Needed now more than ever, pursue a career in a field that relates to virtually every aspect of people’s lives.

You’ll scientifically study thought, feeling and behaviour. Gain critical thinking skills, and be able to analyze and interpret diverse sets of data.

Change through education is at the centre of our Psychology Major. By participating in classroom discussions, readings, guided research and independent study, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the tools needed to analyze psychological and biological processes and more.

Why pursue a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Major?

Employers overwhelmingly identify a deficit in critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills, and are in need of employees with good oral communication skills, able to effectively work with others.

Future Proof

You will cultivate the skills that employers are looking for in communication, decision-making, critical thinking, problem-solving, self-learning, working with groups, leadership, global competency, ethics and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world settings.

Experiential Learning

And because employers want entry-level candidates with some work experience, you have opportunities in undergraduate research, co-op work placements, practicums, field schools, service learning and study abroad.

Collaborative Faculty

Your lecturers approach teaching with compassion for their students and truly foster a productive learning environment. Enjoy class with enthusiastic professors, and active listening in small class settings.

What will I learn?

You’ll explore selected topics in contemporary psychology, including intelligence, development, personality, social psychology, emotion, motivation, and psychopathology. Gain conceptual and practical knowledge of the types of data analysis most commonly used in psychology.

Consider the relationship between psychological and biological processes. The anatomy of the brain and neutral activity as well as the endocrine system as it relates to the sensory and motor abilities, learning and memory, language, motivation, states of consciousness and sexual behaviour.

You’ll examine the major theories of personality formation, including psychodynamic, cognitive, humanistic, and behavioural approaches. You’re provided an opportunity to relate this material to personal growth and development.

Study psychopathology from historical, contemporary and cross cultural perspectives. Consider evolving models and issues including biological, psychological, and social behavioural approaches to assessment, causes, and treatment of a wide range of disordered behaviour.

• 97% of graduates said that said the quality of instruction was very good or good
• 73% of employed graduate respondents were working full-time
• 73% of employed respondents were in a job related to their program
• 67% took further studies

Taken from bcstats.

To graduate with a major in psychology, students are required to complete a minimum of 54 credits of Psychology courses, comprised of 21 lower-level credits (7 courses) and 33 upper-level credits (11 courses), as described below.

In addition to the requirements for the major in Psychology, students are expected to complete requirements for the BA degree. (120 credits)

Students will complete PSYC4280 - the Psychology Capstone - during the last 30 credits of their degree.

Students must also complete the University's General Education requirements, including the completion of the capstone course, which must be taken in the final 30 credits of study.

Lower level required courses (15.00 Credits)

1. PSYC1110-Introduction to Psychology 1 (3)
2. PSYC1210- Introduction to Psychology 2 (3)
3. PSYC2100-Analysis of Psychological Data (3)
4. PSYC2110-Intro to Research Methods (3)
5. PSYC2040-Introduction to Biological Psychology (3)

6 credits chosen from the following 2000 level courses: (6.00 Credits)

1. PSYC2120-Introduction to Personality (3)
2. PSYC2130-Introduction to Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence (3)
3. PSYC2160-Intro to Abnormal Psychology (3)
4. PSYC2210-Introduction to Cognition (3)
5. PSYC2220-Introduction to Social Psychology (3)
6. PSYC2230-Introduction to Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging (3)

Lower level elective Psychology courses:

1. Students may self-select from the following other 2000-level courses, not required for the Major: (0)
2. PSYC2050-Drugs and Behaviour (3)
3. PSYC2300-Human Sexuality (3)
4. PSYC2910-Research Apprenticeship (3)

Upper level requirements (Credits)

1. Students majoring in Psychology will complete 33 upper level credits in Psychology distributed as follows: (0)
2. PSYC 4280 Psychology capstone (under development) (3)

Category A (minimum 6 credits)

