CSU Monterey Bay Psychology Programs

CSU Monterey Bay’s Psychology Department shines as a unique learning center that combines scientific research with real-life applications. Students don’t just memorize theories – they learn to break down human thought, behavior, and emotion through scientific and practical approaches. The department helps students understand cognitive processes, social interactions, development, personality, and mental health. They also get valuable experience with research design and data analysis.

The department’s strength lies in blending strong theoretical foundations with hands-on skills. This combination prepares graduates for advanced academic studies or immediate career opportunities in psychology. Students learn both inside and outside traditional classrooms. They take part in meaningful research projects and community-based learning that connects theory to practice.

Psychology majors at CSUMB develop a detailed understanding of human behavior using scientific methods. Their studies reveal fascinating connections between human biology, psychological experiences, and cultural contexts that shape our actions and thoughts. Graduates emerge with analytical skills that work well in a variety of professional settings.

The 2021-2022 academic year saw 231 bachelor’s degrees awarded in psychology. This shows the program’s strong presence on campus, though numbers decreased from previous years. The student body reflects true diversity – women made up 75% of psychology bachelor’s graduates, while men accounted for 25%. The program also shows strong multicultural representation, with 58% of psychology graduates identifying as Hispanic or Latino.

CSUMB also offers an Educational Specialist in School Psychology program with Full NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) Accreditation. This graduate program shapes professionals to become:

• School leaders and change agents
• Problem solvers and consultants
• Supporters for children and youth

The School Psychology program uses a Summer Start model. Applications open October 1, with a February 1 deadline for summer entry. Students learn specific skills to help all students, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The university has about 7,503 students with a 23:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Full-time instructors make up 47% of faculty, creating a perfect mix of dedicated educators and part-time professionals who bring current field experience to students.

Programs offered

CSU Monterey Bay’s Psychology Department has a strong Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program that opens doors to many career paths. Students explore various psychology subfields through this program. They learn scientific methods to understand human behavior and work toward social justice.

The B.A. in Psychology aligns with the American Psychological Association’s national guidelines for quality undergraduate education. Students start with basic courses before moving to specialized topics. The program needs students to complete lower-division core courses. These include Introduction to Statistics, Introduction to Psychology, and Research Methods with lab work.

The upper-division curriculum focuses on five key areas of psychological study:

• Biological Psychology – Courses such as Biological Psychology and Psychopharmacology
• Clinical Psychology – Options including Psychopathology, Clinical Psychology, and Health Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology – Studies in Cognitive Psychology, Human Memory, and Sensation & Perception
• Developmental Psychology – Covering Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Development, and specialized courses like “How to Love”
• Social Psychology – Featuring Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, and Social Psychology of Justice

Students must also take core professional preparation courses. These include Career Preparation for Psychology Majors, Advanced Research Methods, and a Psychology Capstone experience. Many courses come with hands-on lab components. This helps students apply what they learn to real situations.

CSUMB offers a Psychology minor that pairs well with other majors. This minor helps prepare students for careers in teaching, business, computer science, social work, health services, gerontology, law enforcement, and many other fields.

Students with an Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T) in Psychology from California community colleges can continue their education naturally at CSUMB. They complete specific upper-division courses to earn their bachelor’s degree.

CSUMB also provides graduate programs in psychology-related fields. Students can pursue postgraduate certificates in Counseling and Applied Psychology. Master’s programs include Counseling and Applied Psychology, School Psychology, and Social Work. The university awarded 252 bachelor’s degrees in General Psychology, 15 postgraduate certificates, and 66 master’s degrees across these disciplines in 2021.

The Psychology program at CSUMB earned the #152 spot on College Factual’s Best Schools for psychology list, showing its academic strength.

Online options

CSU Monterey Bay students can access flexible education through the Cal State Online system that links learners with programs from 23 California campuses. This system serves nearly 450,000 students and is one of the country’s largest, most diverse, and budget-friendly university networks.

Right now, CSUMB doesn’t have an online version of its psychology bachelor’s degree program. All the same, the university shows a steadfast dedication to digital learning in a variety of fields. Student enrollment in online courses has grown substantially over the last several years.

CSUMB’s online learning statistics tell an impressive story. The 2019-2020 academic year saw 7,379 students take at least one online class. A whopping 7,061 students (95.30%) completed all their coursework online. The undergraduate numbers were equally striking – 6,456 students enrolled in at least one online course, while 6,440 went fully digital. These numbers show remarkable growth:

• 2015-2016: 2,136 students took at least one online class
• 2017-2018: 2,692 students took at least one online class
• 2019-2020: 7,379 students took at least one online class

Psychology undergraduates must still complete their degrees on campus. Graduate students, however, have more flexibility. The 2019-2020 numbers show that 96.67% of CSUMB’s graduate students (870 out of 900) took at least one online class, and 568 completed their entire degree online.

CSUMB’s graduate school features one fully online master’s program in Business Administration & Management. This program graduated 150 students in recent reporting periods. Out-of-state students pay around $396.00 per credit for online master’s programs.

The university also runs several programs with hybrid learning models that blend classroom teaching with online elements. The university’s teaching programs are available both full-time and part-time through a mix of face-to-face and online/hybrid classes. Students get flexibility without sacrificing educational quality.

Online learning at CSUMB keeps growing. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of fully online students jumped from just 68 to over 7,000. So CSUMB has proven itself as a champion of available higher education, while keeping traditional classroom learning for specific programs like undergraduate psychology.

Accreditation

Academic credibility at CSU Monterey Bay relies on institutional accreditation as its foundation. The university has managed to keep continuous accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) since 2003. This recognition shows the commission’s finding that the institution meets high standards of quality and effectiveness in all programs and departments.

