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Bachelor of Arts Psychology Major

Note
See Bachelor of Applied Arts, Psychology for information on this program. For information on the Minor in Psychology, see Bachelor of Arts, Double minor program.

DESCRIPTION

Distinct from the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Psychology) which focuses on applied skills and research, the Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology degree focuses on core areas in psychology such as biopsychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and clinical/abnormal psychology. Students interested in further study and graduate school may augment their knowledge and skills by taking an honours option in Psychology. The honours option normally requires credits in addition to the 120 required for a four-year degree. Students will have some flexibility to focus their studies in key areas that are of interest to them.

Key Features of the program include:

  • The development of knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of Bachelor of Arts programs in Psychology

  • The preparation of students for entry into the labour market by incorporating employability and critical thinking skills into all psychology courses

  • The opportunity of pursuing graduate studies in psychology by taking the Honours option

  • Highly qualified, innovative faculty

  • The opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at Kwantlen University College where there is established emphasis on teaching, emerging emphasis on undergraduate research, long-standing connections to South Fraser communities, and accessibility for students in the expanding South Fraser region

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Although a BA in psychology does not prepare graduates for specific occupations, the value of a degree has been documented many times and BA Psychology graduates can be found working in such fields as: group home coordinator, behaviour analyst, residential youth counselor, loan officer, and customer relations.

Some careers in psychology require further study at the graduate level. An honours option allows interested students to study at the graduate level.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Students may be admitted into the BA program at year one, or three. In order to enter the BA program at year one and enroll in required writing and quantitative courses, students must have a grade of ‘B’ in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of ‘C’ in Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent). Students who do not qualify upon initial registration at Kwantlen will be able to apply for entry to the BA Qualifying Year and then enter the BA program after they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Students can transfer into the BA program at any time provided seats are available and they meet entrance requirements. Full-time BA program students receive registration priority over part-time and non-program students. In addition to Kwantlen’s standard application start date, students will be considered for admission based on the date of qualification.

CONTENT

During the first two years, the Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Major) will provide students with a rigorous, broad foundation in the liberal arts tradition. It will also expose students to the theoretical and methodological bases of psychology. The third and fourth years of the program include courses in the following five core areas of psychology:

  • Biopsychology

  • Cognition

  • Developmental

  • Social/Personality

  • Clinical/Abnormal

The following core requirements are to be completed within the first 60 credits:

  • 6-credit writing requirement including ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204 (or equivalent)

  • 6 credits of a minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement must be completed within the first 60 credits taken. These 9 credits must involve a minimum of 3 courses. (See list of approved courses.)

  • 12 credits of a minimum 24-credit breadth requirement must be completed within the first 60 credits taken. The breadth requirement will consist of a minimum of one course in at least four separate social science or humanities disciplines outside of the major program area and one 3000-4000 level course outside the main area with a minimum of one course at the 3000-level or higher of study. CMNS 3100 may be taken as an Arts breadth requirement. UNIV 1100, a first-year foundational course, and UNIV 4100, a fourth year summative course, may also be credited toward this requirement

  • Second language to grade 11 level (students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived)

Students must also complete the following:

  • A minimum of 120 credits, with at least 45 credits at the 3000 or 4000 levels

  • At least 60 credits must be completed at Kwantlen University College; however, students may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis upon approval, transfer up to a maximum of 90 credits towards the degree program.

     

As a requirement for graduation, students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, as well as a minimum grade of C in all required courses.

In addition to completing the core requirements of all Kwantlen Bachelor of Arts degree programs indicated above, students will have to complete course prerequisites as necessary in order to enroll in upper levels courses in Psychology.

An Honours program is available for Psychology Major students who wish to pursue post-graduate studies and who meet the prerequisites.

MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY
1000 LEVEL

  • PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes

  • PSYC 1200 Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications

2000 LEVEL

At least two (2) courses from the following list:

*(students must not take more than one of Psychology 2320, 2321, or 2322)

3000 AND 4000 LEVEL

Core Areas

At least ONE course from each of the five core areas to a minimum total of ten courses (30 credits). Students may take up to five courses (15 credits) from the list of additional courses. These courses will fulfill the minimum 30 credits required in third or fourth year psychology courses.

  1. Biopsychology:

    • PSYC 3910 Neuropsychology

    • PSYC 3320 Drugs and Behaviour

    • PSYC 4315 Neuroscience

  2. Cognitive:

    • PSYC 3311 Psychology of Consciousness

    • PSYC 3303 Psychology of Learning

    • PSYC 3215 Psychology of Memory

    • PSYC 4210 Critical Thinking

    • PSYC 3800 Evolutionary Psychology

  3. Developmental:

  4. Social / Personality:

    • PSYC 3307 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology

    • PSYC 3210 Attitudes and Persuasion

    • PSYC 3220 Group Dynamics

    • PSYC 3370 Advanced Personality Theory

    • PSYC 3451 Psychology and Law

    • PSYC 4700 Cultural Psychology

  5. Clinical/Abnormal:

    • PSYC 3350 Advanced Psychopathology

    • PSYC 3450 Clinical Psychotherapy

    • PSYC 3600 Health Psychology

    • PSYC 4350 Developmental Psychopathology

  6. Additional Courses

    • PSYC 3200 Industrial and Organizational Psychology

    • PSYC 3300 Applied Statistics II

    • PSYC 3301 Psychology of Work and Human Performance

    • PSYC 3400 Applied Research I

    • PSYC 3500 Interpersonal Relations I

    • PSYC 3930 Consumer Psychology - Research & Applications

    • PSYC 3940 Adult Education

    • PSYC 3950 Cognitive Ergonomics

    • PSYC 3970 Community Psychology

    • PSYC 4350 Special Topics in Psychopathology

    • PSYC 3451 Psychology and Law

    • PSYC 4100 Tests and Measurement

    • PSYC 4430 Directed Study in Social Psychological Research

    • PSYC 4400 Applied Research II

    • PSYC 4500 Interpersonal Relations II

    • PSYC 4800 Professional and Ethical Issues

    • PSYC 4900 Special Topics in Psychology

    • PSYC 4910 Rehabilitation

    • PSYC 5000 Honours Thesis I (BAA)

    • PSYC 5001 Honours Thesis I (BA)

    • PSYC 5010 Honours Thesis II

GRADUATION

Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology.