Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior, cognition and emotion. It is a broad discipline that includes both basic research and the application of research findings to everyday life.

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology is a major academic achievement. Sacramento State’s online and accelerated degree completion program provides students with a flexible pathway to finish their degree while managing professional and personal commitments.

Students may have started their degree in the past and had to put it on hold due to work, family, or personal obligations. Life happens, as it should — and now it’s time to make their educational goals happen too!

This program is designed for students who need the online format to complete their degree, because of distance, work and family commitments, or other life circumstances. The program is ideal for self-motivated students who excel in the online learning environment. It is not intended for local Sacramento-area students who can reasonably attend in-person classes. Exceptions for local or current Sacramento State students are granted for those who meet the criteria of needing the fully online format.

This program is offered 100% online.

Designed specifically for working adults, this program offers the flexibility to take classes while still balancing all of life’s other responsibilities. Students transfer in lower-division general education and lower-division major requirements then complete all upper-division coursework through the program.

Courses are 6-8 weeks long, and students typically take 6-12 units each semester. This program is not cohort-based, so students choose how many courses to take. Upper division General Education (GE) courses are also offered in this program to cover university graduation requirements outside of the major.

Students seeking a full-time, on-campus degree program are encouraged to explore the traditional bachelor’s degree instead. To learn more about the full-time degree program please visit the Psychology Department’s webpage.

To be eligible for this online program, students must meet the following admission criteria:

Preferred but not required criteria:

All lower-division coursework in the major and General Education must be completed through a community college, as this is a degree completion program that primarily offers upper-division coursework.

Students are encouraged to review the Sacramento State catalog to understand all baccalaureate degree requirements. Program advisors are available to support students in navigating these requirements and planning for graduation. Students are ultimately responsible for ensuring all university and major requirements are met prior to graduation.

If questions arise about specific requirements, students are encouraged to contact the program advisor for clarification.

If you currently reside in another state, please ensure that your state or territory is on the approved list of Out-of-State Authorizations for Distance and Online Education.

Course requirements and descriptions are available in the Sacramento State catalog.

The fully online program does not offer all courses listed in the catalog but will offer a variety of courses every term for students to complete their degree within two years.

Interested in learning more? Join us for a live information session from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, via Zoom.

A Bachelor of Science in Psychology opens the door to a wide range of rewarding careers that draw on graduates’ understanding of human behavior, communication, and critical thinking. Graduates pursue roles in mental health, education, business, and community services, or use the degree as a foundation for advanced study.

Possible career paths include:

Many graduates also continue on to graduate programs in psychology, counseling, social work, education, business, or related fields.

Courses are currently $489 per unit. Most students will need to complete 45-50 units through our program, for an average total cost of approximately $24,000 to obtain the degree. Students may apply for financial aid through the FAFSA. Please note that fees for this program are not the same as the tuition and fees for the traditional program at Sacramento State, and different policies apply.

Fees subject to change.

Be sure to read the steps below thoroughly and submit all required materials on time to be considered.

Important: This program requires pre-approval to join. You must complete the departmental application and be deemed admissions-eligible before you can apply through CSU Apply.

Complete the Spring 2027 department application. Include individual copies of unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. No application fees required.

After submitting the application, students receive an unofficial evaluation showing if they have met admissions criteria, and what else they may need to complete towards the degree through community college.

Students who have already completed the departmental application and are eligible will be sent instructions. DO NOT apply to Sac State through Cal State Apply until you have completed Step 1 and have received specific instructions for the online program.

An unofficial evaluation of all your records will be completed to see if you meet the admissions criteria. If you meet the criteria, we will walk you through the formal process to apply for admission to Sacramento State and the online Psychology program.

If you do not yet meet the criteria, the advisor will give you advice about what courses you need in order to get into the program in the future, or advice on other potential degree completion programs that might be a better fit for you.

CCE PSYC Comparison Chart
Online Psychology Program Brochure
PSYC Q&A Packet

Students needing assistance finding community college courses to meet the admissions criteria or fulfill lower division GE requirements should ask their community college academic advisor. We also recommend the following tools and resources, but caution students to remember that these tools should not replace the guidance of a qualified academic counselor.

Assist.org is a helpful online resource that allows students to look up their community college and the year they took a class (or plan to take a class) and determine if and how this course would transfer to a CSU or Sacramento State specifically.

California Virtual Campus can help students narrow down their search for online offerings of a particular GE course or a course in the Psychology major. Please follow these instructions:

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology can open up many options for career advancement and personal development, as the degree provides students with a solid understanding of human behavior. Earning a bachelor’s degree is a major accomplishment and is a stepping stone to graduate education.

The degree completion program has the added benefit of flexibility. Students are able to fit school into their already busy schedules through online, accelerated courses. This allows students to find a schedule that works for them and complete their degree in a timely manner.

Students in the program have regular support from a dedicated team including an academic advisor, program coordinator, faculty advisor, and financial aid coordinator. Throughout the entire process — from admissions to graduation — students will have regular support from the program staff.

​​Graduates of the online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program will earn their degree and diploma from California State University, Sacramento, which is identical to the degree students receive when completing their courses in the traditional face-to-face format.