Psychology
Associate of Arts Degree Psychology · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Summary
The Associate of Arts in Psychology Degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a related major, seek employment using skills obtained as a Psychology major, or learn more about behavior and mental processes. Students intending to transfer should choose courses that align with requirements at the intended transfer institution. Students should also choose courses that align with their goals and interests.
Award Note: The Associate Degree requires a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units.
Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Psychology Program will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking in reading, writing, and/or speaking about concepts and issues related to human behavior and mental processes using the scientific approach, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
- Demonstrate effective writing and/or speaking about human behavior and mental processes (for example, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions).
- Demonstrate recognition of the significance of ethics and diversity in Psychological Science.
- Compare and contrast different research methods used in Psychological Science; Demonstrate understanding of the applications and implications of technology and its appropriate uses.
Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MAJOR: | 4 | |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 201 | Academic and Career Opportunities in Psychology | 1 |
| Select one of the following core courses: | 3 | |
| PSYC 255 | Introduction to Psychological Research | 3 |
| PSYC 276 | Field Work in Psychological Services | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| PSYC 211 | Learning | 3 |
| PSYC 260 | Introduction to Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 283 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| PSYC 166 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Psychology of Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSYC 245 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| Select at least 5 units from the following (not selected above): | 5-6 | |
| PSYC 111 | Psychological/Social Aspects of Aging, Death, and Dying | 3 |
| PSYC 112 | Interpersonal Relations | 3 |
| PSYC 121 | Introduction to Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 125 | Introduction to Behavior Modification | 3 |
| PSYC 133 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| PSYC 135 | Marriage and Family Relations | 3 |
| PSYC 137 | Human Sexual Behavior | 3 |
| PSYC 155 | Introduction to Personality | 3 |
| PSYC 161 | Introduction to Counseling | 3 |
| PSYC 166 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 211 | Learning | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Psychology of Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSYC 245 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 255 | Introduction to Psychological Research | 3 |
| PSYC 255L | Introduction to Psychological Research Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 258 | Behavioral Science Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 259 | Behavioral Science Statistics Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 259R | Statistics Laboratory Using R | 1 |
| PSYC 260 | Introduction to Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 260L | Introduction to Physiological Psychology Laboratory | 1 |
| PSYC 276 | Field Work in Psychological Services | 3 |
| PSYC 283 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | 3 |