CSU East Bay Psychology Programs

Cal State East Bay sits beautifully perched in the hills above San Francisco Bay. This well-rounded four-year university enrolls more than 15,000 students and provides a rich selection of undergraduate and graduate programs in any discipline. The Princeton Review named it a “Best in the West” college, while U.S. News & World Report ranked it as a “top-tier” masters-granting university in its “America’s Best Colleges” guide.

Students enjoy exceptional educational opportunities at three prime locations throughout the San Francisco East Bay Area. The main Hayward campus stretches across 342 acres of rolling hills that showcase spectacular views of the bay and its bridges. Many consider it one of the most beautiful campuses in the CSU system, with its sprawling lawns, tree-lined paths, fountains, and native California plant gardens.

The Concord Center branch campus lies at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road. This 386-acre property features over 300 acres of open space, community sports fields, and breathtaking views of Mt. Diablo and the Sacramento Delta. The center marked its 25th anniversary of serving students and professionals in Contra Costa County in 2017.

Cal State East Bay switched to the semester system in the 2018-2019 academic year. Each fall and spring semester runs for about 15 weeks plus a week for final exams. Transfer students should note that one semester unit equals one and one-half quarter units of credit.

CSUEB’s Psychology Department lets students choose between Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. These psychology programs help students develop practical skills that employers and graduate schools value. Ph.D. faculty members teach all classes and focus their attention on undergraduates, unlike larger research institutions.

The university takes pride in its student body’s cultural, age, and ethnic diversity. This rich mix enhances learning and prepares students for today’s multicultural workplaces. The California Mobility Index places Cal State East Bay among the top 15 schools that boost economic mobility for low and moderate-income students statewide. It is the Bay Area’s only institution to achieve this recognition.

Students can easily reach all campuses through major freeways and public transit, including BART. Campus shuttles run regularly between the Hayward and Castro Valley BART stations.

Programs offered

CSU East Bay has great psychology programs that set you up for success in mental health and related fields. The Psychology Department gives you options at both undergraduate and graduate levels. These programs will give you practical skills that employers and academic institutions value.

You can pick between a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology. The B.S. degree has two special tracks: Organizational/Industrial Psychology and Ergonomics and Human Factors. Each program blends theory with real-world applications to help you land a job or continue your studies.

The undergraduate program covers everything through specialized courses. You’ll learn about experimental, correlational, and observational methods in psychology with selected examples. You’ll also master research development, design psychological experiments, analyze data, and write research reports in APA format. Classes let’s take a closer look at how animals learn and behave, with focus on conditioning, non-associative learning, choice behavior, stimulus control, extinction, and aversive control.

Your coursework will get into major psychiatric disorders and their diagnostic criteria. You’ll learn about biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, along with treatment options. Sensory perception courses break down how eyes, ears, and other sense organs send information to the brain and how we see objects and events. You’ll also learn about different theories that explain human motivation.

Graduate studies at CSU East Bay offer several paths. The M.S. in Counseling with Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Option runs full-time for two years. We focused on training psychotherapists who want to get California Marriage and Family Therapy and/or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor internship licenses.

The School Psychology program blends field work with coursework across three years. Students move through the program together in cohorts. Everyone takes the same required courses in a well-laid-out sequence. You’ll need at least 12 semester units each term.

Cal State East Bay’s bachelor’s program ranks #228 nationally on College Factual’s Best Schools for psychology list and #34 in California. The university awarded 460 bachelor’s degrees in psychology during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Third-year students get more independence, especially in the School Psychology program. This approach will give a solid foundation in knowledge, skills, and core values you need to succeed in your chosen psychology field.

Online options

Cal State East Bay offers award-winning online and hybrid programs that cater to busy working adults. The university’s flexible learning options have gained recognition for their quality. But students should know that Cal State East Bay doesn’t currently offer an online option for its psychology bachelor’s degree program. Students who want to study psychology at CSUEB need to attend classes on campus.

CSUEB’s virtual campus has grown into a distance education leader over the years. Students can count on quality online courses, experienced faculty, and a core team ready to help them reach their academic and career goals. The university makes college education both flexible and affordable through its approach to online learning.

Students looking at other academic options can choose from over 40 high-quality continuing education degree and certificate programs designed for working professionals. These programs show how well CSUEB understands what modern students need in terms of flexibility and accessibility.

Students can pick between two types of online programs at CSUEB. Fully Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs let students complete all coursework online. Students who have finished an approved Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) from a community college can opt for Fully Online Transfer Degree Completion Programs.

CSUEB’s online platform supports many educational goals. Students working on bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or professional certificates will find a strong online infrastructure. Many online programs also exist as traditional degree options for students who prefer learning in person.

Psychology students must attend campus classes, but they still get access to CSUEB’s tech resources and faculty expertise that make learning better across programs. The university’s focus on online education shows its dedication to making quality higher education available to students with different needs and situations.

Psychology students who need flexible schedules should talk directly with the Psychology Department about possible hybrid options or alternative course formats, even though the full program isn’t online right now.

Accreditation

The accreditation status plays a vital role in rating csu psychology programs and their professional standing. California State University, East Bay received its institutional accreditation from the Western Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) back in 1961. Students who want to study psychology at the institution can rely on this accreditation as a quality indicator.

CSU East Bay currently holds an “Accredited with Notice of Concern” status based on the Commission’s latest action on June 27, 2025. The university meets WSCUC standards but needs to address specific areas to keep full compliance. This status shows the institution remains accredited while highlighting areas that need improvement.

