Psychology - Applied: Bachelor of Science (also: Honours)

Description

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology is ideal for students interested in pursuing a health sciences career. This is also the Psychology degree program most suited for students who have an interest in neuroscience, particularly at the graduate level. The BSc is the most interdisciplinary of our psychology degrees, exposing students to biology, chemistry, math, and physics in addition to a broad array of psychology courses. This degree is also very “hands-on” with students being exposed to lab and research experiences as well as developing technical writing skills and workplace expertise.

The degree was developed in close connection with employers in the field and community partners, and has an applied focus that prepares students for employment upon graduation, for research-focused graduate studies, or for entry into professional programs of study. Many courses within this program have a lab component. The program takes a systems/ecological approach, recognizing the interrelationships between humans and their environments.

As part of their upper-level coursework, students will take courses across three main topical areas within Psychology: (1) research skills; (2) biological psychology; and (3) health psychology. The degree will be embedded throughout with psychological application, including hands-on lab experience and courses focusing on human interaction with and use of modern technology, professional business practices, and technical writing. Students also participate in a workplace practicum coordinated by KPU and co-supervised by faculty and employers in relevant fields of employment. This practicum placement will assist students in gaining workplace experience and in meeting potential future employers.

Students interested in applying to graduate school or who prefer a more extensive research experience are encouraged to apply to the Honours program. 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. B.Sc. in Applied Psychology students can complete the Honours program within the 40 courses required for the degree.

Career Opportunities

A student who successfully completes the B.Sc. in Applied Psychology, will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

Critically examine the research literature
Contribute effectively to a seminar discussion
Deliver a presentation based on primary source research
Communicate ideas effectively in written and oral forms
Critically evaluate primary and secondary source material
Develop a research program
Apply skills in a relevant work setting
Demonstrate solid ethical decision making both in research and practice
Work within an interdisciplinary framework
Demonstrate comprehensive and critical understanding of statistical and methodological approaches to scientific enquiry
Demonstrate a working knowledge of various scientific technologies and techniques

The degree was developed in close collaboration with industry/employers to ensure positive outcomes and maximum opportunities. Graduates of this degree could therefore find employment in areas such as health sciences, vocational rehabilitation mental health services, disability services, software usability research, program evaluation, research and design, and pharmaceutics, among other opportunities.. They would also be well prepared for post-graduate programs in a variety of health professions. Students who complete the Honours option would be well prepared for research-focused graduate studies in neuroscience, psychology, counselling, public policy, and other areas.

Admission Requirements

The Faculty's Admission Requirements, which consist of KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, apply to this program.

Declaration Requirements

Students intending to graduate with this 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 24 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following:
- 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
- PSYC 1100 with a minimum grade of “C”
- PSYC 1200 with a minimum grade of “C”
- BIOL 1110
- CHEM 1110
- MATH 1120 or MATH 1130
- PHYS 1101 or PHYS 1120

Curricular Requirements

Applied Psychology Degree

All students must meet the following minimum requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology:

127 credits of undergraduate coursework
33 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, including the following:
- 6 credits at the 4000 level
- 30 credits in PSYC
- 3 credits in a subject area other than PSYC
6 credits in MATH
30 credits in BIOL, CHEM or PHYS
A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
32 credits overall, including a minimum of 12 credits in 3000- or 4000-level PSYC courses, completed through courses taken at KPU.

1000-level Requirements

All of:
	BIOL 1110	Introductory Biology I	4 credits
	BIOL 1210	Introductory Biology II	4 credits
	CHEM 1110	The Structure of Matter	4 credits
	CHEM 1210	Chemical Energetics and Dynamics	4 credits
	ENGL 1100	Introduction to University Writing	3 credits
	ENGL 12xx	A course at the 1200 level	3 credits
	PSYC 1100	Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes	3 credits
	PSYC 1200	Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications	3 credits
And one of:
	MATH 1120	Differential Calculus	3 credits
	MATH 1130	Calculus for Life Sciences I (recommended)	3 credits
And one of:
	MATH 1220	Integral Calculus	3 credits
	MATH 1230	Calculus for Life Sciences II (recommended)	3 credits
And one of:
	PHYS 1101	Physics for Life Sciences I	4 credits
	PHYS 1120	Physics for Physical and Applied Sciences I	4 credits

2000-level Requirements

All of:
	BIOL 2321	Cell Biology	4 credits
	CHEM 2320	Organic Chemistry I	4 credits
	PSYC 2300	Applied Statistics	3 credits
	PSYC 2315	Brain and Behaviour	3 credits
	PSYC 2330	Social Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 2375	Perception	3 credits
	PSYC 2385	Cognition	3 credits
	PSYC 2400	Experimental Psychology: Research Methodology	3 credits
And one of:
	BIOL 2320	Genetics	4 credits
	BIOL 2421	Cellular Biochemistry	3 credits

3000- and 4000-level Requirements

All of:
	CMNS 3100	Technical Report Writing	3 credits
	PSYC 4000	Practicum	3 credits
	PSYC 4700	Culture and Psychology	3 credits
And at least two of:
	Statistics and Research Methodology Courses
	PSYC 3300	Applied Statistics II	3 credits
	PSYC 3400	Applied Research I	3 credits
	PSYC 3960	Program Evaluation	3 credits
	PSYC 4100	Tests and Measurement	3 credits
	PSYC 4400	Research Methods II: Qualitative Methodologies	3 credits
And at least two of:
	Biological Psychology
	PSYC 3303	Learning: Theory and Practice	3 credits
	PSYC 3320	Drugs and Behaviour	3 credits
	PSYC 3910	Neuropsychology	3 credits
	PSYC 4315	Neuroscience	3 credits
And at least two of:
	Health and Clinical Psychology
	PSYC 3350	Advanced Topics in Psychopathology	3 credits
	PSYC 3450	Clinical Psychology: Intervention	3 credits
	PSYC 3451	Psychology and Law	3 credits
	PSYC 3600	Health Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 3920	Aging	3 credits
	PSYC 4350	Developmental Psychopathology	3 credits
	PSYC 4910	Rehabilitation	3 credits
And at least two of:
	Applied Psychology
	PSYC 3200	Industrial and Organizational Psychology	3 credits
	PSYC 3220	Group Dynamics	3 credits
	PSYC 3930	Consumer Psychology Research & Applications	3 credits
	PSYC 3950	Cognitive Ergonomics	3 credits
	PSYC 4200	Human Factors: Technology and Behaviour	3 credits
	PSYC 4500	Interpersonal Relations	3 credits

Electives

In addition to the courses specified above, students must complete 27 credits of electives
	Electives may be chosen from any subject area and at any level provided all core requirements are met.	27 credits

Honours

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology Honours degree must complete the following 12 credits, and can do so in lieu of elective credits, and within the 127 credits required for degree completion:

	PSYC 5000	Honours Thesis I	6 credits
	PSYC 5010	Honours Thesis II	6 credits

Enrolment in Psychology Honours courses is competitive and 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 anticipated course schedules.

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