If you are drawn to understanding why people think, feel and act the way they do, psychology gives you a way to study those questions with purpose and discipline.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Behavioral Science helps you build a foundation in human behavior, major psychological theories, critical thinking and industry-standard research methods. You’ll learn how to empathetically apply that understanding to real situations involving individuals, groups and communities.

Choose your format. Take the program 100% online with optional weekly live sessions, or study in-person at our Thousand Oaks campus with evening classes once per week.

Part of California Lutheran University’s Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals, this degree completion program is built for learners who have some previous college credit. You’ll learn in small classes with faculty who get to know you, value the experience you bring and support you as you finish the degree you started.

What You’ll Learn in the Psychological and Behavioral Science Degree

The BA in Psychological and Behavioral Science program takes a scientific approach to human thought and behavior, alongside the critical thinking and communication skills that psychology careers and graduate programs both expect. By graduation you’ll have:

  • A command of the major theories and findings in psychology
  • The research knowledge to ask good questions, analyze results and judge the conclusions others draw
  • The ability to apply psychological concepts to real individual and community challenges
  • The writing and speaking skills to present your thinking clearly and professionally

See the courses you’ll take as a psychological and behavioral science student.

“I gained the foundation for my psychological coursework, along with strong study skills, writing skills and many of the tools I need for success in what I am doing now. I also gained self-confidence and the belief that I could succeed.”

William Caraballo, BA in Psychological and Behavioral Sciences Alum

Who Is This Program For?

This program fits people who want to understand human behavior and put that understanding to work.

Some already serve in high-impact roles in education, social services, health care or human resources. This degree offers them the credential and the academic theory to improve on what they do every day.

Others are preparing for graduate school in psychology, social work or a related field and need a strong undergraduate foundation first.

To apply, you need a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least 24 credits of college credit from an accredited institution. Visit our admissions page for more on what you need.

Psychological and Behavioral Science Curriculum

This degree is available online or in person at our Thousand Oaks campus. Students complete a minimum of 124 credits to graduate. At least 48 of those credits will be from psychology and behavioral science major courses. The rest can come from general education courses or credits you transfer in.

Foundational Courses (15 credits)

Research Writing for Professionals

Advanced Research Writing for Professionals

Essentials of Statistics

Introduction to Psychology

Research Methods in Psychology

Breadth Courses (15 credits)

Biopsychology

Cognitive Psychology

Developmental Psychology

Social and Personality Psychology

Psychopathology

Applied Courses (6 credits)

Select at least two of the following:

Counseling and Therapy

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Specialization Courses (9 credits)

Select at least three of the following:

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Psychology of Gender

Personality and Individual Differences

Persuasion and Influence

Experiential Learning (3 credits)

Select at least one of the following:

Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

Advanced Counseling and Therapy

Career Outcomes With a BA in Psychological and Behavioral Science

A psychology background has wide applications in education, health care, business, social services, law and research. With a bachelor’s degree, graduates are prepared for roles such as:

  • Social services coordinator
  • Educational advisor
  • Research assistant
  • Behavioral health technician
  • Human resources specialist
  • Research analyst

This degree can also serve as foundation for further study, as graduates can use this degree to apply for a graduate study in clinical psychology, counseling, social work or behavior analysis. From there they may go on to licensed and senior roles in the field.

The critical thinking and research skills you build here are exactly what employers and graduate programs look for, which is why the degree works as both a standalone credential and a strong first step toward a master’s or doctorate.

Find out more about what you can do with a psychology bachelor’s degree.

Attend a Class Before You Apply

Get a closer look at what it’s like to be a Cal Lutheran student by sitting in on a live online or on-campus class. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 or complete our form.

Frequently Asked Questions

A degree completion program is a bachelor’s degree built for people who already have some college credit. Instead of starting over, you transfer in the courses you’ve already earned and build your degree plan from there.

For the Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Behavioral Science, every incoming student brings at least 24 credit hours from a previous accredited associate or undergraduate program, and many bring more credits.

The difference from a traditional bachelor’s degree is mostly who it’s for and how it’s run — not the quality of the education. A general program is built around full-time students who are usually new to college. Cal Lutheran’s degree program is built around working adults who have some college behind them and a full life around them.

We know our students have to balance their degree around jobs, families and everything else, so you can complete the program fully online at your own pace, join an optional weekly live session in the evening or attend evening classes in person at our Thousand Oaks campus.

Student support services are built for adult learners coming back to school too: academic advisors know your situation and personalized career counseling when you need it.

For someone who started a degree years ago and always meant to finish, a completion program is the most direct way back.

Learn more about what it’s like to return to school after some time away >>

The degree studies both sides of human experience: the mental processes behind how we think and feel, and the behavior that follows.

With the degree’s scientific approach, you have a strong understanding of the biological, environmental and social factors that shape both thoughts and behaviors, across subfields like cognition, development, social psychology and psychopathology.

That combination is useful in any people-centered field, from counseling and education to human resources and research. It also prepares you well for graduate study, where both theory and the research skills carry over.

You are welcome to apply if you have:

  • Graduated from high school or possess a GED certificate
  • Completed 24 credits of transferable college credit
  • Earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25

Visit our admissions page for more information, including an application checklist.

On average, Cal Lutheran students finish their bachelor’s degree in about two years when taking two courses per term.

Your own timeline depends on a few things: how many credits you transfer in, how many of those count toward this specific degree and how many courses you take each term.

The best way to find out is to talk with an enrollment specialist. They can review your previous coursework and tell you which credits transfer and how they apply to this degree. Call 805-521-9856 or complete our form to request a call.

You can take this program fully online or on campus in Thousand Oaks.

The online option is fully asynchronous with an optional weekly live session, so you can log in whenever your week allows.

The on-campus option meets one evening per week at our Thousand Oaks location. Classes stay small in both formats, so your instructors get to know you and what you’re working toward.

Yes, from several sources. Students can apply for federal aid such as Pell Grants and Direct Loans, and other awards can bring the cost down further.

If you transferred from a California community college, you may qualify for a Cal Grant, and graduates of a PACE program at a partner community college can receive a $100 per credit tuition reduction through PACE Promise. Many employers also offer tuition assistance, and as a Yellow Ribbon school, Cal Lutheran supports students using veterans benefits.

Our tuition and financial aid page has more information on funding options.

Here Are Your Next Steps

Request Information

To learn more about the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals offered by the Cal Lutheran School for Professional and Continuing Studies and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-521-9856.

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