Bachelor of Arts, Majors and Minors

Psychology

• A Major and Minor are offered

• Program Fees: Domestic Students, International Students

• Apply for Admission

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 Mathematics and Biology.

Requirements for a Major

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

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 Studies, 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:

Note: 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, or 210 grade requirements are satisfied.

Updated: February 29, 2012