sensation and perception, consciousness and thinking, lifespan development, learning and memory, emotion and stress, psychological disorders and therapy, personality, and social psychology.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course is an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It will cover critical thinking and the scientific method, biopsychology, sensation and perception, consciousness and thinking, lifespan development, learning and memory, emotion and stress, psychological disorders and therapy, personality, and social psychology.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThe course provides a basic understanding of the scientific method, research designs, and statistical tests used in psychological investigation. Students perform a literature review, design an original research study, collect and analyze data, and write an APA-style research report.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course will focus on the application of psychological principles to everyday life, emphasizing how to cope with life's challenges and demands. It will take a broad approach to understanding how clinicians, scientists, and practitioners study and apply psychology. We will consider many different topics including stress, work, family, friends, the self, disorders, and therapy.
Transferable to CSU OnlyThis course is an introduction to physiological aspects of human behavior including the central and peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system. It explores the physiological basis for cognition, consciousness, movement, motivation, learning, sensation, perception, memory, sex drive, addiction and psychopathology. This is an essential course for psychology majors, and health professionals would find this course very useful.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course provides a comprehensive overview to human sexuality from multiple perspectives including psychological, sociological, cultural, biological, and historical perspectives. Students will examine knowledge, sexual attitudes, values and behaviors within the context of society and their own personal lives. Individual value systems, sexual development and interpersonal relationships will be evaluated. Current sexual norms and various aspects of interpersonal and individual sexual adjustment will be explored. This course is not open for credit to students registered in or with credit in HLED 10.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course is designed to explore how an individual's behavior, thoughts and feelings are influenced by the presence, characteristics and actions of others. A variety of topics will be addressed, including attitudes, persuasion, stereotypes, group processes, conformity and interpersonal attraction.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course is designed to explore how an individual's behavior, thoughts and feelings are influenced by the presence, characteristics and actions of others. A variety of topics will be addressed, including attitudes, persuasion, stereotypes, group processes, conformity and interpersonal attraction.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course is an introduction to the psychological issues related to the African American experience in the United States. The relationship between the African American experience and social perception, social cognition, and identity and attitude formation is emphasized. Individual cognitive styles, personality development, and family structures of African Americans will also be examined. This course is not open to students registered in or with credit in ETHST 12.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis class surveys abnormal behaviors, including anxiety disorders, trauma and stressor related disorders, depressive and bipolar related disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, gender dysphoria and sexual dysfunctions, feeding and eating disorders, sleep disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and disorders that begin in childhood, neurocognitive disorders and disorders related to aging, personality disorders, ways of determining abnormality, causes and treatment of disorders.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsThis course focuses on historical and contemporary approaches to assessing and understanding personality similarities and differences among people. How the scientific method is used to study personality will be discussed. Social and cultural influences on personality development will be considered. The extent to which personality factors predict the behaviors, feelings, and thoughts of individuals will be examined.
Transferable to both UC and CSU; see counselor for limitationsOrientation for Trauma Studies is required for all students enrolled in Introduction to Trauma Studies. This course orients and prepares students to study psychological trauma. Students will learn the definition of trauma, the different types of trauma, and the impact trauma has on individuals, families, and communities. The course will introduce the role of narratives and storytelling in healing trauma. The course will also expose students to methods to mitigate and regulate emotional activation when triggered by trauma, including breath work, meditation, and grounding techniques. Students examine the topics of resilience, posttraumatic growth, and posttraumatic wisdom.
Transferable to CSU OnlyThis course is a comprehensive introduction to trauma studies, emphasizing different types and categories of trauma, prevailing theoretical perspectives, and the cause, treatment, and prevention of trauma and stressor-related disorders. Students will examine the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on psychological disorders, including PTSD, addiction, depression, and anxiety, and learn about the biological consequences of traumatic and stressful experiences on the brain, nervous system, and physical body. The course will examine the role of culture and how stress and trauma affect disproportionally impacted groups. It will explore practical ways to respond to trauma and the protective factors that promote resilience, post-traumatic growth, and wisdom.
Transferable to CSU OnlyThis course introduces students to a comprehensive understanding of trauma and the fundamental principles of the trauma-informed approach. Students examine how trauma-informed strategies address the needs of individuals with trauma histories within organizational settings. The course assesses ways frontline workers can mitigate re-traumatization risks for clients within organizational contexts. Students will examine the strategies that help reduce burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma among workers. Students will develop trauma-informed approaches customized for specific cultural backgrounds, promoting inclusivity and accessibility. They will construct strategies that address the intersectionality of a person's identity in the context of trauma-informed care.
Transferable to CSU Only