UCLA Psychology Programs

UCLA’s Psychology Department ranks #1 in California for research and leads the nation’s Clinical Psychology programs. The department has earned its place at the vanguard of psychological science and education.

Three interconnected buildings make up the Psychology Complex on UCLA’s east campus. Pritzker Hall, the complex’s largest building, went through major renovations that finished in 2022. The Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation’s generous $30 million gift led to its renaming. This modern facility now features cutting-edge offices, labs, classrooms, and student spaces that promote collaboration and innovation.

UCLA Psychology Department stands among the field’s largest and most diverse academic communities. The department’s academic ecosystem includes 83 core, adjunct, and active emeriti faculty members. It serves more than 4,000 undergraduates across three majors, about 200 Ph.D. students, 24 postdoctoral scholars, 40 administrative staff, and 48 research staff. This community powers the department’s research and educational initiatives.

Research at UCLA Psychology balances fundamental science with practical applications. Faculty and students study everything from single neurons to social cultures. This broad scope helps UCLA Psychology tackle complex human problems while supporting increasingly diverse populations. The department also builds strong research partnerships across disciplines including:

• Medical sciences and public health
• Computer science and artificial intelligence
• Economics, linguistics, and education
• Biology, anthropology, and sociology

Several specialized centers and programs extend the department’s academic reach:

• Anxiety Disorders Research Center
• Center for Mental Health in Schools
• UCLA Psychology Clinic
• Megan E. Daly Infant Development Program

The department’s roots trace back before 1900. The Los Angeles State Normal School had already created a Psychology Department with lab equipment and courses in general, child, educational, and clinical psychology. After becoming part of the University in 1919, the department grew steadily and began accepting Ph.D. candidates in 1937. This rich heritage shows the department’s steadfast dedication to excellence in psychological education and research.

Psychology students benefit greatly from the department’s California location. The state offers the highest average salary for psychologists in the United States at $117,610. Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Fresno rank among the nation’s top five highest-paying cities for the profession.

Programs offered

UCLA welcomes students with a rich selection of psychology programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Students can choose their path based on their interests and future career plans.

The undergraduate level features three distinct major options:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – This versatile major serves as the most general option. Students get comprehensive coverage of traditional psychology areas. The program builds a strong foundation for postgraduate education or careers in law, education, government, business, and health-related fields.
• Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology – This program caters to students planning postgraduate work in physiological psychology, neuroscience, behavioral aspects of biology, or health sciences. Students learn about behavior from a biological viewpoint that combines neural, experimental psychological, genetic, and evolutionary approaches.
• Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science – The program dives deep into intelligent systems, both natural and artificial. This interdisciplinary major builds on traditional psychology while incorporating cognitive psychology, computer science, and mathematics.

The department also provides a Computing Specialization supplement just for Cognitive Science majors. Students receive comprehensive education in computer science and its applications to cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

Students interested in a minor can opt for the Applied Developmental Psychology Minor. This program helps students break down and support young children’s development, apply theories to real-world concerns, and prepare for child-related professions.

Graduate studies at UCLA feature a comprehensive PhD program without separate MA or PsyD options. The department focuses solely on full-time doctoral students. Students can earn master’s degrees only as part of their doctoral journey.

The PhD program lets students specialize in eight distinct areas:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Quantitative Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Social and Affective Neuroscience Psychology

Students typically complete the graduate program in five to six years. The program follows a clear progression:

• First and second years focus on building knowledge breadth and research skills
• Third year involves advanced seminars and specialized coursework
• Fourth and fifth years cover preliminary oral qualifying examination and dissertation work
• Sixth year wraps up all PhD requirements

The program’s main goal remains clear: training dedicated researchers who will advance psychological science and excel as researchers, instructors, and professional research psychologists.

Online options

UCLA students can choose from several online psychology programs alongside traditional campus classes.

Students can take complete psychology courses through UCLA Extension from anywhere. The courses include introductory and abnormal psychology options that let you study remotely while getting UCLA’s academic excellence. You’ll need internet access to take part in these courses.

The Summer Online program lets you earn UCLA credit from any location. This program works great if you have a busy work schedule or prefer to study from home. You can pick from multiple summer course sessions that run between 3-10 weeks from June through September. This flexibility helps you find a schedule that works best.

The 2025 course fees are $279 per unit for UCLA students and $385 per unit for non-UCLA students. You might need to pay extra fees like document charges if you’re new to Summer Sessions.

UCLA uses two main online learning platforms. Bruin Learn works as the main system where teachers post course materials in a secure space. Zoom helps with video meetings for virtual lectures, discussions, and office hours. Students can choose from three teaching formats:

• Live Online: Real-time Zoom sessions for live interaction
• Online: Course content through learning platforms with regular deadlines
• Hybrid: Mix of in-person and online classes

Psychology students can join online research projects like UCLA’s Pathways into Adolescence Study and Emotions in Everyday Life Study. These studies give you hands-on experience while learning remotely.

The Undergraduate Research Journal of Psychology (URJP) comes out online every spring quarter. This gives students a chance to explore psychology research across different fields from anywhere.

Accreditation

UCLA Psychology Programs’ accreditation status proves the quality and rigor of their education. The University of California, Los Angeles holds institutional accreditation through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and has managed to keep this difference since 1949. This accreditation will give UCLA high standards of quality and effectiveness in any discipline.

