Overview

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