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Becoming a Psychology Major
We have taken steps to come off of impaction and launched our Pre-Major beginning Fall 2026. Please read the following information carefully to understand how best to prepare and to understand the process of becoming a Psychology major at Sacramento State.
BS Psychology Program
Psychology courses are offered mostly in-person with approximately 20% of classes online or in hybrid format each semester. To view class schedules, follow the link below to the Class Schedule webpage and select a term.
*Schedules are subject to change and should not be considered a guarantee in future terms.
Students can take one online class each semester through the CSU Fully Online program, linked below, if they are enrolled in at least 7 units at Sacramento State. However, the major itself cannot be completed entirely online.
If students need a fully online program, the Sacramento State - College of Continuing Education (CCE) offers a Psychology Degree Completion Program, linked below, with the same curriculum and faculty as the stateside program. This program is designed for working professionals who have completed their general education requirements and are returning to finish their bachelor’s degree. Current Psychology majors that can no longer finish their degree in-person, can discuss their options with CCE program advisors.
Psychology Pre-Major
California State University, Sacramento has approved the “Pre-major” as a requirement for students for admission in the BS Psychology major.
The courses below are prerequisites to becoming a declared Psychology major. Students will have Pre-Major PSYC status while completing the major prerequisite courses.
Steps to Become a Psychology Major
- Submit application to California State University - Sacramento, choosing Psychology and acknowledging Pre-Major.
- Complete all required prerequisite courses with a grade of C− or better. Final grades must be posted to your transcript before your transition to the Psychology major can be processed.
- Transfer students completing an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) in Psychology may have in-progress prerequisite coursework considered when determining eligibility for the Psychology major. All other students must have final grades posted before their major status can be updated. In-progress coursework cannot be used to satisfy prerequisites for enrollment in Psychology courses.
- Transfer students who complete prerequisite coursework after applying to Sacramento State must submit an official transcript with final grades before their major status can be updated.
- Once all Pre-Major requirements have been verified, the department will automatically process your change from Psychology Pre-Major to Psychology. No additional forms or requests are required from students. Processing typically takes 2–3 weeks.
Please note that during Spring 2026 Expressed Interest Psychology (EI PSYC) is the designation for those interested in the Psychology major but not declared Psychology majors yet. In Summer 2026 EI PSYC students will be switched to the Pre-Major PSYC declaration. This change will occur once the 2026-2027 catalog is active.
Students do not need to submit a separate application or declaration form to become Psychology majors.
Community College Advisors
- Students are admitted to Sacramento State as Psychology Pre-Majors.
- Completing an ADT in Psychology is the recommended transfer pathway.
- Use ASSIST to verify course equivalencies.
- In-progress coursework is considered only for ADT Psychology students when determining major eligibility.
- Prerequisite courses must be completed with posted final grades before students may enroll in courses requiring those prerequisites. In-progress coursework does not satisfy enrollment prerequisites.
- To see a list of approved and no longer approved courses equivalent to PSYC 9 from other institutions, view the linked PSYC 9 Course substitution list below.
