Overview
Duration: 2 years
Type: Undergraduate Degree
The Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree is a two-year undergraduate degree offered by many institutions in the province of British Columbia and beyond. The Associate Degree program is designed to provide broad-based knowledge and experiences in preparation for entering the workforce, or as a foundation for further undergraduate study.
Students of the Associate of Arts (Psychology) degree program will gain multi-disciplinary knowledge in the faculties of arts, humanities, and social science, and develop their critical thinking and research skills. The program also includes a customizable concentration in psychology, which allows students to explore different areas in psychology, including cognitive and abnormal psychology, data analysis, research methodology, and the scientific basis of human behaviour.
The Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree is a foundational degree consisting of 60 credits in total, typically completed over a two-year period. Program requirements include a minimum of 36 credits in arts, including 18 credits in first- and second-year psychology.
Transferability
Upon completion of the Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree program, students may choose to enter the workforce or continue their undergraduate studies. An Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree may be transferrable to the third year of a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university. Some BC universities also admit Associate Degree graduates at a reduced GPA requirement. For more information on the option of transferring to a university upon completion of an Associate of Arts Degree, please consult the BC Transfer Guide or see an Academic Advisor.
Post-Graduation Work Permit
International students completing the Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree program at Alexander College are also eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
The Associate of Arts (Psychology) degree program develops broad-based academic skills in the following areas:
- Reading comprehension
- Written and oral communication
- Mathematical and scientific reasoning
- Computer and technological literacy
- Research and evaluative skills
- Analysis, synthesis, and integration of knowledge
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Application of theoretical understanding to practice
- Collaborative and team-based experience
Specifically, the Associate of Arts (Psychology) degree program provides experience and aptitudes in the following areas:
- Understanding of cognitive development
- Familiarity with human behaviour, including abnormal behaviours and mental illness
- Knowledge of psychological testing and data analysis
- Familiarity with current treatment practices for mental illness
Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree Worksheet
The Associate of Arts degree program consists of the following course requirements, which must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.
I. 6 credits in first-year English
II. 9 credits in science which shall include at least
- 3 credits in mathematics, computer science or statistics (statistics courses taught in subject areas of commerce and psychology may also be used)
- 3 credits in a laboratory science
III. 36 credits in arts which shall include:
- 18 credits in psychology
- 6 credits in humanities other than English
- 12 additional credits in arts
IV. 9 credits in arts, science, or other areas
Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree Requirements
A concentration in psychology allows students to explore this specific interest in the field, and makes possible a variety of career opportunities.
This degree can also qualify graduates for positions that demand greater responsibility than those achievable with a high school diploma.
With an Associate of Arts (Psychology) Degree, students can seek entry-level employment in social services, education, business, and administration.
Examples of positions in these sectors include, but are not limited to:
- Child and youth support worker
- Resident care worker
- Community support worker
- Customer service representative
- Human resource assistant
- Office or administrative assistant
- Sales assistant
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