Bachelor of Science Degrees

PAU’s online learning format takes the distance out of distance learning.

Undergraduate degrees are offered as virtual-remote online programs. Each course includes a weekly Zoom video-conferencing session of 1 hour and 20 minutes where you will interact with your course instructor and fellow students. Class Sessions are held between Monday and Thursday at either 6:00 PM PST or 7:30 PM PST. 

Please note that online students must be located in a state in which PAU is authorized to provide online education.

Prior to enrolling at PAU, undergraduate students are asked to complete approximately 90 quarter units (60 semesters) including General Education courses.  PAU's general education requirements largely mirror the requirements to transfer to a California State University (CSU) or University of California. 

We have outlined below a general articulation plan as it relates to courses guaranteed to transfer from a CA community college to the CSU system. This list is not comprehensive - we encourage students to complete a transfer evaluation to get a clear sense of how many courses they may transfer to PAU. You can also visit assist.org to see a list of courses at your community college that are certified to meet the general education requirements.

Completing GE Courses (while enrolled @ PAU)

Although students are encouraged to complete all general education requirements prior to enrolling, students may complete some while enrolled at PAU. Students will need to develop an Individualized Education Plan with their academic advisor prior to the start of classes. This plan will outline the remaining general education requirements and a mechanism for their completion. This can include:

• College Level Examination Program ( CLEP)-  https://clep.collegeboard.org/
• Accredited community college courses
• Classes at other accredited 4-year institutions
• Straighterline courses- https://www.straighterline.com/
• Sophia courses- www.sohpia.org
• PAU courses fulfilling GE requirements

Foreign Language Competency Assessment- https://www.avantassessment.com/languages

PAU works to keep the admissions process quick and easy. For consideration for admission into our bachelor’s degree programs, you must have completed approximately 90 units (60 semester) of transferrable college-level coursework. This can include credit granted for alternative forms of education, such as 

• Experiential Learning Credit (granted after a university portfolio review)
• Foreign Language Competency (granted after a review of a taped formal interview and writing sample)
• Military Education Credit for Veterans (https://www.va.gov/resources/how-do-i-get-college-credits-for-my-military-service/)
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) (https://clep.collegeboard.org/)
• High School Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate Exams (IB)

Course credits that are not awarded as general education or major requirement transfer credit may still transfer as elective units, upon review and approval of the Department Chair. A complete summary of transferable credits will be provided to admitted students before the deposit deadline.

Bachelor's Application Requirements

Ready to continue your educational journey at PAU? With no letters of recommendation and no application fee, we have streamlined the application process to make it easy for you. 

When applying to Palo Alto University, you must complete the following criteria: 

• Submit an Online Application
• Submit unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions attended
  • Final official transcripts from all colleges attended are required for enrolling students. We recommend you arrange to have them sent to PAU by the first day of classes. PAU places a registration hold on your student record if we do not receive transcripts in time. Failure to submit final official transcript(s) by the end of the first term results in being dropped from classes.
• Completion of the following courses:
  • Intermediate Algebra or higher
  • General education requirements
• At least 84 transferrable quarter units completed at the time of enrollment. Only courses from regionally accredited institutions with a grade of C or higher are transferable and must be at the 100 level (non-remedial) or equivalent to be eligible for transfer.
  
  Transferable units may include:
• Psychology Courses
• General Education units
• Lower-division or upper-division elective units
• Upper-division transfer units applicable to major requirements
• Alternative forms of general education or elective units, such as AP tests, IB tests, CLEP, and US Military credit

Enroll in Any Quarter and Start Your Journey at PAU! 

• Summer Quarter Deadline: June 16, 2025
• Fall Quarter Deadline: End of August, 2025
• Winter Quarter Deadline: December 12, 2025
• Spring Quarter Deadline: March, 20, 2026
• Summer Quarter Deadline: June 12, 2026 
• Fall Quarter Deadline: End of August, 2026

 Apply Now to Start This Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall.

