B.S. in Psychology and Social Action (De Anza)

Palo Alto University (PAU) has created an innovative Bachelor degree completion program in Psychology and Social Action. This two year program is designed for California Community College students, who have already completed two years of lower level college coursework and their general education requirements. Students from other colleges and universities who have completed their lower level course work and general education requirements are also welcome to apply. The Psychology and Social Action program consists of two years of full-time course work in psychology, related social sciences and an internship in a field related to psychology and/or social action.

PAU specializes in serving the unique needs of transfer students through leading-edge, accredited bachelor-completion programs. If you seek a personalized, fast-track, transfer program that maximizes scheduling convenience, PAU’s day or evening options are for you.

Day program option

Evening/Online program option

Program Goals

The goal of PAU’s Psychology and Social Action program is to prepare students for careers in human services, health care, mental health care, community agencies, social services, non-profits, education, etc. There is no limit to the career possibilities for psychology majors. The Psychology and Social Action program was designed to meet the major learning outcome goals recommended for undergraduate programs by the American Psychological Association (link to http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/about/psymajor-guidelines.pdf) and by the faculty of PAU. Each course in the program is designed to teach to these outcomes and to prepare students with concrete skills in order to be competitive in today’s job market and to be prepared for working in their chosen professions or for graduate study. Psychology and Social Action graduates will become agents for social change. The combination of coursework in psychology and the social sciences and a yearlong internship provides students with both theoretical knowledge about the science of human behavior and also practical skills to both understand behavior and to bring about change with the individuals and the organizations with who are graduates will work.

Students, who have completed 90 quarter unit hours or 60 semester unit hours at an accredited college can make a seamless transfer and transition toward a national caliber Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology!  The PSA program (Psychology and Social Action) is designed for students who have a passion for psychology and who would like to make a difference in their communities and in the world.  The PSA program has been designed by the nationally and internationally recognized Palo Alto University (PAU) , a professional school of psychology. PAU has been training clinical psychologists for over 30 years and offers M.A.s,  Ph.D.s and a Psy.D. in a consortium with Stanford University.  PAU’s graduates work in a range of clinical and research fields all over the US and abroad. The Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs have some of the highest pre-doctoral internship placement rates and pass rates on the national and state licensing exams of any university and professional school in the country.

The Psychology and Social Action program is built upon the theme of "The Science of Social Action in a Global Community."  Students receive a sound education in the theories and applications of psychology, the scientific study of human behavior; they take courses in a range of other fields, including anthropology, sociology, economics, philosophy and social action, designed to help them understand human behavior in the context of different cultures and societies; and they have opportunities to explore practical applications of this theory by participating in research projects and required internships.

The Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University was recently ranked as one of the top three universities in the country specializing in the social sciences.  PAU has designed an innovative and highly structured undergraduate curriculum in psychology and social action.  The courses are provided by PAU professors (Faculty Bios) who have national and international reputations.  Courses are small, and students receive a large amount of individual instruction and advising.  The PSA program is located on the De Anza College campus in Cupertino (Campus Page), taking advantage of De Anza's state of the art classrooms, library, computer laboratories, and educational support services.

Our Promise

• An easy and seamless transfer and transition into a Bachelor's degree program
• Two years of full time coursework to obtain your Bachelor of Science degree
• Access to student services and academic support services at both De Anza College and Palo Alto University
• Affiliation with an internationally recognized graduate program in psychology
• Graduates are prepared for immediate entry into managerial positions in fields related to human services, social action, nonprofit organizations, health & mental health care, education, and for profit fields
• Preferential admission into PAU’s graduate programs in clinical psychology

The PAU Bachelor of Science program in Psychology and Social Action is approved by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.