CSUSB Psychology Programs

CSUSB’s Psychology Department ranks third nationally in awarding degrees to Hispanic students. This remarkable achievement aligns with the university’s role as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution.

Psychology stands among CSUSB’s largest departments. The academic community thrives with 25 full-time and 25 part-time faculty members who guide nearly 100 graduate and 1,300 undergraduate students. Such a robust size allows students to explore a complete range of specializations.

The department’s faculty members have earned national acclaim for their teaching excellence. Several professors have received the Outstanding Professor Award, while the Golden Apple Teaching Award has recognized three faculty members. The academic team consists of 28 total faculty members (27 full-time and 1 part-time), with 11 male and 17 female professors.

Students can choose from one undergraduate major with three concentrations:

• General Psychology
• Biological Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology

The department also offers three specialized master’s programs:

• Clinical/Counseling Psychology
• Psychological Science
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology

The Clinical/Counseling Psychology program comes in as a 63-71 semester-unit curriculum that builds practical counseling skills through supervised training and research methodology. Students end their journey with either a thesis or comprehensive examination plus an internship experience, which helps them apply psychological principles in real situations.

The student body shows rich diversity. Hispanic/Latino students make up 54.17% of psychology graduate students, while white or Caucasian students represent 22%. Students of two or more races account for 11.11%, and Asian students comprise 6.94%. The gender distribution shows 70% female and 29% male students, which mirrors nationwide trends in psychology education.

Students get hands-on experience in state-of-the-art research facilities and community traineeships. They can also earn money through teaching and research assistantships. Faculty members conduct research in a variety of areas including perceptual development, human memory, psychopharmacology, psychology of women, and language acquisition.

This all-encompassing approach readies graduates to pursue doctoral programs and professional careers in mental health care, school psychology, early childhood education, biomedical research, business, industry, and social services. USNEWS and World Report consistently recognizes psychology as one of CSUSB’s most respected academic departments, proving the program’s effectiveness.

Programs offered

CSUSB’s Department of Psychology helps students prepare for different career paths right after graduation or through advanced studies.

Students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with three options at CSUSB. These options include General Psychology (no formal concentration), Biological Psychology, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students who choose General Psychology can create their own study plans with faculty guidance and regular advising. This flexibility lets them focus on areas like clinical/counseling psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, or experimental psychology.

The Biological Psychology concentration helps students understand how the brain works in relation to psychological disorders, addiction, and the effects of psychotropic drugs on behavior and brain function. The Industrial-Organizational Psychology concentration teaches workplace psychology. Students learn about personnel selection, gender equity, employer-employee relations, program evaluation, and employee mental health.

Students benefit from three specialized master’s degree programs that provide comprehensive training through strong mentoring relationships:

• Master of Science in Clinical/Counseling Psychology – This 63-71 semester-unit program builds practical counseling skills through supervised training while teaching relevant subject matter and research methods. Students can meet California’s educational requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure. The program runs an on-campus psychology clinic for clinical training. Small class sizes of 10-15 students yearly ensure personalized mentoring.
• Master of Arts in Psychological Science – Students gain broad knowledge suitable for doctoral programs in any psychology field or jobs that value an MA in Psychology. Faculty-guided research plays a central role in this program.
• Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology – Students learn to utilize psychological principles in organizational settings. The program develops expertise in psychological theory and research as applied to workplace environments.

The department also offers a Master of Arts in Child Development. This program includes interdisciplinary courses covering infant, child, and adolescent development, families and parenting, cognitive development, and research methods.

Psychology majors can find various job opportunities without graduate training. The undergraduate program also creates a strong foundation for graduate studies. Outstanding faculty members with both theoretical and practical viewpoints guide students. Students get hands-on experience through state-of-the-art research facilities, community traineeships, and paid teaching assistantships.

Online options

CSUSB doesn’t have an online psychology bachelor’s degree program right now. This might limit some students, but knowing the university’s distance education approach helps prospective psychology students who need flexible coursework options.

The university follows the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System’s definition of distance education. Students learn through technology while staying physically apart from their instructors, yet maintain meaningful interactions with them. CSUSB’s distance instruction technologies include:

• Internet
• Satellite or wireless communication
• Audio and video conferencing

Students can’t complete psychology degrees online, but some psychology courses have online components. PSYC 1100, which introduces students to the psychology major at CSUSB, runs as an online course. Students learn about different specialization areas and psychologists’ professional activities in this credit/no credit course.

CSUSB organizes its courses in several categories. “ONL” courses rely on the internet as their main teaching and assessment platform. These courses might meet on campus occasionally for orientations or presentations, but students mostly interact through email, chat, and discussion boards. Students need to meet specific technical requirements before enrolling in these courses.

“Web/Classroom” courses meet mostly on campus but provide some material online. Online components range from 5% to 90% based on the instructor’s preference and might include syllabi, assignments, lectures, and tests.

CSUSB also broadcasts video courses from its San Bernardino or Palm Desert campuses through two-way audio and video systems to various locations.

The university offers several fully online programs, though psychology isn’t one of them. Undergraduate students can pursue Criminal Justice, BA and Social Sciences, BA online. Graduate students have more options, including Accountancy, Business Administration, Career and Technical Education, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Analytics, Education, Logistics and E-Commerce, and Public Administration.

Psychology students who need flexible learning should connect with Psychology Department advisors. These advisors can help identify courses with online components or alternative formats that fit their needs.

Accreditation

Quality assurance in psychology programs relies on accreditation that confirms they meet academic and industry standards. CSUSB’s psychology students should understand these credentials to gage their program’s quality and recognition.

