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Bachelor of Arts, Majors and Minors

Psychology

Note: VIU also offers a Bachelor of Science, Major and Minor in Psychology.

General Description

The Psychology Major allows students to become familiar with current work in six main areas of psychology in order to understand the mechanisms believed to underlie thought and behaviour. In addition, this degree provides training in a number of skills related to social research, statistical analysis, and interpersonal relations. This integration of theory and practice is in keeping with the research/practitioner model, which encourages an integration of basic research with applied topics. While the Major does not prepare graduates to practice as psychologists (this requires a Ph.D. and registration with the provincial regulatory organization), it is excellent preparation for work in many related fields, and it is the first step toward further training to obtain professional qualifications.

High school students interested in completing a Major in Psychology are strongly encouraged to take Grade 12 Math and Biology.

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2: PSYC 111 and 112 with a minimum combined “C+” average grade;  PSYC 200*, 204, 205 and 210 with a minimum grade point average of 4.5 and no grade lower than “C” in each. It is strongly recommended that these courses be taken in the first two years of a student’s program.

* QUME 185, CRIM 220, or any CSCI course may be substituted for PSYC 200.

Years 3 and 4: PSYC 300A, 300B and 400 (formerly 399), plus an additional 24 credits of Psychology courses numbered 300 and above with at least 3 credits taken from each of the following six groups: Biopsychology/Neuropsychology; Cognition/Perception; Social/Health; Developmental; Personality/Clinical and History/Theory. Psychology majors will require a combined minimum average of “C” in all upper division Psychology courses.

Requirements outside Psychology

  1. Mathematics: 3 credits chosen from MATH 111, 121, or 191.
  2. Philosophy: 3 credits chosen from PHIL 100, 111, or 112.
  3. Social Sciences outside of Psychology: 6 credits chosen from Anthropology, Criminology, Economics, First Nations Studies, Geography, Global Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or Women’s Studies numbered 100 and above.
  4. Degree English Requirements with a minimum grade of “C” in each.

Note: Students wishing to go to Graduate School are strongly recommended to take six credits from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

Senior Project

A Senior Project of either 3 or 6 credits is recommended for all Psychology Majors intending to enter graduate school after graduation (subject to the availability of a supervisor and/or funds.) The Senior Project, currently completed through PSYC 490 and 491, is not a course, but rather an independent piece of work that may either have an academic or applied focus. It is the student’s responsibility to contact a departmental member with an idea for the Senior Project. In order to initiate the Senior Project, students must be entering into their final year. The proposal form for a Senior Project must be approved before registration can be completed, and all projects must be approved within two weeks of the beginning of the term in which the Project will be conducted. See the department Chair or the Social Sciences secretary in Building 356 for more information.

Requirements for a Minor

While a Minor in Psychology does not provide students with an adequate coverage of undergraduate courses to continue graduate work in Psychology, it can be very useful in developing ancillary skills and knowledge that highly increase employability and, at the same time, strengthen understanding of their other studies by providing an alternate perspective.

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2: PSYC 111 and 112 with a minimum combined “C+” average grade;  PSYC 204 and at least one of 205, 207, or 210 with a minimum grade point average of 4.5 and no grade lower than “C” in each. It is strongly recommended that these courses be taken in the first two years of a student’s program because no more than 12 credits of courses numbered 300 and above may be counted toward a Minor degree before the PSYC 111, 112, 204, and one of 205, 207, or 210 grade requirements are satisfied.

Years 3 and 4: Minimum of 18 credits of Psychology courses numbered 300 and above.

Updated October 30, 2009