Psychology, Bachelor of Arts

Contact Information
Contact Name: 
Dr. Tim Heath
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean

Program Information

Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca

Department Information

For more information about the Psychology program, visit the Psychology Department in Humanities & Social Sciences, under About RDC.

University Transfer Program

Two-Year University Transfer Program:

RDC offers the first two years of these degree programs:

  1.     Bachelor of Arts*
  2.     Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Four-Year Degree Completion:

* Years three and four of a University of Calgary Bachelor of Arts degree can be completed at RDC. Majors in English, Psychology and Sociology are available (with optional Minors in English, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology). See the program website.

For the most current university program and transfer information, see the Planning Guides in Academic Advising.

The Program

For a general discussion of the B.A. program, click here.

Psychology is the study of mental processes and behavior. RDC special interests include: memory and attention, social psychology, physiological psychology, and anomalous experiences.

Transfer Features

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for transfer features.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

Visit the Bachelor of Arts page for full admission requirements.

Program Content
University of Alberta

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of A credits. RDC credits may differ from U of A credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Alberta Program Requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Pattern Year 1

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 260 (3 credits)
  • PSYC 261 (3 credits)
  • Basic Requirement (18 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

PSYC 260

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include the nature and history of psychology; research methods; the biological foundations of behavior; genes and evolution; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning and adaptation; and memory. Note: This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses and is normally followed by PSYC 261.

PSYC 261

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include thought; language; and intelligence; motivation and emotion; development over the lifespan; personality; psychological disorders and their treatments; stress; health; and coping; and behavior in a social context. Prerequisite: PSYC 260 Note: PSYC 260/261 is a prerequisite for many courses in the Department.

Suggested Pattern Year 2

  • PSYC 312 (6 credits)
  • Sr PSYC (6 credits) chosen from PSYC 353, PSYC 383, PSYC 341, PSYC 358, PSYC 369, PSYC 375
  • Basic Requirement (6 credits)
  • Open Option (12 credits)
Year 2 Course Descriptions

PSYC 312

An integrated approach to the methods; principles; and ethics of psychological research and the statistical techniques utilized for the analysis of these data. Prerequisite: Math 30 Pure or equivalent and PSYC 260. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 261

PSYC 341

Individual and group behaviours as they are affected by social contexts. Topics may include the self and social perception; social cognition; prejudice; discrimination; and stereotyping; attitude formation and change; conformity and obedience; affiliation and attraction; pro- and anti-social behaviours; and applied social psychology topics (law; health). Prerequisite: PSYC 260/261 or Soci 260/261

PSYC 353

An examination of theory and research related to physical; cognitive; emotional; and social development across infancy and childhood. Prerequisites: PSYC 260 and PSYC 261

PSYC 358

A survey course in cognition. Major theoretical approaches and research in areas such as perception; attention; memory; the representation of knowledge; language; reasoning and problem solving. Prerequisite: PSYC 260/261. Note: For U of A bound students only - the additional prerequisite or corequisite of either STAT 251 or PSYC 312 is required.

PSYC 369

The psychological and physiological bases of sensory and perceptual processes; including vision; audition; taste; smell; touch; proprioception; and basic psychophysics. Prerequisite: PSYC 260/261 For U of A bound students only; the additional prerequisite or co-requisite of either STAT 251 or PSYC 312 is required.

PSYC 375

Brain function related to sensation; movement; learning; motivation; and thinking. How the brain interacts with behavioural systems. Prerequisite: Biology 30 or equivalent and PSYC 260/261 (Biology 30 prerequisite required by U of A bound students).

PSYC 383

Survey course including theory and research related to the major problems in the study of personality. Prerequisite: PSYC 260/261

University of Calgary

For the Compulsory Core Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of C credits. RDC credits may differ from U of C credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Calgary Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 260/PSYC 261 (6 credits)
  • Sciences requirement (6 credits)
  • Options (12 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

PSYC 260

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include the nature and history of psychology; research methods; the biological foundations of behavior; genes and evolution; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning and adaptation; and memory. Note: This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses and is normally followed by PSYC 261.

PSYC 261

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include thought; language; and intelligence; motivation and emotion; development over the lifespan; personality; psychological disorders and their treatments; stress; health; and coping; and behavior in a social context. Prerequisite: PSYC 260 Note: PSYC 260/261 is a prerequisite for many courses in the Department.

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • Sr PSYC from Foundation courses (12 credits)
  • PSYC 312 (6 credits)
  • Open Option (12 credits)
Year 2 Course Descriptions

PSYC 312

An integrated approach to the methods; principles; and ethics of psychological research and the statistical techniques utilized for the analysis of these data. Prerequisite: Math 30 Pure or equivalent and PSYC 260. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 261

University of Lethbridge

For the General Liberal Education Requirements that must be completed in the courses of a four-year degree, see general information for the B.A. program.

Credits below = U of L credits. RDC credits may differ from U of L credits. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

Refer to the University of Lethbridge Program requirements on the Bachelor of Arts page for detailed information.

Suggested Year 1 Pattern

  • PSYC 260/PSYC 261 (6 credits)
  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • General Liberal Education Requirements (15 credits)
  • Open Option (3 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

ENGL 219

The focus is on formal preparation for university level essay writing and the skills related to critical reading; interpretation; and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or English 095 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 219 and ENGL 210.

ENGL 220

The course explores a range of literary genres while continuing to focus on deepening the required structural and critical skills related to thinking and writing about literature. Pre-requisite: Engl 219 NOTE: Credit will not be granted for both ENGL 220 and 210.

PSYC 260

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include the nature and history of psychology; research methods; the biological foundations of behavior; genes and evolution; sensation and perception; states of consciousness; learning and adaptation; and memory. Note: This course is a prerequisite for most psychology courses and is normally followed by PSYC 261.

PSYC 261

An overview of some of the important areas in psychology. Topics include thought; language; and intelligence; motivation and emotion; development over the lifespan; personality; psychological disorders and their treatments; stress; health; and coping; and behavior in a social context. Prerequisite: PSYC 260 Note: PSYC 260/261 is a prerequisite for many courses in the Department.

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • PSYC 312 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 375/PSYC 341 (6 credits)
  • Open Options (18 credits)
Year 2 Course Descriptions

PSYC 312

An integrated approach to the methods; principles; and ethics of psychological research and the statistical techniques utilized for the analysis of these data. Prerequisite: Math 30 Pure or equivalent and PSYC 260. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 261

PSYC 341

Individual and group behaviours as they are affected by social contexts. Topics may include the self and social perception; social cognition; prejudice; discrimination; and stereotyping; attitude formation and change; conformity and obedience; affiliation and attraction; pro- and anti-social behaviours; and applied social psychology topics (law; health). Prerequisite: PSYC 260/261 or Soci 260/261

PSYC 375

Brain function related to sensation; movement; learning; motivation; and thinking. How the brain interacts with behavioural systems. Prerequisite: Biology 30 or equivalent and PSYC 260/261 (Biology 30 prerequisite required by U of A bound students).