WSCUC accreditation plays several key roles for the university. We focused on assuring the educational community, public, and organizations that CSU Monterey Bay meets rigorous standards. The process helps institutions participate in educational effectiveness and student learning outcomes. CSUMB uses this review to build a culture of evidence where performance indicators drive institutional decisions and continuous improvement.

Psychology-related programs at CSUMB have earned discipline-specific accreditations that confirm their academic quality. The California State University Monterey Bay Psychology Internship Program (CSUMB-IP) earned accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). This recognition came after a detailed self-study review and a two-day site visit filled with interviews and observation.

The Master of Science in School Psychology program has earned full accreditation from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This credential highlights the program’s steadfast dedication to preparing school psychology professionals based on nationally recognized standards of excellence.

CSUMB’s institutional accreditation schedule shows several upcoming reviews. A Progress Report will happen in Fall 2026, with an Offsite Review in Fall 2028 and an Accreditation Visit in Spring 2029. This ongoing evaluation cycle ensures the university’s high standards remain consistent.

WSCUC accredits institutions as a whole rather than individual programs. The commission’s assessment covers institutional structures, processes, and resources that support all academic offerings, including psychology programs.

These accreditations give prospective psychology students important assurances about program quality. APA accreditation shows that the doctoral internship program meets standards needed to train graduates who deliver successful, ethical, evidence-based psychological services. The program got “accredited, on contingency” status at first, with plans to earn full accreditation after collecting enough outcome data.

CSUMB’s regional accreditation, along with program-specific credentials, lets students apply for federal financial aid. Quality education stays available to qualified applicants who want to study psychology at the university.

Admission Requirements

CSU Monterey Bay’s psychology program welcomes students who meet specific admission criteria. The university accepts 48.69% of applicants, making the admission process quite selective.

The undergraduate psychology program looks at academic performance and standardized test scores. Accepted students have an average GPA of 3.39. The university wants to raise this average to 3.56. SAT scores of successful applicants average 1060 on the 1600 scale (math and reading combined). Students with ACT scores should reach close to the university’s average of 39.

The Educational Specialist in School Psychology program has stricter requirements. Qualified candidates need:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with minimum 3.0 GPA
• A statistics course completed within the past 5 years with a B- or higher grade
• Proof of academic writing skills through CBEST Writing scores or writing samples
• Three recommendation letters showing the candidate’s potential in the field

School psychology candidates must also get a Certificate of Clearance from California. They need a negative tuberculosis test result from the past four years and First Aid/CPR certification for both children and adults.

The School Psychology program’s application period starts October 1, 2024, and ends February 1, 2025, for Summer 2025 admission. Candidates must submit applications through Cal State Apply.

Students can transfer up to 6 graduate credits or two courses. These credits should not be older than 7 years at graduation. Candidates with older credits can show their current knowledge through additional work.

Without doubt, these requirements might change. Students should check the latest criteria before submitting their applications.

Tuition

CSU Monterey Bay provides exceptional value to psychology students. The numbers speak for themselves – 64% of undergraduate students get enough financial aid to cover their entire tuition.

Tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year cost $8,145 for California residents and $21,465 for non-residents. These rates are lower than the national average of $12,422 for in-state and $29,909 for out-of-state students. Students who take more than six units each semester pay $3,225 per term. Those with six units or fewer pay $1,869 per term.

Graduate students in psychology programs have different fee structures. A semester costs $4,032 ($8,064 yearly) for students with 6.1+ units. Students taking up to 6 units pay $2,340 per semester ($4,680 yearly).

Your complete costs for the 2025-2026 academic year depend on your living situation:

• Living with parents: $25,660
• Living on campus: $30,824
• Living off campus: $38,905

These amounts include everything from tuition and books to housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses.

CSUMB makes education affordable through substantial financial support. Students receive over $14 million in scholarships each year. The university also offers several financial aid options:

• Grants (Federal Pell, California State, State University)
• Federal student loans
• Federal Work-Study jobs (up to 20 hours weekly)

Psychology students can access specific scholarship programs. The AGPS NextGen Scholarship Program provides up to $10,000. Project REACH Scholars receive at least $21,000 for one academic year, with possible additional funding.

Students from eligible American West and Pacific Islands regions might qualify for reduced out-of-state tuition. The university calculates your financial aid using the Student Aid Index (previously called Expected Family Contribution) minus attendance costs.

U.S. News & World Report ranks CSUMB #1 for social mobility in the West. This ranking shows the lasting value of your investment in education here.

Additional Information

CSU Monterey Bay Psychology graduates excel with strong support networks beyond their studies. The university’s Career Development Office helps students at every stage of their career journey. Students get free services like resume writing, interview preparation, and graduate school guidance. Career advisors are ready to help on multiple platforms from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.

The university shows steadfast dedication to equal opportunity. Every student gets the resources they need to succeed, whatever their race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. This approach lines up with federal protections. The university follows Title VI, Title IX, ADA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Psychology students have access to twelve research labs in Heron Hall. These labs include the Applied and Basic Cognitive Research Lab, Clinical and Forensic Evaluation Lab, and Child Health and Wellness Research Lab. Students can find research opportunities through the SONA system or create independent projects with faculty guidance.

CSUMB’s approach demonstrates success through its alumni achievements. The university has produced over 24,000 graduates since it opened in 1994. Psychology graduates like Melissa Callaghan (B.A., 2013) have reached remarkable heights. She now works as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University on literacy initiatives for young children.

Half of the student body consists of first-generation college students, with another 50% from under-represented minorities. This mix creates a supportive learning community where diversity thrives.