Psychology, Bachelor of Arts

Program Information
Credential: 
Bachelor's Degree
Duration: 

2 years at RDC - 2 years at RDC as a U of C
collaborative student OR 2 years at most universities

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Jane MacNeil
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
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 the Bachelor or Arts program.

Four-Year Degree Completion:

* Years three and four of a University of Calgary Bachelor of Arts degree can be completed at RDC. Majors in Psychology and Sociology are available (with optional Minors in 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.

Related Careers
  • social services
  • advertising
  • government and civil service
  • research
  • retail sales
  • administration
  • law enforcement and corrections
  • counselling
  • industrial relations
  • public relations
  • management
  • radio and television
  • real estate
  • recreation
  • journalism
  • insurance
  • urban planning
  • consulting

Through graduate studies in Psychology, students may become chartered psychologists, working in clinical settings with clients who have emotional problems or mental illness. They may also study to become research psychologists in one of the many areas of psychology. Graduates may also go on to professional studies in fields such as medicine, law, or business.

Psychology graduates generally have superior skills in problem solving, critical thinking, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, writing and communicating.

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

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to basic psychological processes. Topics may include the nature and history of psychology, research methods, biological foundations of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, language and thought.

PSYC 261

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to individual, social, and abnormal behaviour. Topics may include intelligence, problem solving, creativity, motivation and emotion, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and treatments, health, stress and coping, and social behaviour. Prerequisite: PSYC 260

Suggested Pattern Year 2

  • PSYC 312 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 358 & PSYC 375 (6 credits)
  • Choose 2 of: PSYC 341, PSYC 353, PSYC 389 (6 credits)
  • Basic Requirement (6 credits)
  • Open Options (6 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: Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 (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 260/261

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 375

Examine brain function related to sensation, movement, learning, motivation, thinking, and behavioural systems. Prerequisite: Biology 30 or equivalent and PSYC 260/261 (Biology 30 required by U of A bound students). Note: PSYC majors need both PSYC 260 and PSYC 261 and it is strongly recommended that they take them in first year.

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

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to basic psychological processes. Topics may include the nature and history of psychology, research methods, biological foundations of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, language and thought.

PSYC 261

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to individual, social, and abnormal behaviour. Topics may include intelligence, problem solving, creativity, motivation and emotion, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and treatments, health, stress and coping, and social behaviour. Prerequisite: PSYC 260

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • Sr PSYC from Foundation courses (12 credits) See Planning Guide for courses and information.
  • 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: Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 (or equivalent) and Psyc 260 Prerequisite or Corequisite: PSYC 261

University of Lethbridge

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

Explore university-level essay composition and the skills related to critical reading, interpretation, and argument. Prerequisite: ELA 30-1 or equivalent. 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

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to basic psychological processes. Topics may include the nature and history of psychology, research methods, biological foundations of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning, memory, language and thought.

PSYC 261

Fundamental terminology, procedures, findings, and theories related to individual, social, and abnormal behaviour. Topics may include intelligence, problem solving, creativity, motivation and emotion, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and treatments, health, stress and coping, and social behaviour. Prerequisite: PSYC 260

Suggested Year 2 Pattern

  • PSYC 312 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 375/PSYC 341 (6 credits)
  • PSYC 353 / Sr PSYC option (6 credits)
  • Open Options (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: Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 (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

Examine brain function related to sensation, movement, learning, motivation, thinking, and behavioural systems. Prerequisite: Biology 30 or equivalent and PSYC 260/261 (Biology 30 required by U of A bound students). Note: PSYC majors need both PSYC 260 and PSYC 261 and it is strongly recommended that they take them in first year.

PSYC 353

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