Bachelor of Arts - Major in Psychology

Offered At:	Start Date:
1st and 2nd Year (All campuses) 3rd and 4th year (Surrey Campus)	September January, May
Enrolment Access:	Format:
Limited	Full-time Part-time
Contact Us:
Enrolment and Registrar Services
To contact Enrolment and Registrar Services at any Kwantlen campus, phone 604.599.2000.
E-mail: admissions@kwantlen.ca
Educational Advising
To book an appointment with an educational advisor on any Kwantlen campus, visit Enrolment and Registrar Services in person, or phone 604.599.2000.
Student Awards and Financial Assistance
To contact Student Awards and Financial Assistance at any Kwantlen campus, phone 604.599.2000.
How Do I Apply?
Apply in person at one of our Enrolment and Registrar Services offices or online at: www.kwantlen.ca/apply

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 requires twelve 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 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 any time that admission requirements are met and will receive priority course registration. For admission to the B.A. program, students must have a grade of ‘B’ in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of ‘C’ in principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12.

Students who do not qualify upon initial registration at Kwantlen but possess at least a 'C' in English 12 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12 will be able to apply for entry to the B.A. Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the BA program in the second year provided they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Other unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to meet an Educational Advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.

Registration access to third or fourth year courses is first awarded to students who have completed at least 60 credits of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a grade of 'C' in all required courses including the English writing requirement, 2 Quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their declared major and/or minor program(s).

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 for all Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs:

Complete a total of 120 credits with a minimum of 65 credits in Arts courses (Humanities and/or Social Sciences), and 45 credits with courses numbered 3000 or higher.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. with a minimum grade of 'C' in all of the following required courses within the degree program (except where stated):

6-credit English writing requirement which includes ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204.
Minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement that must include a minimum of 3 approved quantitative courses, and of which one approved course must be taken from the Faculty of Science and Horticulture.
24-credit breadth requirement consisting of a minimum of one course in at least four separate Social Science or Humanities disciplines outside of the major program area, one of which must be at the 3000-level or higher. CMNS 3100, LCOM 1100, and LCOM 4100 may also be credited towards the breadth requirement.
Second language at the Grade 11 level (Beginner’s or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement), or 6-credits of post-secondary language courses (in the same language). Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
Required courses for the major and/or minor program(s).

Other completed courses may qualify to meet degree requirements. Students are encouraged to contact the BA Degree Advisor with questions about eligibility for program application or graduation.

In addition to completing the core requirements of all Kwantlen Bachelor of Arts degree programs indicated above, students will have to complete course and program prerequisites as necessary in order to enrol in upper levels courses in the various departments within the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities.

Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for a B.A. degree; however, they may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis. If such an exemption is granted, then residency may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper level credits within the subject area must be completed at Kwantlen.

MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY

1000 LEVEL

PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
PSYC 1200 Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications

2000 LEVEL

PSYC 2300 Applied Statistics
PSYC 2400 Experimental Psychology: Research Methodology
PSYC 2315 Brain and Behaviour
PSYC 2385 Cognition

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

PSYC 2308 History & Systems of Contemporary Psychology
PSYC 2320 Developmental Psychology: Childhood*
PSYC 2321 Developmental Psychology: Adolescence*
PSYC 2322 Developmental Psychology: Adulthood*
PSYC 2330 Social Psychology
PSYC 2350 Psychopathology

*Note: Students may not take more than one of PSYC 2320, 2321, or 2322 towards this requirement. Students who complete more than one of PSYC 2320, 2321 and 2322 may use the additional course(s) as part of their lower level electives.

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.

Biopsychology:
- PSYC 3320 Drugs and Behaviour
- PSYC 3910 Neuropsychology
- PSYC 4315 Neuroscience
Cognitive:
- PSYC 3215 Psychology of Memory
- PSYC 3303 Psychology of Learning
- PSYC 3311 Psychology of Consciousness
- PSYC 3800 Evolutionary Psychology
- PSYC 4210 Critical Thinking
Developmental:
- PSYC 3316 Infancy
- PSYC 3920 Aging
Social/Personality:
- PSYC 3210 Attitudes and Persuasion
- PSYC 3220 Group Dynamics
- PSYC 3307 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology
- PSYC 3370 Advanced Personality Theory
- PSYC 3451 Psychology and Law
- PSYC 4700 Cultural Psychology
Clinical/Abnormal:
- PSYC 3350 Advanced Psychopathology
- PSYC 3450 Clinical Psychotherapy
- PSYC 3600 Health Psychology
- PSYC 4350 Developmental Psychopathology
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 3451 Psychology and Law
- PSYC 3500 Interpersonal Relations I
- PSYC 3930 Consumer Psychology - Research & Applications
- PSYC 3940 Adult Education
- PSYC 3950 Cognitive Ergonomics
- PSYC 3970 Community Psychology
- PSYC 4100 Tests and Measurement
- PSYC 4350 Special Topics in Psychopathology
- 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
Students who wish to graduate with the BA, Psychology Honours Degree must complete the following 2 courses in addition to their degree requirements:
- PSYC 5000 Honours Thesis I (BAA) or PSYC 5001 Honours Thesis I (BA)
- PSYC 5010 Honours Thesis II

HONOURS OPTION

Students interested in applying to graduate school or who prefer a more extensive research experience are encourage to complete the Honours program. A limited number of seats area available each year for Honours students. Interested students can obtain an Honours program application from the Psychology Department during their last year or after completion of their degree. In order to be admitted to the BA, Psychology, Honours program students are expected to achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3, obtain a 'B+' grade in both PSYC 3300 and 3400 (' B+' in PSYC 3334 may be used to substitute these two courses), obtain an endorsement by a faculty member to serve as a thesis advisor, and be recommended by the Psychology Honours selection committee. Selection are made in May. The Honours Program consists of two thesis courses (PSYC 5000 and PSYC 5010) which are offered in September and January respectively, and which are in addition to the 120 credits required by the Bachelor of Applied Arts, Psychology.

GRADUATION

Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology or a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology (Honours). Students may have the option of adding a Minor to their credential by completing any of the BA Minor options at Kwantlen.