Psychology, Bachelor of Science

Program Information
Credential: 
Bachelor's Degree
Duration: 

Four years at Red Deer College.  The first two years as a Red Deer College student, and the last two years as a University of Calgary collaborative student.

OR

Two years at Red Deer College and transfer to complete the last two years at most universities.  

Delivery: 
Main Campus
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dr. Nancy Brown
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca
University Transfer Program

Two Year University Transfer Program:

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

Degree Completion:

Complete the University of Calgary Bachelor of Science Psychology degree at Red Deer College, see the School of Arts and Sciences program webpage for more information.  

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

The University of Calgary Bachelor of Science Psychology collaborative degree program is a four-year program that can be completed entirely on the Red Deer College campus.  

Transfer Features

The courses offered in this program can be transferred to most universities. The courses you select must meet the program requirements of the university chosen.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

Related Link: Admission requirements for specific programs will often refer to Alberta Grade 12 course groups. Visit the Admissions page for detailed group descriptions.

1. Minimum average of 60% with no mark below 50% in:

  1. Biology 30
  2. ELA 30-1
  3. Mathematics 30-1
  4. Chemistry 30 or Physics 30
  5. Subject from Group A, B, or C (Math 31 recommended)

OR

2. Mature Student

You must be 19 years of age or older, out of high school for at least one full year before the program starts, and have a minimum average of 60% with no mark below 50% in:

  1. Biology 30
  2. ELA 30-1
  3. Mathematics 30-1
  4. Chemistry 30 

Note:  Chemistry 30 is required for students transferring to the University of Calgary or completing the Bachelor of Science Psychology collaborative degree program at Red Deer College. 

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements: 

You must pass 20 term university transfer courses or a minimum of 60 credit hours, and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 to receive a Diploma in University Transfer Studies.

Program Content
University of Alberta

(Please note these credits are U of A credits.)

Suggested Pattern Year 1 (Honours Stream)

  • PSYC 260/261 (6 credits)
  • BIOL 217/BIOL 218 (6 credits)
  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • One of: CMPT 201, MATH 202, 203, or 221 (3 credits)
  • One ANTH, ECON, POLI, SOCI option (3 credits)
  • 2 Science options (6 credits)

 

Suggested Pattern Year 1 (Specialization Stream)

  • PSYC 260/261 (6 credits)
  • BIOL 217/BIOL 218 (6 credits)
  • ENGL 219/ENGL 220 (6 credits)
  • Junior Math or Computing Science Requirement (6 credits)
  • Junior Chemistry or Physics Requirement (6 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

BIOL 217

Survey biological macromolecules, membrane structure and function, cellular structure; bioenergetics and energy flow, respiration and photosynthesis, cell division and the cell cycle, DNA structure and replication, transcription and translation, recombinant DNA and genetic regulation. Prerequisite: Biology 30 and Chemistry 30

BIOL 218

Examines the major lineage of life on Earth. Overview of evolutionary principles and classification, the history of life, and the key adaptations of prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Laboratories survey the diversity of biological form and function, and introduce the students to data collection and scientific writing. Prerequisite: Biology 30

CMPT 201

Introduction to the theory and application of computer programming. Explore programming languages, algorithms, and logic in a lab and class setting.

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.

MATH 202

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students without prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 30-1. Anti-requisite: MATH 203

MATH 203

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students with prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 31 Anit-requisite: MATH 202

MATH 221

Explore higher dimensional geometric spaces using vectors, matrices and transformations. Prerequisite: Math 30-1

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 (Honours or Specialization) 

Please contact the artscienceinfo [at] rdc [dot] ab [dot] ca (Advisors in the School of Arts and Sciences)

, or refer to the Academic Advising Planning Guides. 

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 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

Examine brain function related to sensation, movement, learning, motivation, thinking, and behavioural systems. Prerequisite: Biology 30 or equivalent and PSYC 260 (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

(Please note these credits are U of C credits.)

Suggested Pattern Year 1

  • PSYC 260/PSYC 261 (6 credits)
  • BIOL 217/BIOL 218 (6 credits)
  • CHEM 211/CHEM 212 (6 credits)
  • MATH 202 (or MATH 203) and MATH 221 (6 credits)
  • 2 Arts Options (6 credits)
Year 1 Course Descriptions

BIOL 217

Survey biological macromolecules, membrane structure and function, cellular structure; bioenergetics and energy flow, respiration and photosynthesis, cell division and the cell cycle, DNA structure and replication, transcription and translation, recombinant DNA and genetic regulation. Prerequisite: Biology 30 and Chemistry 30

BIOL 218

Examines the major lineage of life on Earth. Overview of evolutionary principles and classification, the history of life, and the key adaptations of prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Laboratories survey the diversity of biological form and function, and introduce the students to data collection and scientific writing. Prerequisite: Biology 30

CHEM 211

Introduction to the discipline and essential concepts of chemistry focusing on stoichiometry, reactions and titrations, ideal gases, atomic structure and bonding, chemical equilibrium, and acids and bases. Prerequisite: Chem 30 and Math 30-1.

CHEM 212

Continued introduction to the discipline and essential concepts of chemistry focusing on buffers, titration curves, solubility and complex ion equilibria, thermodynamics and thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, and electrochemistry. Pre-requisite: Chem 211.

MATH 202

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students without prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 30-1. Anti-requisite: MATH 203

MATH 203

Compute limits, derivatives and integrals of a variety of single-variable functions. Interpret the theoretical meaning of these tools and their use in applications. Intended for students with prior calculus experience. Prerequisite: MATH 31 Anit-requisite: MATH 202

MATH 221

Explore higher dimensional geometric spaces using vectors, matrices and transformations. Prerequisite: Math 30-1

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

University of Lethbridge

Please contact the artscienceinfo [at] rdc [dot] ab [dot] ca (Advisors in the School of Arts and Sciences) if you wish to transfer to the UofL.