Cal State Dominguez Hills Psychology Programs

The 63-year-old California State University Dominguez Hills has become a cornerstone for psychology students who excel in its rich academic setting. The Carson, California campus covers 346 acres and gives students plenty of room to study and take part in activities that make their college trip more rewarding.

CSUDH ranks #36 among Regional Universities West and #13 for Top Performers on Social Mobility. These rankings show how the university helps students climb the social ladder. The 91% acceptance rate makes quality psychology education available to more people who want to learn.

Fall 2023 numbers show 12,730 undergraduate students with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio. Students get personal attention from their professors who want them to succeed. The Psychology Department sits within the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences. Students learn psychological theories and scientific methods in a way that works for non-traditional learners. The department has 18 tenured and tenure-track professors who specialize in different areas of psychology.

Students take part in the Outcomes Assessment program that shows how well the department meets its goals. This hands-on involvement lets students prove their skills while making the program better. The university’s Student Psychological Services offer counseling that includes group sessions about relationships, mindfulness, immigration support, emotional control, and LGBTQ+ community needs.

Research-minded psychology students work with faculty in specialized labs. The Positive Psychology Lab studies things like resilience, thriving, gratitude, and curiosity.

Money matters at CSUDH are student-friendly. In-state students pay $7,064.00 while out-of-state students pay $18,944.00. Federal loan recipients typically pay just $4,058.00 after financial aid. These rates make CSUDH more affordable than similar schools.

The student body reflects real-world diversity: 72% Hispanic, 12% Black, 7% Asian, 4% White, 2% multiracial, 2% unknown, and 1% international students. This mix of cultures gives students a richer learning experience and prepares them for today’s global workplace.

Programs offered

CSUDH Psychology Department gives you several program options to help you succeed in a variety of psychology careers. You can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology that combines research and practical aspects of the field. Your coursework will cover scientific methodology, counseling techniques, clinical psychology, health psychology, behavioral medicine, gerontology, and industrial/organizational psychology.

The department also offers a Psychology Minor where you need to complete five upper-division psychology courses. Some courses like PSY 481 (Applied Sport & Fitness Psychology) and PSY 490 (Senior Seminar Psychology) don’t count toward the minor. This minor pairs well with other majors and helps you better understand human behavior.

Students looking for advanced education can choose from two specialized tracks in the Master of Arts in Psychology program:

• Clinical Psychology Option (33 units) – Perfect for students planning community mental health careers or paraprofessionals wanting career growth. You’ll need to complete 550 hours of supervised practicum in clinical settings and either pass a comprehensive exam or write a thesis.
• Health Psychology Option (36 units) – This track prepares you for work in community health settings such as rehabilitation centers, primary care facilities, and hospices. You’ll learn about wellness promotion in organizations and must complete a thesis.

Students in the Clinical Psychology track interested in professional licensing can follow the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) path. This requires 63 units of specific coursework and at least 280 hours of face-to-face clinical work under licensed therapists’ supervision.

The department follows the scientist-practitioner model where you’ll combine theory, research, and practice. You’ll develop skills to review psychological services while considering sociocultural and systemic factors. The faculty creates a shared, dynamic training environment that focuses on psychological strengths, developmental points of view, and cultural diversity.

Undergraduate students must take part in the Outcomes Assessment program. This program reviews both the department’s effectiveness and student abilities. This assessment will give a quality education that meets professional standards and helps you build key skills for your career path.

Online options

Cal State Dominguez Hills psychology programs primarily focus on traditional in-person learning. However, students can choose from several flexible online options that fit their educational needs.

Students at CSUDH can take advantage of the CSU Fully Online Courses program. This program lets you take one fully-online course each term from another CSU campus. You can access popular, successful courses and potentially graduate sooner.

The CSU Fully Online Courses program has specific eligibility requirements. You must complete at least one term and earn 12 units at CSUDH as a matriculated student. A good academic standing with a minimum 2.0 GPA is required. You should be currently enrolled at CSUDH during concurrent enrollment and have paid your full-time tuition fees.

The enrollment process is simple. Just log into your MyCSUDH portal and click the “Cross-Campus Enrollment” link. All the same, make sure to check with Admissions & Records and an academic advisor before signing up. This helps ensure the courses count toward your degree requirements.

CSUDH stands out as one of America’s leading distance learning institutions. The university offers 10 degree programs and several certificate programs completely online. The psychology department doesn’t currently have fully online undergraduate or graduate programs. However, you can add online courses through the CSU Fully Online Courses program to your psychology education.

The department helps CSUDH psychology graduates find online graduate degree options at other institutions. The Online Masters of Applied Psychology at Shippensburg University is a great example. This program teaches students to apply psychological principles and methods to real-life problems. It serves three key purposes: career growth, new career training, and doctoral study preparation.

Shippensburg’s program runs completely online in an accelerated format. Students can finish in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis and requires 10 courses (30 credits) of graduate work.

CSUDH also offers many other online masters programs. These include Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Public Administration, Nursing, and Systems Engineering. These programs can improve your career prospects in psychology-related fields.

Accreditation

A psychology degree from an accredited institution will give you credentials that employers and graduate schools recognize nationwide. Cal State Dominguez Hills holds full accreditation from several respected organizations, so you can trust the value of your psychology degree.

CSUDH has maintained its regional accreditation through the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC) since 1964. The university proved its steadfast dedication to educational excellence when it received a full ten-year accreditation renewal in 2018. This accreditation status continues until the next review cycle, which includes an offsite review in Fall 2027 and an accreditation visit in Spring 2028.