The Office of Admissions must receive all application materials before the application review can take place. Once we receive your application, an admissions counselor reviews your application and schedules a meeting to discuss your goals and enrollment plans.

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of general education requirements
• Completion of all classes required for the major
• 180 quarter units in total
• Completion of 45 upper-division quarter units
• 45 units must be completed at Palo Alto University
• Students must complete a minimum of 30 units in their major at PAU, and must be enrolled at PAU during the last two terms prior to graduation.

Visit our Tuition and Cost page or contact our Financial Aid department to learn more. 

Students who complete at least twenty focused units in an additional area of specialty may petition the Department Undergraduate Studies Chair to have an academic concentration listed on their transcripts. 

For example, an individual completing the requirements for a BS in Psychology may have also taken 20 business units for a business concentration. 

Credit evaluation begins with a review of submitted transcripts. Courses from regionally accredited institutions with a grade of C or higher are transferable and must be at the 100-level (non-remedial) or equivalent in order to be eligible for transfer. Members of the Office of Admissions staff determine initial credit for general education courses or elective units. 

• Members of the Office of Admissions staff determine credit for general education courses or elective units.
• Credit evaluation begins with review of transcripts. Classes that are already articulated (meaning already identified as completing CSU A-E requirements), and for which the student received a C grade or better, are automatically credited.
• The Associate Director of Admission evaluates non-articulated courses on a case-by-case basis. This process determines whether a course sufficiently matches the content and learning outcomes for a general education course. This evaluation is usually completed by reviewing the catalog entry for the course in question but may require a review of the course syllabus.

• Undergraduate program faculty determine transfer credit for major requirements.
• Students requesting transfer credit toward their major should consult with their academic advisor.

• Courses that are not awarded as general education or major requirement transfer credit may still transfer as elective units, upon review and approval of the Associate Director of Admissions.
• A complete summary of transferable credits will be provided to admitted students.
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams (MIN SCORE OF 50), High School Advanced Placement (AP) exams (MIN SCORE OF 3) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams (MIN SCORE OF 4) may be used as substitutes for some general education requirements.
• Only courses from regionally accredited institutions with a grade of C or higher are transferable and must be at the 100-level (non-remedial) or equivalent in order to be eligible for transfer.

Palo Alto University’s undergraduate programs will evaluate courses taken in the armed services for transfer credit. In order to have your military educational experiences evaluated for credit, you must submit evaluated transcript(s) from the appropriate agency.

The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard now use the centralized Joint Services Transcript System, which will electronically send your official transcript to PAU upon your request. The transcript includes your military training and occupational experience along with American Council on Education college credit recommendations. The Air Force uses the Community College of the Air Force.

Palo Alto University considers both military service and military coursework for academic credit using the guidelines issued by the American Council on Education (ACE). We refer to the ACE “Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Services” when determining applicable transfer credit for military experience and training. Job specialties (MOS, AFSC, Rate) must have a recommendation evaluation by ACE (in the ACE Guide) for credit to be awarded.

Students in the BS in Psychology program are required to complete a six-month senior internship as part of their studies. The internship gives students experience with the practical applications of psychology and social action and helps them explore career options.

Students interested in research have the opportunity to intern as a research assistant with professors actively engaged in psychological research. Students who prefer to work in a community agency, clinical setting or other social action setting intern in local community agencies and organizations.

Senior interns will earn academic credit toward graduation. They work approximately eight hours per week at their internship site, while also completing required senior course work. Students already employed in social service settings may be able to do their internship at their place of employment with the approval of their faculty advisor.

At their internship sites, students are supervised by a professional member of the agency staff. They are also mentored by a PAU professor, who helps them integrate their internship experiences with their coursework.

Internship sites may include community mental health centers, schools, community service agencies, nonprofit organizations, or other similar settings. Organizations at which PAU students have interned include:

• Alameda Police Department
• Bill Wilson Center
• Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula
• Catholic Charities
• Children's Health Council
• County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency
• Family Matters In-Home Care, LLC
• Kaiser Permanente
• Salvation Army
• Santa Clara County Social Services
• Service League of San Mateo County
• Silicon Valley Animal Shelter
• Social Media Marketing University
• Stanford University School of Medicine – Research Assistance
• Target Specialty Products
• Trumpet Behavioral Health
• Ujima Adult and Family Services, Inc.

