From Community College to a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Health: Transfer Credits & Launch Your Career in 3 Years

July 23, 2025

College graduates tossing graducation caps into the air

For many students who are looking to start a mental health career, it’s more practical to transfer from a community college to a bachelor’s program in psychology. This is especially true for working adults or returning students, who need to balance work and family obligations with school responsibilities.

Transferring units has many benefits and can save you both money and time. And with PAU’s Bachelor’s-to-Master’s pathways, you can get 1:1 admissions guidance on transferring from community college and launching your career as quickly as possible

Step 1: Schedule a 1:1 consultation with your Admissions Counselor

Your first point of contact at PAU is Jasmine Hyson, your Admissions Counselor. Jasmine is ready to answer all of your questions about the admissions process into PAU, including:

What do I need to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree?
How many credits can I transfer?
How long will it take me to complete the pathway and launch my mental health career?
What degree is right for me?
What type of financial aid is available?

Jasmine Hyson, Admissions Counselot A consultation call with Jasmine is the first step to getting the information you need to start the process. She meets with each prospective student 1:1, which means that you’ll get individualized information and advice that applies to your unique situation and goals.

Schedule a 1:1 consultation with Jasmine today.

“From initial inquiry all the way up to acceptance, I play a key role in making sure students are set up for success. Whether through general program questions or application details, I prepare my students for success in choosing the right program for their career.” – Jasmine Hyson, PAU Admissions Counselor

Step 2: Submit transcripts for credit review

Once you’ve gotten a clearer picture of your goals and the path forward, it’s time to submit your transcripts for review. On top of community college courses, you may also be able to get course credit for work experience in relevant fields.

PAU takes the guesswork out of transferring your credits. Request a transcript and credit review, and we’ll tell you exactly how many units you can transfer — anywhere between 85 and 135+ units.

Request a free transcript review.

Step 3: Receive a customized academic plan

After your transcripts have been submitted and reviewed, our admissions team will provide you with a customized academic plan, including a timeline to graduation.

The time it takes for you to complete your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees will depend on several factors, including how many credits you’re transferring and when you want to begin.

A two-path infographic showing transfer options for PAU’s Bachelor’s programs. The top path reads: “Transfer to PAU with 85–134 quarter units* → Graduate in 6–8 quarters → Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology or Business Psychology.” The bottom path reads: “Transfer to PAU with 135+ quarter units → Graduate in as little as 1 year → Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology or Business Psychology.” A note below states: “You must have completed at least 85 quarter units to be eligible for admission into a Bachelor’s program at PAU.”

Your customized academic plan will also include support with selecting courses, applying for financial aid, and choosing a pathway toward a specific Master’s degree in mental health if you want to enroll in graduate studies.

Step 4: Apply and start any quarter

You can apply for your Bachelor’s degree at PAU at any time during the year: our commitment to flexibility means we enroll students every quarter.

First, choose your Bachelor’s program. We have two Bachelor’s degrees available at PAU:

BS in Business Psychology: For students who want to apply psychology to business challenges.
BS in Psychology: This program is ideal for students with a passion for community advocacy and outreach.

Both programs are fully online, with an option for an in-person internship.

Next, send in your application documents before the deadline. We’ve designed all of our programs with working and returning students in mind, which means there are no application fees and no recommendation letters required.

You can choose to start your Bachelor’s program at PAU any quarter, as long as you’ve applied before their respective deadlines. Typically, quarterly deadlines fall during the following months:

Spring Quarter Deadline: Mid-March
Summer Quarter Deadline: Mid-June
Fall Quarter Deadline: End of August
Winter Quarter Deadline: Mid-December

Be sure to check our website to see the latest deadline for the next quarter. Applicants for the Bachelor's programs must be located in a state in which we are authorized to provide online education. Click here to find out if you're in an approved state.

Step 5: Finish Bachelor’s in 12 to 24 months

The first step to a career in mental health is to earn your Bachelor’s degree. At PAU, you can transfer any quarter, and finish in as little as one year (depending on how many transfer credits you have).

A Bachelor’s degree program at PAU offers:

Evening online courses designed with working students in mind
Small class sizes and personalized attention
Financial aid and scholarship offerings
World-class faculty
Real-world experience through senior internships at local organizations

Bachelor’s degree courses are all conducted on Zoom (Monday through Thursday, 6 PM or 7:30 PM). You get the flexibility of online learning with the meaningful learning experience of connecting live with your faculty and peers.

Apply now for your Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Step 6: Transfer to Master’s program

Graduates of our Bachelor’s programs are eligible to apply to our Master’s programs and begin a career in mental or behavioral . With PAU’s fast-track pathways, you can finish your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in as little as 3 years.

We have 3 Master’s pathways available:

Master in Social Work (MSW): This program prepares students for clinical and leadership roles within California’s public mental health system and to pursue the LCSW.
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This Master’s degree prepares students for completing the California licensure exam and practicing as licensed therapists.
MS in Psychology: This non-clinical degree prepares students for careers in research, academia, and teaching, and provides a strong foundation for our PhD in Clinical Psychology program.

Before or after your graduation from your Bachelor’s program, your admissions counselor will help you explore these options and guide you through the application process. Counselors can also provide career guidance and help you choose a field of work that’s right for you.

Takeaway

Transitioning from community college to earning a Bachelor’s, and even Master’s, degree in a mental health field is possible. PAU makes it simple to transfer your college credits and finish your Master’s degree in as little as 3 years.

Make an appointment with Jasmine, your admissions counselor, to map your transfer credits and create your 3-year degree plan.

About the Author

Saya Des Marais, MSW

Saya is an extensively published writer in the mental health space. She graduated with her Master in Social Work (MSW) in 2010 and worked as a therapist in a wide variety of community settings before becoming a writer. You can learn more about her on her website.