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:

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.

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.

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:

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

Students must also complete the following:

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.

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.

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