Psychology: Bachelor of Arts Major and Honours

Description

Distinct from the more specialized Bachelor of Applied Arts in Psychology which focuses on applied skills and research in the context of the workplace and community service, the Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology is a more traditional degree focusing on core areas in psychology including biopsychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social/personality psychology, and clinical/abnormal psychology. In their upper-level coursework, students have a great deal of flexibility to focus their studies in key areas of interest. Students also have the option of completing a workplace practicum coordinated by KPU and co-supervised by faculty and employers in relevant fields of employment.

Those interested in further study and graduate school or who prefer more extensive research experience may augment their knowledge and skills by taking a separate one year research-focused Honours program in Psychology. The Honours program affords students an opportunity to develop and report on a research project under the direct supervision of a faculty member within the Psychology Department. The Honours program requires 12 credits in addition to the 120 required for a four-year Bachelor degree.

Career Opportunities

The value of a BA in Psychology has been documented many times and BA Psychology graduates can be found working in a variety of roles such as: group home coordinator, behaviour analyst, residential and youth counselor, to list but a few examples. Many employers are interested in the critical thinking and research skills that psychology majors bring and, as a result, psychology graduates are marketable well beyond the boundaries of psychology. For example, our BA psychology graduates have also been successful in finding employment as loans officers, probation officers, office managers, and customer relations representatives.

Careers in psychology generally require further study at the graduate level and, to this end, the Honours program is available to students interested in pursuing graduate degrees. BA students who have completed the Honours program have gone on to graduate studies in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Gerontology, Education, School Psychology, and Experimental Psychology, to name only a few examples.

Admission Requirements

Students pursuing a major in Psychology must be admitted to the Faculty of Arts.

Declaration Requirements

Students intending to graduate with this Faculty of Arts Bachelor’s degree must declare the credential by the time they complete 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• In good academic standing with the University
• Completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following with a minimum grade of “C”:
  • 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
  • 6 credits at the 1100 level or higher in the Major area

Curricular Requirements

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts Framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.

Note: A first-year English course, ENGL 1100, is a requirement of this program. This course has prerequisites that may require a student to complete additional preparatory courses.

Psychology Major

Students must complete the following requirements.

1000 and 2000 Level

All of:
	PSYC 1100	Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes	3 credits
	PSYC 1200	Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications	3 credits
	PSYC 2300	Applied Statistics	3 credits
	PSYC 2315	Brain and Behaviour	3 credits
	PSYC 2330	Social Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 2385	Cognition	3 credits
	PSYC 2400	Experimental Psychology: Research Methodology	3 credits

Electives

Recommended electives can be chosen from:
	PSYC 2308	History & Systems of Contemporary Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 2350	Psychopathology	3 credits
	Or one of:
	PSYC 2320	Developmental Psychology: Childhood*	3 credits
	PSYC 2321	Developmental Psychology: Adolescence*	3 credits
	PSYC 2322	Developmental Psychology: Adulthood*	3 credits

3000 and 4000 Level

Students must take a minimum of 30 credits of 3000 and 4000 level psychology courses. This must include at least ONE course from each of the five core areas. The remaining 15 credits may be selected from any 3000- or 4000-level Psychology courses, including courses from the core areas not used to satisfy area requirements.

Core areas:
	1. Biopsychology:
	PSYC 3320	Drugs and Behaviour	3 credits
	PSYC 3910	Neuropsychology	3 credits
	PSYC 4315	Neuroscience	3 credits
	2. Cognitive:
	PSYC 3215	Psychology of Memory	3 credits
	PSYC 3303	Psychology of Learning	3 credits
	PSYC 3311	Psychology of Consciousness	3 credits
	PSYC 3800	Evolutionary Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 4210	Critical Thinking	3 credits
	3. Developmental:
	PSYC 3316	Infancy	3 credits
	PSYC 3920	Aging	3 credits
	4. Social/Personality:
	PSYC 3210	Attitudes and Persuasion	3 credits
	PSYC 3220	Group Dynamics	3 credits
	PSYC 3307	Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 3370	Advanced Personality Theory	3 credits
	PSYC 3451	Psychology and Law	3 credits
	PSYC 4700	Cultural Psychology	3 credits
	5. Clinical/Abnormal:
	PSYC 3350	Advanced Topics in Psychopathology	3 credits
	PSYC 3450	Clinical Psychotherapy	3 credits
	PSYC 3600	Health Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 4350	Developmental Psychopathology	3 credits
And: 15 further credits of any PSYC courses at the 3000- or 4000-level
	Please see the Course Descriptions section of the Calendar for a full listing of 3000- and 4000-level PSYC courses.

Honours

In addition to the 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Psychology degree must complete a further 12 credits consisting of the following:

	PSYC 5001	Honours Thesis I (BA)	6 credits
	PSYC 5010	Honours Thesis II	6 credits

Enrolment in Psychology Honours courses requires the permission of the Psychology Honours committee. In order to be considered for Honours courses, students are expected to achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and to obtain a 'B+' grade in both PSYC 3300 and 3400. Students must also obtain endorsement from a faculty member who will serve as their thesis advisor, and be recommended by the Psychology Honours committee.

Please see kpu.ca/arts/psychology/honours for further information regarding application deadlines and selection criteria.

Students may receive either the Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology degree or the Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Psychology degree, but not both.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of the honours program, students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). Transcripts will indicate a Major in Psychology.

Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in Psychology.