Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Honours, Major, Minor

About this programme

Are you interested in how the human mind ticks? In the Bachelor of Arts Psychology degree program, you will be unpacking the scientific behaviour and impact of human thought, emotion, biological and cognitive behaviours. With many areas of specialty from sports psychology, child psychology, addictions and more, VIU’s degree in Psychology program is a place to learn in a research/practitioner model that combines both theory and practical psychological research training. A Bachelor degree in Psychology prepares graduates to continue their studies as psychologists or start their careers in education, social work, healthcare, non-profits and any other field that values critical thought and cognitive and behavioural understanding. The Psychology Major allows students to become familiar with current work in four 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.