Cal State LA Psychology Programs
California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) ranks among the best institutions for psychology education in the Western United States. The university has climbed to No. 13 among all public and private regional universities in the West according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. This achievement shows an impressive 83-place rise in the last 12 years, highlighting CSULA’s academic excellence.
The College of Natural and Social Sciences houses CSULA’s Psychology Department, which offers programs for Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Master of Science degrees. Students from other disciplines can also pursue a minor in psychology to enhance their knowledge. The program’s reputation speaks for itself – it ranks among California’s top 15 public institutions, making it one of the best Cal States for psychology studies.
The department calls King Hall C3104 home and maintains a student-faculty ratio of 22:1. Students enjoy a sprawling 175-acre campus that creates an ideal setting for academic and research work. CSULA’s total undergraduate enrollment reached 19,354 students in fall 2024, offering both extensive resources and tailored attention.
Distinguished professionals make up the department’s faculty, including professors at various levels who specialize in different psychological fields. These experts run active research laboratories that focus on forensic psychology, cognitive psychophysiology, traumatic stress, aging and cognition, behavior analysis, and cultural relationships. Students benefit from hands-on experience and mentorship in this research-rich environment.
Cal State LA’s Psychology Department aims to give students opportunities for academic and professional excellence through a teacher-scholar mentoring model. The department teaches psychology as a scientific discipline that reflects human experience’s diversity. This steadfast dedication to excellence in teaching, research, practice, and scholarship pervades every aspect of education.
CSULA’s psychology majors get ground experience through volunteer work and jobs at various levels. They work in community organizations, social service agencies, county and state civil service positions, business and industrial companies, hospitals, and research centers. The department’s active Psi Chi chapter, psychology’s national honor society, helps build a strong student community.
Students who want to study psychology at CSULA will find an innovative education that combines theory with practice, preparing them for various careers or advanced studies.
Programs offered
CSULA’s Department of Psychology has a wide range of programs that match different career paths and academic goals. Students can choose from a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Science degrees, or minor in psychology.
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program needs 120 total units, with 50-51 units going toward the major. This complete degree works well as a stepping stone to graduate school or as a standalone liberal arts degree. The program has a lower division core (9 units), an upper division core (17-18 units), and electives (24 units) from specific categories. Students need to maintain a grade of C- or higher in all psychology courses. Students can choose specialized paths – those interested in Early Childhood Education can take specific courses from Group I along with PSY 3430 and PSY 4210. Students focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis can follow a recommended six-course sequence.
Upper-division transfer students can prepare for careers in human resources, social work, probation and corrections, professional at-home aid work, caregiving for the elderly and children, recreational therapy, and sales and marketing.
CSULA’s graduate programs rank among California’s best school psychology master’s programs with two distinct options:
The Master of Arts in Psychology builds strong research and conceptual skills. Many students use this degree to continue into doctoral programs. Students work closely with faculty mentors who guide them toward their research goals. The program requires students to complete a thesis and take several courses in research methods and statistics.
The Master of Science in Forensic Psychology helps students build careers in the criminal justice system. Students get hands-on training through a 9-month practicum with on-site supervision in legal and criminal justice settings, such as jury consulting firms or forensic mental health facilities.
The Minor in Psychology needs 21 units of lower and upper division psychology courses. Students must complete at least six upper-division units at Cal State LA. A minimum 2.0 grade point average is required in all minor coursework.
Evening classes run once per week from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Students typically finish their programs in 2-3 years, depending on their course load and transfer units.
CSULA’s psychology department stands out as one of the best Cal States for psychology. Students benefit from strong academic preparation, research opportunities, and practical training paths.
Online options
Students looking for flexible psychology education can now access extensive online learning through Cal State Online at the California State University system. This platform makes high-quality online and hybrid education available throughout the CSU system. Students no longer need to worry about distance and scheduling conflicts that might stop them from reaching their educational goals.
Cal State Online utilizes resources from all 23 CSU campuses, including a team of nearly 50,000 faculty and staff members to make education more accessible. The system serves over 450,000 students and stands as the country’s largest, most diverse, and most affordable university option. Psychology students benefit greatly from this extensive network that lets them access specialized courses across the CSU system.
Several CSU campuses, including CSULA, provide psychology degree options that are either fully or partially online. This setup works great for working professionals, parents, and students who can’t attend regular classes because of other commitments. The online psychology programs maintain the same academic standards as traditional campus-based courses.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts program online learn about many areas of psychological study and gain fundamental knowledge of human behavior and motivation. The program helps graduates find immediate employment in business, government, social service, education, or mental health services.
Students can also choose from specialized online concentrations. The Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology helps students build careers where they apply psychology principles in business settings. The Bachelor of Science with Concentration in Ergonomics and Human Factors prepares students for careers in human factors or engineering psychology.
CSU’s system gives students enrolled at any campus the chance to take online psychology courses at other CSU institutions. This flexibility lets students access specialized psychology courses not available at their home campus.
Students should check with CSULA’s Psychology Department about current online degree options since programs may change over time.
Accreditation
Quality indicators show accreditation as a vital factor to evaluate the best Cal States for psychology education. Cal State LA has managed to keep its accreditation status since first established in 1953. This 70-year old achievement shows the university’s steadfast dedication to educational excellence. The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) provides institutional accreditation to the university, with its latest commission action dated May 21, 2024.