UCLA’s Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology has earned two prestigious program-specific accreditations. The program received accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation in 1949. The Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) also accredited the program in 2012, showing its steadfast dedication to science-centered education and clinical psychology training.

Yes, it is worth noting that UCLA’s Clinical Psychology program is one of the founding members of the PCSAS Founder’s Circle, which shows its leadership in advancing scientific approaches to clinical training. PCSAS was created to boost science-centered education in clinical psychology and the scientific knowledge base for mental health care.

The UCLA Clinical Psychology program has made a key decision about its future accreditation path after careful consideration. The program will not pursue APA reaccreditation when its current term ends in 2028. Students entering from 2023 will graduate from a program with PCSAS accreditation only, rather than dual accreditation.

This move shows the program’s view that some APA accreditation requirements limit its training mission. Notwithstanding that, the department will continue to uphold APA’s rigor, breadth, and ethical standards, while following PCSAS’s more flexible, science-centered approach.

Students interested in UCLA’s doctoral internship in health service psychology at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) should know that this program maintains APA accreditation. Students can contact the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation directly for more information about APA accreditation.

UCLA continues its steadfast dedication to training psychological clinical scientists who will lead in research, share knowledge, develop policy, and practice evidence-based clinical work—while promoting inclusion and following ethical standards.

Admission Requirements

UCLA Psychology Programs maintain high standards that differ between undergraduate and graduate levels. Students must meet specific deadlines and requirements based on their academic goals.

Students who want to pursue Psychology as undergraduates must first become Pre-Psychology students. They need a minimum 2.5 GPA in at least one preparation course. The path from Pre-Psychology to Psychology major requires completion of seven preparation courses before the fall quarter ends in their third year at UCLA. Students achieve guaranteed admission with a 2.9 GPA or higher in preparatory coursework. Those with GPAs between 2.5-2.89 compete for available spots. The department automatically denies admission to students who repeat more than two preparation courses or any single preparation course more than once.

Transfer students face stricter admission standards. Direct admission into the Psychology major is mandatory since changing majors after admission isn’t allowed. These applicants must finish specific prerequisites before admission. The courses include introductory psychology, biology, physics or chemistry, philosophy, and quantitative reasoning.

PhD program admissions follow specific timelines based on specialization areas. Clinical Psychology applications close on November 1. Other areas like Behavioral Neuroscience, Cognitive, Developmental, Health, Quantitative, Social, and Social and Affective Neuroscience accept applications until December 1. The department only accepts full-time students for fall quarter.

Required application materials include:

• Statement of Purpose (up to 1000 words)
• Personal Statement (up to 500 words)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts
• CV or resume

UCLA’s psychology department doesn’t require GRE scores for any specialization, though students can submit them voluntarily. International students whose first language isn’t English must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores. The minimum requirements are 87 for TOEFL/IBT or 7.0 for IELTS.

Clinical Psychology students must pass a Live Scan background check after admission. This check enables participation in clinical practice and internships.

The department welcomes diverse educational backgrounds and thinks over a broad undergraduate foundation in behavioral, biological, physical, and social sciences as ideal preparation. While not mandatory, the department recommends some college coursework in statistics or advanced mathematics.

Tuition

The cost of your education plays a vital role when you pursue UCLA Psychology Programs. Right now, most doctoral and master’s psychology programs cost $21,115 per year for California residents and $36,297 annually for non-California residents. Students pay about $7,040.05 per quarter for California residents and $12,074.05 per quarter for non-residents.

International students face extra funding needs. They must pay non-resident tuition costs of $15,102 per year after their first year until they advance to candidacy, which usually takes 2-3 years. The good news is qualifying positions cover 100% of tuition, campus fees, and student health insurance premiums, including vision and dental coverage during employment terms.

UCLA runs on a quarter system with Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Students pay fixed quarterly amounts instead of per-unit charges. The complete cost breakdown for 2025-26 has these components:

• University fees: $15,700
• Food and housing: $18,960
• Books and course materials: $1,680
• Transportation: $857
• Personal expenses: $2,361
• Health insurance: $3,579

Your total estimated yearly costs come to $43,137 for California residents. Non-residents pay $80,739 because of the additional non-resident supplemental tuition of $37,602.

UCLA’s BruinPay Plan lets students pay their tuition monthly. You can enroll in this plan from September 1-20 for Fall, December 1-20 for Winter, and March 1-20 for Spring.

Forbes ranked UCLA as the No. 4 best value university in 2025. This investment pays off well. UCLA graduates have substantially lower average student loan debt at $17,721 compared to the national average of $37,056.

Additional Information

UCLA’s support for psychology students extends far beyond the classroom. The Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office helps students plan their next steps after graduation. Students can also tap into UCLA Career Center’s resources for detailed post-graduate planning. The center has recorded workshops about psychology careers and provides career counseling and resume reviews.

Students interested in health careers will find Pre-Health at UCLA valuable. They can access requirement worksheets and connect with pre-health advisors who guide them through application processes and timelines.

Research opportunities are plentiful at UCLA. Programs like the Student Research Program (SRP), Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (URFP), and UC LEADS give students chances to conduct research over two years. Students present their work at the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference each spring. During UCLA Undergraduate Research Week, participants can win a $500 Dean’s Prize.

The UCLA Undergraduate Psychology Journal, published online each year, gives students a platform to share their work. Be Well Bruin connects students with resources for physical, academic, emotional, financial, and social support. The department’s courses meet diversity graduation requirements and take a closer look at topics from psychology of diversity to neurodiversity.