CSUSB’s School Psychology Program meets all requirements for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology set by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The program also satisfies the strict national accreditation standards of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). These two credentials show that graduates receive education that lines up with state requirements and national professional measures.

California State University, San Bernardino has earned full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This regional accreditation covers the whole university and shows each division supports CSUSB’s mission and goals. WSCUC renewed CSUSB’s accreditation for ten years in March 2022. They praised the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion governance model and student support systems.

Students who pick an accredited psychology program gain real advantages. Your education will meet high standards and prepare you to serve throughout your career. Your degree will also get recognition from other institutions and future employers.

An accredited institution lets you:

• Apply for federal student aid, including grants, loans, and work-study opportunities
• Transfer credits if you switch schools
• Apply to graduate programs
• Meet state licensure requirements

CSUSB’s psychology programs benefit from the university’s WSCUC institutional accreditation, though they don’t appear on the university’s accreditation page. This institutional accreditation maintains quality standards in all departments, psychology included.

The American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) stands out as the most respected program accreditor for doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology nationwide. Many states require this accreditation for clinical psychologist licensure.

CSUSB’s psychology programs combine institutional and specialized accreditations. This combination gives students an education that meets quality standards and prepares them for professional growth in their chosen psychological fields.

Admission Requirements

CSUSB’s psychology programs have different admission requirements for undergraduate and graduate levels. Students need to follow specific application processes based on their academic goals.

The M.S. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology program requires applicants to submit their applications through Cal State Apply. You’ll need to provide unofficial transcripts, three recommendation letters, and a two-page personal statement. Your personal statement should explain how you’ve prepared for graduate studies, address any weak points in your application, outline your training goals, and describe your career plans after graduation.

Students need a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and the same GPA in their major to qualify for classified graduate status. A psychology degree works best, but the Psychology Department’s graduate admissions committee might accept degrees from other fields if your coursework shows adequate preparation.

Your application package must include a brief statement of one or two pages. This statement should highlight your readiness for graduate work, what you hope to achieve during training, and your career goals. The program needs three recommendation letters from people who can speak about your potential success in graduate psychology. At least two letters should come from professors who know your academic abilities.

The M.S. Clinical/Counseling program has these prerequisite courses or their equivalents:

• PSYC 1100: Introduction to Psychology
• PSYC 2210: Psychological Statistics
• PSYC 3311: Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYC 3385: Personality Psychology or PSYC 3386: Introduction to Psychotherapy
• PSYC 3390: Abnormal Psychology

The application process follows six steps: material preparation, Cal State Apply login, program selection, general CSU application completion, program-specific application submission, and final submission. A non-refundable fee of $70.00 applies.

Complete applications submitted by the deadlines receive priority review. Late or incomplete applications might get consideration if spots remain available. Making sure all materials arrive on time is your responsibility.

Tuition

Money matters a lot when choosing a psychology program at CSUSB. The school sets its tuition rates based on your academic level, how many units you take, and where you live.

Undergraduate students in 2025-26 will pay $3,225.00 for 6.1 or more units. Students with 6.0 units or fewer pay $1,869.00. Graduate and post-baccalaureate students face steeper costs – $4,032.00 for 6.1+ units and $2,340.00 for up to 6.0 units. The credential programs sit between these price points at $3,744.00 for 6.1+ units and $2,172.00 for 0-6.0 units.

California residents pay these simple tuition rates. Students from other states and countries need to add $444.00 per unit on top of regular tuition. This extra non-resident charge applies to everyone outside California, including international students with visas.

The application process requires a $70.00 non-refundable fee. Students can pay this online through credit card or PayPal when they apply.

Graduate business programs charge an extra professional fee of $303.00 per unit. The campus also adds specific charges for its Student Union, Recreation & Fitness Center, Health & Psychological Counseling Center, Student Success Initiative, and Instructionally Related Programs.

CSUSB adjusts Campus Category II Fees each year using the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI). The 2025-26 adjustment shows a 3.4% increase, adding $69.22 to the academic year. The university can change any fees until a term’s instruction begins.

Students have several ways to get financial help. The 2026-27 academic year applications open on October 1, 2025, through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). Second-year Clinical/Counseling Psychology students might land teaching assistantships, and some faculty grants offer research positions. Some second-year internships even come with stipends.

Students worried about costs should reach out to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships before March to learn about loans and other support options.

Additional Information

CSUSB psychology students tap into the full potential of their education through extensive internship and volunteer opportunities beyond academic coursework. The PSYC 5575 instructor maintains up-to-date community connections and provides volunteer placement information. Students can transform these placements into formal internships and receive course credit by enrolling in the Psychology Internship course (PSYC 5575).

Students head over to faculty-supervised research projects that span a variety of areas. We collaborated with community-based organizations like Magdalena’s Daughters, which serves sexually exploited foster youth. The faculty’s research activities combine laboratory settings with community outreach to provide specialized training and mentorship.

The department takes pride in student achievements. Many graduates have secured admission into prestigious doctoral programs nationwide over the last several years. The 2024-2025 academic year saw three students accepted to doctoral programs at institutions like the University of Illinois at Chicago and Oklahoma State University. Student success soared in 2023-2024 when thirteen students advanced to doctoral studies at universities including USC, Indiana University, and UC Riverside.

Students continue to earn recognition through prestigious awards. Ruth Kirby earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award, while Kabba Barua received the Outstanding Undergraduate Service Award. The department also recognized Pedro Flores with the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. Kenya Luna and Adeline Abrahimy rounded out the honors by winning the Outstanding Graduate Research Award and Outstanding Graduate Service Award respectively.