CSULA meets strict standards of academic quality and effectiveness through this recognition. Students in psychology programs get several concrete benefits:
- Their credits and degrees will be recognized to work and transfer
- They can access federal financial aid programs
- Programs meet verified quality standards
- Professional licenses and certifications become available
CSULA goes through detailed quality reviews that look at academic effectiveness in programs of all types. The university’s last accreditation visit wrapped up successfully on March 1, 2019. The next review cycle will include an Offsite Review in Fall 2028 and an Accreditation Visit in Spring 2029.
Psychology students should know that accreditation shapes their career path directly. California requires psychologist licensure candidates to graduate from accredited schools. CSULA’s solid track record gives students a big advantage here.
Beyond institutional recognition, many specialized programs at Cal State LA have earned field-specific accreditations. To cite an instance, the National Association for School Psychologists (NASP) has accredited the Counseling program with School Psychology Option (MS) until 2030-31. This makes it one of the top school psychology master’s programs in California.
The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has accredited the Counseling program with Applied Behavior Analysis Option (MS) until 2025-26. Students pursuing these career paths benefit from these specialized quality certifications.
Accreditation status matters a lot when looking at psychology programs in the California State University system. The American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation helps doctoral programs stand out. California boasts 34 APA-accredited doctoral programs. APA Commission on Accreditation leads as the main program accreditor for professional psychology education nationwide.
CSULA’s excellent accreditation standing adds to its position among the best Cal States for psychology education in 2025.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to one of the best Cal States for psychology must meet specific program requirements. The process starts with a Cal State Apply application and supporting documents submission at CSULA.
The 2025-2026 undergraduate psychology admission follows specific major criteria. Students with an approved Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Psychology need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.9. California Community College students who complete the Psychology ADT receive priority status over non-ADT transfer applicants.
Graduate programs demand higher standards. Students need a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 GPA minimum to qualify for the MA in Psychology. The MS program requires a higher 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Both master’s programs share these vital requirements:
- Three letters of recommendation (minimum two academic sources)
- 400-500 word statement of purpose explaining research interests
- Complete application submitted by February 15 to start in the Fall
Students without a psychology bachelor’s degree must finish a 23-unit prerequisite program with a 3.0 GPA minimum before starting master’s coursework. This prerequisite pathway has:
- Group A (11 units): Statistics, Research Methods, and History/Systems of Psychology
- Group B (6 units): Choose two from Abnormal Psychology I/II or Human Development
- Group C (6 units): Choose two from subjects like Social, Physiological, or Cognitive Psychology
Psychology majors must score C- or higher in every psychology course. MS program applicants might need to provide writing samples and attend interviews.
The department welcomes new graduate students once a year in fall. Meeting deadlines matters—graduate applications and all supporting materials, including recommendation letters, must reach by February 15th.
International students must prove English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores unless they have a degree from an institution where English was the only teaching language.
Tuition
The cost of your psychology degree at CSULA is a vital part of planning your education. Your tuition costs for the 2025-2026 academic year will depend on where you live and what level of study you choose.
California residents who want to major in psychology at the undergraduate level pay $7,530 yearly for tuition and required fees. The total cost ranges from $27,878 if you commute to $36,732 if you live off-campus. Graduate students in psychology pay more – $9,144 yearly for tuition and fees. Their total costs range between $29,600 and $38,454 based on living arrangements.
Students from outside California need to plan carefully. They must pay an extra $444 per unit beyond the basic tuition. This can add thousands more to your total costs, especially if you take many units each term.
Your total program costs will vary based on your situation. Psychology undergrads typically spend $27,309 as California residents across four years, while out-of-state students pay around $74,828 during this time.
Most students pay less than these amounts thanks to various aid options. Cal State LA provides more than 400 scholarships that range from partial to full coverage. California residents can get extra help through the State University Grant (SUG) if they show financial need. New students receive $11,317 on average in financial aid, and 95% of undergrads get some type of help.
CSULA stands out as one of the best cal states for psychology when it comes to value. The in-state tuition costs less than California’s average of $16,784 for undergraduate studies. This makes CSULA a smart choice for your psychology degree.
The GET student portal shows your tuition bill after each term’s add deadline. You must pay by the deadlines to avoid holds on your account or possible removal from classes.
Additional Information
CSULA’s Psychology Department offers outstanding research opportunities beyond regular coursework. Students work in specialized research labs that give both graduates and undergraduates hands-on experience with current psychological issues. This practical experience makes them strong candidates for graduate programs and equips them with valuable job skills.
The research labs cover a wide range of specialties. Students can work in Mitchell Eisen’s Forensic Psychology Eyewitness Memory Lab or Dana Saifan’s FREEDOM Lab (Facilitating Research for Equity, Empowerment, and Decolonization of Mental Health). The faculty’s research interests include racial identity issues, psychoneuroimmunology, cognitive psychophysiology, and cultural relationships.
Students can earn 1-3 academic credits through practical experience programs. PSY 3950 (field experience) requires 45 hours per semester, while PSY 3980 (cooperative education) needs 150 hours.
CSULA’s effective programs have created remarkable success stories. Lily Nguyen started at just 13 through the Early Entrance Program and graduated with a biochemistry degree and psychology minor. She later received a research award from the National Institutes of Health. Laura To earned their master’s in School Psychology after valuable experience with Los Angeles Unified School District. These achievements show how CSULA prepares students for meaningful careers in psychological services.