The university has lined up several review cycles to assess its quality. A Special Visit comes up in Fall 2027, and an Offsite Review follows in Fall 2030. A complete Accreditation Visit wraps up the cycle in Spring 2031. These reviews ensure high educational standards across programs, including psychology.

CSU East Bay’s specialized psychology programs have earned additional credentials. The school counseling program has received accreditation from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The program also follows Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) statutes and regulations, plus American School Counselor Association (ASCA) school counselor competencies. This layered approach confirms the education quality.

Cal State East Bay designs its licensure and certification programs to meet California requirements. The university clearly states that program admission doesn’t guarantee licensure or certification. External agencies set these requirements, not the California State University system. Requirements might change as time passes.

Students planning to get licensed or certified outside California after finishing a CSU East Bay psychology program need to check their target state’s requirements. This statement appears in line with federal regulations (34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C)).

These accreditation details give valuable insight into professional recognition and industry standards when you look at psychology graduate programs in California. Your educational journey and career opportunities depend by a lot on these factors.

Admission Requirements

Students who want to join CSU psychology programs at East Bay must meet specific criteria at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The original step involves submitting your application through Cal State Apply with a $70 nonrefundable fee.

Transfer students must complete 60 semester units and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in transferable units. Your academic standing should be good at your previous institution. You’ll need 30 transferable semester units that meet CSU General Education requirements. The “Golden 4” courses stand as vital requirements with grades of C- or better:

• Oral Communication
• Written Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Math/Quantitative Reasoning

Students with fewer than 60 transferable units face extra requirements. They must meet freshman admission criteria, complete A-G college prep requirements, and achieve a 2.50 GPA if they’re California residents.

CSU psychology graduate programs have unique prerequisites for each specialization. The Marriage and Family Therapy program needs prior courses in Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology, Developmental Psychology, and Statistics. The School Counseling program requires Statistics.

The School Psychology program has stricter requirements. Students must complete five prerequisite courses with a ‘B’ grade or higher:

• Statistics
• Human Development
• Abnormal Psychology
• Learning Theories
• Psychological Tests and Measurements or Research Design

Application deadlines play a vital role. Graduate programs in School Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy accept applications until March 1, 2026. The School Psychology program offers rolling admissions with three deadlines: November 30, 2025, January 15, 2026, and March 1, 2026.

Graduate admissions takes an integrated look at your profile. The School Psychology program accepts less than 20% of applicants. Successful candidates show academic excellence, support social justice, bring unique experiences, and display professional qualities.

International students must submit TOEFL scores with a minimum paper score of 550.

The department’s Prerequisite Equivalency Course List helps verify course equivalencies and answers questions about application requirements.

Tuition

Money matters are a vital part of learning about CSU psychology programs at East Bay. The school sets different tuition rates based on whether you live in California or not. You’ll need to add several other costs to your education budget.

California residents pay undergraduate tuition of $5,742 plus $1,313 in fees. This adds up to $7,055 each academic year. Graduate students who live in-state pay about $9,107 yearly for tuition and fees. Students going for a BA in Psychology should expect to pay around $18,985 in their first year.

Students from outside California pay much more. Undergraduate non-residents pay $17,622 for tuition and $1,313 in fees. They pay $420 per unit. International students must also budget $2,063 for health insurance on top of their tuition.

Your total costs go beyond just tuition. Books and supplies cost $1,003 each year. Living and eating on campus runs $16,480. Campus-related costs add another $3,978.

The good news is that financial help is accessible to more people. About 85% of first-year students get some type of financial aid, with packages averaging $9,420. The university gives scholarships to 51% of new students, with an average of $5,697. Federal grants help 56% of freshmen with an average of $5,086 per student.

Your family’s income affects how much help you get. Students whose families make less than $30,000 yearly receive $13,382 in aid on average. Those from families earning over $110,000 get about $1,350.

Living off campus costs quite a bit in Hayward. One-bedroom apartments cost between $1,795 and $2,100 monthly. Two-bedroom units range from $2,095 to $3,000. You can rent one-bedroom houses for $1,300 to $1,895 each month.

Before you make your final education plans, ask the university’s financial aid office about scholarships. They can help you find out what assistance you qualify for, especially for CSU psychology graduate programs.

Additional Information

CSU psychology programs at East Bay go beyond academics with great extracurricular activities that make your learning trip better. Students can connect with others and grow through several psychology-focused campus organizations.

Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, welcomes students who rank in the top 35% GPA and have completed twelve Psychology units with at least a B average. The Psychology Club is a more relaxed option that’s open to everyone, with no grades, fees, or attendance rules. Students interested in Industrial/Organizational Psychology can join the Human Resources Council, a joint initiative between Psychology Department and School of Business and Economics.

Research experience is the core of quality CSU psychology graduate programs. Faculty members lead research projects in a variety of areas, from social-emotional learning to anxiety disorders. The Sitaraman Lab studies neuronal circuits that control sleep and arousal. The East Bay Anxiety Lab works to understand and treat anxiety disorders.

The university’s strong alumni network of 140,000 graduates creates valuable connections, and most alumni live and work in the Bay Area. Students get ground experience through internships in their field—something CSUEB wants all students to do before graduating. The Career Empowerment Center provides guidance, digital tools, and workshops to help students succeed after graduation.