SFSU Psychology Programs

The Psychology Department at San Francisco State University excels at finding new insights about human behaviors, beliefs, and emotions. The department sits within the College of Science and Engineering. Students grow intellectually, personally, and professionally while making meaningful contributions to the community.

The psychology department started in 1899 as part of San Francisco State Normal School (now SFSU). The department has grown remarkably over the last several years. Its influence reaches way beyond the reach and influence of the campus. Over 18,000 psychology alumni since 1970 now work as mental health providers, educators, and business professionals throughout the Bay Area.

The SFSU psychology department stands out because of its strong research setup. Students can work in more than 20 specialized research laboratories that cover a variety of psychological fields. These labs are a great way to get hands-on experience with innovative technology. Students develop vital skills in scientific methods and critical thinking.

The department features several notable research facilities:

• The Cognition and Social Equity Lab
• The Motivation & Emotion Lab
• The Culture & Emotion Lab
• The Workplace Technology Lab
• The Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Lab

Research opportunities extend to all students. Undergraduates can work as Research Assistants and earn credits through PSY 699 Independent Study courses that count toward Major Electives. Graduate students can also earn research credits through PSY 799 Supervised Selected Research or PSY 899 Independent Study.

The university’s main campus spans 141.1 acres in southwest San Francisco, just two miles from the Pacific coast. The university proudly serves as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). This shows its steadfast dedication to diversity.

Faculty members bring expertise from clinical, developmental, industrial/organizational, social, and cognitive psychology fields. Students get hands-on experience in community settings that goes beyond traditional classroom learning.

Students in the SFSU psychology major follow a well-laid-out program they can finish in two years. Extra courses run during Winter and Summer Sessions. The program focuses on five essential outcomes: building psychology knowledge, developing scientific inquiry skills, understanding ethical responsibilities, improving communication, and growing professionally.

The Psychology Department at San Francisco State University shapes future psychological professionals through research and education. Its work creates lasting impact at local, national, and international levels.

Programs offered

The SFSU psychology department welcomes students who want to understand human behavior and mental processes through various academic paths. Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a detailed program that needs 60 units. The department doesn’t currently have a minor program.

Students in the B.A. Psychology program need 14 units of core courses, 18-21 units of simple courses across three study areas, and 9-12 units of electives. Most students complete this well-laid-out program in two years, and they can take extra courses during Winter and Summer Sessions. The SFSU psychology major helps students analyze psychological literature, learn research methods, and communicate psychological concepts effectively.

Students looking for online options can choose the Psychology Online Bachelor’s Degree through the College of Professional & Global Education. This program teaches students to analyze psychological literature, communicate psychological concepts clearly, develop research skills, and handle simple computer operations.

Graduate students can pick from two master’s degree programs that each offer three specialized paths:

• Master of Arts in Psychology with concentrations in:
  • Developmental Psychology (30 units)
  • Mind, Brain, and Behavior (35 units)
  • Social Psychology (33 units)
• Master of Science in Psychology with concentrations in:
  • Clinical Psychology (60 units)
  • School Psychology (55 units)
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology (36 units)

The 70-year-old Clinical Psychology program combines theory and practice from psychodynamic, family systems, multicultural, and community psychology points of view. This unique two-year program meets California’s Marriage and Family Therapy licensure requirements. Students benefit from small class sizes and learn from different mental health training experiences.

Each concentration accepts 8-12 students every year, which creates a selective and individual-specific learning environment. The department also runs a School Psychology Pupil Personnel Services Credential Program that takes one year to complete with 24 semester units.

Budget and enrollment issues have temporarily stopped admissions to the School Psychology Concentration. In spite of that, other programs continue preparing students for research, clinical practice, and professional roles that need expertise in human behavior.

Online options

Students can complete their education at SFSU psychology department through flexible online learning options that work around their location and schedule. The Psychology Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion program serves as the main pathway for students looking to finish their undergraduate degree.

The College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGE) runs this fully online bachelor’s program for students who have already completed 60 or more transferable college credits. Students can study at their own pace with the program’s asynchronous format without sacrificing educational quality. The curriculum and faculty remain the same as the on-campus program, and students end up earning a similar degree.

The online B.A. in Psychology builds strong foundations in several key areas:

• Analysis and critical evaluation of psychological literature
• Oral and written communication of psychological concepts
• Development of psychological research skills
• Design and data analysis proficiency
• Simple computer operation skills

Psychology majors can take these specific courses online:

• PSY303: Psychology – The Major and Profession
• PSY463: Human Factors (Summer & Winter sessions only)
• PSY464: Psychology of Career Pursuit
• PSY465: Work & Life Stress
• PSY680: Peer Advising for Psychology
• PSY690: Future Directions for Psychology Major

The online psychology degree prepares students well for community work in human relations and behavior fields while creating a solid foundation for graduate studies. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees in psychology specializations, other behavioral sciences, or professional programs in business, law, and medicine.

Working professionals, parents, and students with busy schedules benefit most from this program when traditional in-person coursework proves challenging. This degree completion option stands out from other online programs by maintaining San Francisco State University psychology department’s academic rigor and prestige.

Students can get help with questions about the CPaGE Psychology Online B.A. Program through dedicated support channels. Program representatives are available at psychonline@sfsu.edu or by phone at (415) 405-7700. This individual-specific support ensures students transition smoothly into the program and receive guidance throughout their studies.

SFSU’s graduate-level psychology programs currently remain in-person, but the growth in undergraduate online options points to possible future development of advanced online psychology education pathways.

Accreditation

The SFSU psychology department builds its academic credibility on strong institutional recognition. San Francisco State University has accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This organization is one of six regional bodies that certify U.S. educational institutions. Students can access federal financial aid and the university qualifies for federal funding programs thanks to this accreditation.

