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.
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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:
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.
Graduates of our Bachelor’s programs are eligible to apply to our Master’s programs and begin a career in mental or behavioral health. 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:
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.
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.
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.