1. Student complete at least 6 credits from courses designated Category A from the following list: (0)
2. PSYC3000-Psychiatric Clinical Disorders (3)
3. PSYC3010-Disorders Across the Lifespan (3)
4. PSYC3020-Infancy (3)
5. PSYC3030-Psychological Testing (3)
6. PSYC3080-Social Psychology (6)
7. PSYC3100-Clinical Psychology (6)
8. PSYC3110-Clinical Psychology: Theories and Systems of Psychotherapy (3)
9. PSYC3140-Health Psychology (3)
10. PSYC3150-Childhood and Adolescence (3)
11. PSYC3200-Personality (3)
12. PSYC3220-Adulthood and Aging (3)
13. PSYC3250-Community Psychology (3)
14. PSYC3360-Psychology of Language 1 (3)
15. PSYC3380-Psychology of Emotion (3)
16. PSYC3400-Psychology and the Law (3)
17. PSYC3410-Forensic Psychology (3)
18. PSYC3720-Special Topics in Psychology 2 (3)

Category B (minimum 6 credits) (Credits)

1. Student complete at least 6 credits from courses designated Category B from the following list: (0)
2. PSYC3060-Principles of Animal Behaviour (6)
3. PSYC3230-Conditioning and Behavioural Control (3)
4. PSYC3390-Human Neuropsychology (3)
5. PSYC3510-Visual Processes (3)
6. PSYC3520-Auditory, Tactile, and Chemical Processes (3)
7. PSYC3540-Cognition: Attention and Memory (3)
8. PSYC3550-Cognition: Language and Thought (3)
9. PSYC3560-Psychopharmacology (3)
10. PSYC3570-Neuroscience of Motivation & Emotion (3)
11. PSYC3580-Neuroscience of Learning and Memory (3)
12. PSYC3710-Special Topics in Psychology 1 (3)

Other upper level courses

Students majoring in Psychology will complete the remaining 18 upper level required credits by choosing from courses from Category A or Category B or the following options: (0)

1. PSYC3240-History & System of Psychology (3)
2. PSYC3610-Research Methods and Statistics for Psychology (3)
3. PSYC4210-Advanced Topics in Psychology (3)
4. PSYC4220-Advanced Topics in Applied Psychology (3)

Upper level elective Psychology courses

1. Students may self-select from the following other 4000-level courses, not required for the Major: (0)
2. PSYC4100-Advanced Research Apprenticeship (3)
3. PSYC4400-Directed Studies in Psychology (3 - 6)

Open admission

Apply to Bachelor of Arts

• Grade 12 (or equivalent) or mature student status
• English Studies 12/English First Peoples 12 with a minimum of 73% (or equivalent)

Admission to each major program may have specific requirements.

Recommended: Foundations of Mathematics 11 or higher is strongly recommended for students pursuing Education or a major in Geography and Environmental Studies, Sociology or Psychology

All students in the psychology major are required to complete PSYC 1110, 1210, 2100, 2110 and 2040.

Students intending to major in psychology must see both a Psychology Major Advisor and a BA Program Advisor. The Major Advisor will assist each student in selecting courses that will satisfy the major program requirements. The BA Advisor will then ensure that all additional BA degree requirements are met.

Career Options / Laddering options

Majoring in psychology is exceptional preparation for careers in the public sector and in non-governmental organizations, particularly with social services and research agencies.

Psychology graduates pursue the following careers

• Addictions counsellor
• Advertising and marketing
• Career/employment counsellor
• Case worker
• Child care worker
• Child welfare worker
• Community worker
• Correctional officer
• Counsellor
• Cultural diversity consultant
• Customs or immigration agent
• Day care supervisor
• Gerontology
• Government researcher
• Health services
• Hospice coordinator
• Human resources
• Immigration officer
• Labour relations specialist
• Market research analyst
• Mental health worker
• Population studies researcher
• Probation or parole officer
• Psychiatric assistant or aide
• Public health statistician
• Psychology professor
• Research assistant
• Social worker
• Youth worker

You can also leverage your solid research, critical thinking and writing skills acquired as part of your degree into other careers and further education.

Laddering options

Master of Education (MEd)