WSCUC has given SFSU an eight-year accreditation renewal. The commission praised the university’s dedication to student success and well-being. This recognition shows how the faculty and staff have created strong community standards for student support. The next review will happen in 2030-31, and they need to submit an interim report by March 1, 2027.

Students who choose an SFSU psychology major benefit directly from this accreditation. A solid educational foundation comes from accredited programs, which helps build successful careers in psychology. Most employers and licensing boards look at accreditation status to verify program quality.

The American Psychological Association (APA) leads the accreditation process for doctoral programs in health service psychology. This includes clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs. Accreditors look at everything from curriculum content to faculty credentials. They also evaluate training opportunities and program resources. The review process covers program completion rates, dropout numbers, and how well graduates do at getting licensed.

SFSU has earned program-specific accreditations in programs of all sizes. To cite an instance, the College of Health and Social Sciences’ Counseling program holds accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. They offer concentrations in Clinical Mental Health, Career, College, School, and Marriage, Family and Child Counseling.

Your educational investment stays protected through accreditation quality assurance. Psychology students at SFSU get a degree that meets high academic standards. The department’s tough curriculum and research opportunities, paired with this institutional validation, prepare you well for your future. You’ll be ready whether you choose clinical practice, research, or other psychology-related fields.

Admission Requirements

Students who want to join SFSU psychology programs need to meet different requirements at undergraduate and graduate levels. Before applying, you should review these requirements carefully.

Transfer students have different paths to admission based on their completed college units. Students with lower division transfers (fewer than 60 units) need to show their high school diploma, meet minimum GPA requirements (2.50+ for California residents, 3.00+ for non-residents), complete A-G preparatory courses, and earn a 2.00+ GPA in transferable coursework. Upper division transfers must complete at least 60 transferable semester units, finish 30+ semester units of CSU General Education courses, and pass the “Golden Four” courses (Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking, and Quantitative Reasoning) with C- grades or better.

The online SFSU psychology major program has these specific requirements:

• California residency or authorized state residency
• 60+ transferable semester units
• 0+ GPA in all transferable coursework
• Good academic standing at previous institution
• Grade C or better in PSY 200

Graduate programs have tougher requirements. Students can apply between October 1st and February 1st each year, and all materials must reach by the filing deadline. Graduate applicants need to submit:

1. Personal statement for their chosen concentration
2. Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references
3. Transcripts showing minimum 3.00 GPA in the last 60 semester units
4. Department Prerequisite Form that shows completed psychology coursework

GRE requirements vary by a lot between concentrations. Mind, Brain, and Behavior needs GRE scores for Fall 2024 cohorts. Industrial/Organizational, School Psychology, and Social programs have temporarily waived this requirement. Clinical and Developmental Psychology programs no longer need GRE scores.

The Clinical Psychology MS program needs extra prerequisites. These include one year of clinical experience, completion of Statistics, Theories of Personality, and Abnormal Psychology courses, and knowing how to pass background checks for placement sites. Full-time enrollment is mandatory for this program.

Tuition

The SFSU psychology department has a clear cost structure that changes based on your program level and where you live. California residents at undergraduate level pay $8,256.00 per academic year when enrolled full-time (7 units or greater). San Francisco State University ranks as California’s second most affordable college, making quality education available to more students.

Your tuition rates will differ if you’re a graduate student. Master’s students pay $3,279.00 for part-time (6.0 or fewer units) or $4,971.00 for full-time (6.1 or more units) each semester. Doctoral students pay $7,587.00 whatever their unit load.

Students from outside California and international students need to plan for extra costs. They pay an additional $444.00 per unit on top of regular fees. Students from Western U.S. states might qualify for lower non-resident tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

The online psychology degree completion program costs $495.00 per unit, which adds up to $29,700.00 for the whole program. Payment plans help you split these costs into smaller installments if you can’t pay the full semester costs upfront.

Psychology students can access many financial aid options. About 66% of SFSU’s students get some type of financial aid. The Psychology Scholarship stands out as a specific funding option with these requirements:

• 0 GPA minimum (both undergraduate and graduate students)
• At least 6 units (undergraduate) or 4 units (graduate) enrollment
• Showed financial need (formal financial aid qualification not needed)
• Current enrollment status

This scholarship gives awards up to $150.00, and applications usually close by mid-April. Award winners should attend the College of Science & Engineering Donor Dinner when their scholarship donor attends.

Financial aid counselors are ready to help with your specific questions about funding options. Their guidance is a great way to get information about all resources while you work toward your SFSU psychology major.

Additional Information

SFSU psychology research laboratories give students valuable hands-on experience as they prepare to become psychologists. The department houses more than 20 specialized research facilities where faculty members conduct advanced studies. Students can join the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Lab, Motivation & Emotion Lab, and Workplace Technology Lab. Faculty members actively look for research participants and welcome students as research assistants.

Dr. Melissa Hagan’s pioneering work focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder with dissociative features (PTSD-DISS) in children. Her research studied 297 children aged 3-6 and found that girls with trauma exposure and children of both genders who experienced sexual abuse showed higher risks of PTSD-DISS. This work demonstrates the department’s steadfast dedication to meaningful psychological research.

Students gain practical experience through numerous internship options. Second-year Industrial/Organizational Psychology students must complete 300 hours of business setting internships. These placements help students apply classroom concepts to real-life situations effectively.

Regular Alumni Career Panel events boost career development opportunities. Graduates working as marriage and family therapists, behavioral analysts, legal psychologists, and user experience researchers share their experiences through webinars. Their stories help current students foresee various career possibilities.

The SFSU psychology department creates well-rounded professionals ready to contribute meaningfully to the field through its detailed approach that combines research, practical experience, and support services.