Palo Alto University (PAU) only offers Bachelor of Science degrees. A Bachelor of Science degree focuses more on science and mathematics courses and is focused on achieving a psychology degree. 

On the other hand, a Bachelor of Arts degree generally requires more liberal arts courses, such as foreign language and humanities.

Enroll in Any Quarter and Start Your Journey at PAU! 

 Apply Now to Start This Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall.

As qualified applications are received, students are notified of their acceptance status quickly and efficiently. This allows students to apply early, plan ahead, and prepare for their educational plans.

Transferring into PAU's undergrad programs is easy and convenient. Students are required to have completed 84 units of transferrable credit. 

Yes! Since PAU is an accredited institution, students are eligible to receive state, federal, and institutional aid. This gives students both grant and loan options when paying for school. Private scholarships are also available through PAU. Check with the financial aid office for details and deadlines.

Students in PAU's undergraduate programs have many opportunities to participate in the larger community.

Whether enrolled in on-campus or online programs, students are encouraged to get involved. Actively participating in student life enhances learning, creates friendships and builds professional relationships. There are many options for students to get involved in social, service learning, and academic activities.

Academic Support

PAU provides students with resources to excel academically:

• Annual orientations to help students get on their feet quickly and effectively.
• Video conferences in online classes that build strong relationships with instructors and members of their cohort.
• Faculty advisors who help students succeed and get support when they need it.
• Regularly scheduled social events with program directors and faculty to facilitate strong connections.

Career Talks and Professional Speaker Series

Experts in psychology and business disciplines are regularly invited to present talks in their areas of expertise. Recent topics have included international consulting, resume writing and job search tips, careers in forensic psychology, susceptibility to hypnosis, positive psychology, the psychology of terrorists and terrorism, and the adolescent brain.

Social Activities

PAU sponsors large scale events and intimate gatherings, including a research forum, an annual gala, lunch-and-learn networking sessions with industry professionals, and more. These provide opportunities for students to meet faculty and students outside of their program. After students graduate they become part of the PAU Alumni Association.

Student Government

The Undergraduate Student Council offers leadership opportunities for interested students.

Student Organizations

More than 20 university-wide student organizations welcome students to join, such as:

• Students for Ethnic and Cultural Awareness
• PAU Running Group
• Healing, Spirituality, and Social Action Group
• Student Parent Association
• Student Veteran Organization
• and many more!

International students are welcome to apply to PAU's undergraduate programs. Since PAU program is taught solely online, International students must remain in their home country while completing the program. No student visa's are offered at this time due to no residential classes. 

PAU uses the ZOOM video conferencing system to foster real-time interaction among professors and students. To experience ZOOM, sign up for an online info session. 

Students will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection to participate in online classes and download course materials. Online students also need a headset with a microphone to join discussions. 

All PAU faculty teaching online courses receive training on best practices and instructional effectiveness for online courses.

Palo Alto University’s undergraduate programs will accept transfer credit awarded for courses taken in the armed services. In order to have your military educational experiences evaluated for credit, you must submit evaluated transcript(s) from the appropriate agency.

The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard now use the centralized Joint Services Transcript System, which will electronically send your official transcript to PAU upon your request. The transcript includes your military training and occupational experience along with American Council on Education college credit recommendations. The Air Force uses the Community College of the Air Force.

(https://www.va.gov/resources/how-do-i-get-college-credits-for-my-military-service/)

Palo Alto University considers both military service and military coursework for academic credit using the guidelines issued by the American Council on Education (ACE). We refer to the ACE “Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Services” when determining applicable transfer credit for military experience and training. Job specialties (MOS, AFSC, Rate) must have a recommendation evaluation by ACE (in the ACE Guide) for credit to be awarded.