Psychology

Associate of Arts - Specialization in Psychology 

About

Explore human nature and turn your passion into a college degree.

Begin with an Associate of Arts (DTA) degree with direct transfer into a Bachelor program in Psychology. The Associate of Arts (DTA) degree consists of 90 quarter credits earned in General Requirements, Distribution Requirements and Electives. The public community colleges and the four-year colleges and universities of the State of Washington have an established Direct Transfer Agreement. That agreement allows students who hold the Associate of Arts (DTA) degree to transfer at least 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) to four-year institutions for the purpose of satisfying most or all of the general education requirements of the receiving institution.

Where can I transfer?

Students can transfer to a number of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S., but the Direct Transfer Agreement applies only within Washington state. Our faculty advisors can help you plan your coursework for transfer.

Contact the Psychology department at your chosen four-year school(s) for more information:

 

 

Degree Program

Associate of Arts Degree (DTA) with a Psychology track (90 credits)
Requirements
Career Options

 

The Associate of Arts (DTA) degree consists of 90 credits earned in General Requirements, Distribution Requirements and Electives.

  • 90 quarter credit hours in courses numbered 100 or above, including distribution requirements.
  • At least 30 applicable credits earned at Tacoma Community College.
  • A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in all coursework applied to the associate degree and all TCC college-level courses.
  • No more than three physical education activity credits.
  • At least one course (5 credits) of the 90 credits applied toward graduation must be an approved multicultural course.
  • Students who plan to transfer to The Evergreen State College or to the University of Washington–Tacoma are strongly advised to include at least one learning community (coordinated studies or linked course) as part of their degree. See distribution electives.

Degree Worksheet (PDF) Associate of Arts (DTA) Degree with Psychology Specialization

2022-2023 Distribution Course List (PDF)

 

Psychology Core
Number Title Credits
 
PSYC& 100 General Psychology 5
PSYC& 202 Biopsychology 5
PSYC& 209 5 Fundamentals of Psychological Research 5

PSYC Foundation Courses: Select 2

PSYC& 180 Human Sexuality  5
PSYC& 200 Lifespan Psychology  5
PSYCH 205 Introduction to Personality 5
PSYC& 220 Abnormal Psychology 5
PSYC 240 Social Psychology 5

 

Basic Requirements (15 credits)
Number Title Credits

COMMUNICATION SKILLS (10 CREDITS)

ENGL& 101 English Composition I

English Composition/Speaking Skills 

Select 5 additional credits from the Communication section of the Approved Distribution Course List. 

QUANTITATIVE SKILLS (5 CREDITS)
Select one course from the following:

MATH 136 Inferential Statistics

or MATH& 146 Introduction to Statistics

Distribution Requirements (60 credits)

HUMANITIES (15 CREDITS)

Select courses from the Humanities section of the Approved Distribution Course List. Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines with no more than 10 credits in any one discipline. No more than 5 credits in world language at the 100 level.

No more than five credits of performance/skills course(s) can be used to satisfy this requirement.

SOCIAL SCIENCES (15 CREDITS)

Select courses from the Social Sciences section of the Approved Distribution Course List. Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines with no more than 10 credits in any one discipline.  Up to 10 credits of PSYC courses in the Specialization Requirements may be applied toward this requirement.

 

NATURAL SCIENCES (15 CREDITS)

Select courses from the Natural Sciences section of the Approved Distribution Course List. Courses must be selected from at least two disciplines with no more than 10 credits in any one discipline. Courses must include at least 10 credits from the courses listed as Biological, Earth, and Physical Sciences. Courses must include at least one laboratory course.  Recommendations include:  BIOL& 175 Human Biology and ANTH& 205 Biological Anthropology.

 

MULTICULTURAL (5 CREDITS)

Select one course from the Multicultural section of the Approved Distribution Course List.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (3 CREDITS)

Select three PE credits. No more than three PE activity credits apply toward the degree. The following PE courses do not count as activity credits: PE 190, PE 191, PE 285, PE 292.

DISTRIBUTION ELECTIVES (12 CREDITS)

Distribution electives must be selected from courses listed under the Communication, Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or General Distribution Courses sections of the Approved Distribution Course List. Select courses needed to fulfill Psychology Specialization Requirements.

Students are advised to take at least one writing intensive course (other than a written communication skills course) as part of their degree requirements and electives.

Other College-Level Electives (15 credits)

Select courses needed to fulfill the remaining Psychology Specialization Requirements, if necessary. All elective credits must be selected from courses numbered 100 or above. PE activity credits cannot be used as electives.

 

Psychology majors gain knowledge, skills and experience relevant to a wide range of careers, including case managers, probation officers, consultants, mediators, business professionals, grant writers and journalists. With additional education, psychology majors can become social workers, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, professors, researchers and lawyers.

Research Jobs and Careers for this area of study.

 

Contact Us

 

Dr. Steffi Schrepfer

sschrepfer@tacomacc.edu

253-566-5293
Bldg. F2-16
6501 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98466

Dr. Pam Costa

pcosta@tacomacc.edu

253-566-5289
Bldg. F2-25
6501 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98466

Liza Rendon, M.A.

lrendon@tacomacc.edu

253-566-5296
Bldg. F2-22
6501 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA 98466