Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some “Frequently Asked Advising Questions”

Go to the Psychology Department Advising website if you have questions about:

• Course requirements for the BA in Psychology
• Tracking your progress towards your degree
• Building your course schedule
• Declaring or changing your Major or Minor to Psychology
• Graduation (how & when to apply)
• Honors in Psychology
• Psychology minors (general Psychology minor & Human Systems Integration)

Once you have reviewed the information on the advising website, you may contact a Psychology major advisor for specific questions or guidance.

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED ADVISING QUESTIONS

• What is a Psychology elective?

  • A Psychology elective is any Psychology course (PSYC or STAT prefix) not used elsewhere in the major. For example, if you took PSYC 135 & PSYC 155 to fulfill the 2 classes from 129/135/155/158 requirement, then you can use Psyc 129 & Psyc 158 as Psychology Upper-division electives. Any psychology course can be a psychology elective just as long as it has not already been used to fulfill another major requirement.

• What is a University elective?

  • A University elective is ANY course offered by SJSU (including additional psychology coursework). Some students may need to enroll in “University electives” [in addition to university, major, & minor (if applicable) courses] to meet the 120 unit minimum graduation.

• Can courses taken at another 4 year university fulfill Psychology major requirements at SJSU?

  • Non-SJSU coursework MAY fulfill a Psychology major requirement, but a Psychology advisor will need to review the course(s) for equivalency. Meet with an advisor to discuss and bring a copy of the course syllabus for each class you want reviewed.

• I just transferred to SJSU from a community college. How do I know what courses from my CC fulfill requirements at SJSU?

  • It usually takes 1 SEMESTER for your community college transcripts to be fully processed by the SJSU registrar’s office. If you have questions about whether or not your CC classes fulfill SJSU GE requirements or have other transfer issues, please contact an academic advisor in the College of Social Sciences Student Success Center. Click on the link provided to learn more.

    For questions about PSYCHOLOGY coursework, see the related questions below. If you have additional questions, meet with a Psychology major advisor.

• Can Psychology courses taken at a community college fulfill my Psychology major requirements at SJSU?

  • Classes taken at a community college are LOWER-DIVISION courses and MAY be used to fulfill the lower-division CORE major requirements IF they are equivalent to Psyc 1, Stat 095, Psyc 18, or Psyc 30 at SJSU.

    Lower-division psychology courses (other than those equivalent to Psyc 1, Stat 095, Psyc 18, or Psyc 30) MAY fulfill a Psychology major LOWER-DIVISION Psychology elective requirement. Meet with a Psychology major advisor for review.

• I took an Abnormal Psychology class (or Social Psychology or Child Psychology) at my community college, can that class fulfill one of my Psychology major requirements?

  • Again, ALL classes at community colleges are LOWER-DIVISION courses. Most of the Psychology major requirements (except for Psyc 1, Stat 095, Psyc 18, & Psyc 30) ARE UPPER-DIVISION courses (e.g., numbered greater than 100).

    The Abnormal (or Social or Child) Psychology class taken at a community college CANNOT be used to fulfill an upper-division major course requirement, BUT it can count as a LOWER-DIVISION Psychology elective. Meet with a Psychology major advisor to discuss.

• I already took a Biology course that fulfilled one of my GE requirements. Do I still need to take Human Biology/Anatomy for the Psychology major?

  • YES if the biology class taken was NOT a course in human biology or anatomy. All Psychology majors are required to take BIOL 21 Human Biology (with lab) OR BIOL 65 Human Anatomy (with lab) OR BIOL 65O Human Anatomy Online (with lab). This course is a prerequisite for Psyc 30 (Psychobiology) & may be completed at a community college (if it is equivalent to one of the SJSU courses listed above). Meet with a Psychology major advisor if you have any questions.

• What kind of jobs can I get with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology?

  • Here is a 2023 article on Psychology.org that discusses various jobs you can obtain with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (scroll down to see the section on “What else can you do with a Bachelor’s in Psychology”. Another article on Indeed.com describes “56 Types of Bachelor’s in Psychology Jobs to Consider”. The SJSU Career Center can also help with your job search, preparation for job interviews, & resume construction.

• I want to be a therapist or counselor. What do I need to do?

  • To learn more about different graduate programs and career pathways in clinical/counseling psychology, please review a recording of Dr. Matthew Capriotti’s April 2023 webinar.

    Graduate School and Career Pathways in Mental Health and Social Services

    In addition, go to our Master’s program in Clinical Psychology website. The website contains:

    1. Program overview
    2. Information for prospective students
    3. How to apply
    4. Discussion of Marriage Family therapy (MFT) and
    5. Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC) licensure
    6. Curriculum & Resources
       
       

    Click here to see a recording of Dr. Erin Woodhead's informational session about the Clinical Psychology Program from November 2023. 

    AFTER thoroughly reviewing the video & website, email specific questions to: CMHCdirector@sjsu.edu

• How do I prepare for graduate school in Psychology?

  • Preparing for graduate programs in Psychology will vary depending on the school/program and the degree you are seeking (e.g., Master’s or Ph.D).  Visit the specific graduate program’s website to learn about their application process and the requirements needed to apply & attend their program.

    To learn about the 3 graduate programs offered within the SJSU Psychology department, please visit these websites and review the information there carefully.  If you have specific questions about the program/application process after reviewing the information there, contact the specific graduate program coordinator indicated on their website.

    Master’s of Arts in Research and Experimental Psychology
    Master’s of Science in Clinical Psychology
    Master’s of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    Other SJSU graduate programs of interest to Psychology majors include:

    Master of Social Work Program
    Master of Arts in Counseling & Guidance