WSCUC regional accreditation offers vital benefits to psychology students. We verified that CSUDH has “clearly defined objectives appropriate to higher education”. The process helps the university improve through regular self-evaluation and assessment by qualified experts. Students benefit directly because this system “promotes institutional engagement with issues of educational effectiveness and student learning”.

WSCUC accreditation means Cal State Dominguez Hills must develop and share better ways to assess and improve its teaching methods. The university uses a “culture of evidence” to collect data and performance indicators that shape its planning and improvements.

Your psychology degree meets recognized standards because the psychology department operates under this university-wide accreditation system. Employers and graduate programs across the United States will accept your credentials.

The university’s commitment to excellence shows in its specialized program accreditations in various departments. Psychology students exploring related fields should know that the university’s Occupational Therapy program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Master of Social Work program has earned accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The university’s accreditation status matters a lot for your academic and career goals. Accreditation verifies your education’s quality and reassures future employers and graduate schools. This becomes especially important if you plan to get licensed or pursue advanced degrees after finishing your psychology studies at CSUDH.

Admission Requirements

Your psychology education experience at Cal State Dominguez Hills starts with meeting admission requirements. Your academic background and program level determine your entry into the university’s psychology programs.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program requires first-time freshmen to achieve a minimum A-G GPA of 2.5 if they’re California residents (3.0 for non-residents). Students must complete all A-G college preparatory coursework with C- grades or better and show proof of high school graduation. The university reviews applications with GPAs between 2.0-2.49 through a multi-factor process that looks beyond academics.

Transfer students need at least 6 transferable semester units, including one written communication course and one mathematics/quantitative reasoning course above intermediate algebra. Students must also keep a minimum 2.0 GPA in all transferable college units and stay in good standing at their previous school.

The Master’s program sets higher admission standards. Both Clinical and Health Psychology options need:

• Bachelor’s degree from a fully accredited institution
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (“B” average) in the last 60-90 semester units
• Official transcripts showing grades through Fall term before admission

Clinical Psychology students must complete these undergraduate prerequisites with a “B” average:

• PSY 230 – Elementary Statistical Analysis in Psychology
• PSY 235 – Introduction to Research Methods
• PSY 330/331 – Behavioral Statistics and Research Design/Measurement in Psychology
• PSY 360 – Theories of Personality
• PSY 363 – The Abnormal Personality
• PSY 464 – Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Health Psychology students need similar statistics and research courses, plus abnormal psychology and either health psychology or biological psychology coursework.

Graduate program applications close February 1st at 11:59pm PST each year. Students must submit their Cal State Apply application with a personal statement, CV/resume, unofficial transcripts, writing sample, and three recommendation letters. Fall 2026 admission makes GRE scores optional.

Success in any CSUDH psychology program requires early preparation. High school students should take four years of English and three years of mathematics including algebra. Biology and psychology courses help too, whenever available.

Tuition

Cal State Dominguez Hills offers one of the most affordable psychology education options in California’s higher education system. The 2025-2026 tuition for undergraduate students taking 6.1 or more units is $3,225 per semester ($6,450 annually). Graduate students in psychology master’s programs pay $4,032 per semester ($8,064 annually) for full-time enrollment.

Your living arrangements largely determine the total cost of education. The complete 2025-2026 cost of attendance for undergraduate students varies by a lot:

• Living with parents: $26,925 annually
• Campus housing: $32,250 annually
• Off-campus housing: $39,000 annually

Graduate psychology students pay more:

• Living with parents: $28,539 annually
• Campus housing: $33,864 annually
• Off-campus housing: $40,614 annually

Students from outside California pay an extra $420 per unit on top of standard tuition. This additional fee applies to undergraduate and graduate psychology programs, making careful financial planning crucial for out-of-state students.

CSUDH’s installment plans help you spread your educational costs throughout the semester. Fall 2025 offers three payment options:

• Four-payment plan (July 1-31): First installment plus $33 non-refundable fee
• Three-payment plan (August 1-31): First installment plus $33 non-refundable fee
• Two-payment plan (September 1-12): First installment plus $33 non-refundable fee

The university accepts electronic checks (no fee) and credit/debit cards (2.65% convenience fee, $3 minimum). Students must complete all payments by due dates to keep their course enrollment active.

CSUDH shows its steadfast dedication to affordable education through various financial aid options. The university encourages psychology students to submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application to access available funding.

Additional Information

Cal State Dominguez Hills provides exceptional research opportunities that go beyond regular classroom instruction to improve your psychology education. Students can join faculty research labs and earn up to 3 units each semester through directed research. These labs focus on a variety of areas like gratitude development, critical thinking, cannabis effects on brain development, eating disorders, health equity, and addiction behaviors.

CSUDH’s psychology students showcase their work at the university’s annual Student Research Conference. The academic year brings chances to attend professional conferences like the American Psychological Association, International Neuropsychological Society, and Western Psychology Association gatherings.

The university’s unique programs add value to your psychology education. Students receive mentorship, research funding, and graduate school preparation through the Presidential Scholars Program, McNair Scholarship Program, and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. These programs have helped many students secure fully-funded positions in prestigious graduate programs across the country.

Student Psychological Services gives students a chance to get practical experience through a complete 12-month, 2,000-hour doctoral internship based on the practitioner-scholar model. Interns deliver direct clinical services such as individual counseling, crisis intervention, group therapy, and outreach events. They receive at least 2 hours of individual supervision weekly.

Your connection with CSUDH continues after graduation. Alumni get twelve months of free career services, which remain available for a small fee afterward. These services include Handshake job board access, career workshops, and fair entries.

CSUDH psychology students consistently praise the department’s supportive environment. As one student noted, “There are many schools that teach, but not as many that care. CSUDH faculty and staff care”.