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2024-2025 Academic Calendar Mount Royal University
Psychology, BA
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The Mount Royal BA in Psychology is designed to provide students with a broad base of knowledge in the key areas of the discipline by requiring courses in six core areas. It will also provide an understanding of research processes, the scientific method, and statistical analysis through specific courses in these areas as well as in senior courses that cover this material as it relates to specific topics. Students will also have the opportunity to choose from courses that will enable them to focus on a particular area within the Psychology discipline. The knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired in the BA program can lead students to a variety of career opportunities or to further study in Psychology and related fields.
It is recommended that students who meet the qualifications and who intend to pursue graduate study consider applying to the Honours BA in Psychology.
Specific targeted outcomes for the graduates of the program include the following:
- Knowledge of Psychology
- Students will acquire foundational knowledge in the core areas of Psychology and in those areas in which they choose to focus. This outcome will be achieved through courses at the introductory and senior levels that cover the basic concepts, perspectives, and research findings from the main topic areas in Psychology. The core required areas include developmental Psychology, cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, theories of personality, abnormal behaviour, and biological Psychology.
- Students will develop an understanding of major theoretical perspectives, both historical and current, and will apply their understanding of these perspectives in a variety of content areas.
- Students will acquire the ability to locate, read and understand primary and secondary sources in Psychology, and will be able to communicate with others, both orally and in writing, in the language of the discipline.
- Research Methods in Psychology
Students will understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation. This goal will be achieved through two required courses in statistics and one in research methods, through optional senior statistics and research methods courses, through participation in research projects, and through assignments in senior content courses. Students will also demonstrate the ability to design appropriate research strategies and will demonstrate proficiency in data analysis in assessing research results. Students in the Honours program will be expected to achieve a higher level of understanding through participation in senior statistics and research methods courses.
- Thinking Skills in Psychology
Students will apply critical and creative thinking as well as problem-solving skills to research questions and issues related to behavioural and mental processes. They will develop the ability to recognize and critically examine the assumptions informing Psychology and to assess the credibility and validity of the information. Students will have opportunities to apply psychological principles to personal, social, and other real-life issues.
- Ethics, Values, and Diversity in Psychology
Students will learn to tolerate ambiguity in psychological explanations, to understand the necessity for ethical guidelines in Psychology and act accordingly, and to develop appropriate objectivity and open-mindedness. They will appreciate and respect multicultural and interpersonal diversity.
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Admission
General Admission Requirements
All students must meet the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements indicated in the Admission section of this calendar, applicants must also satisfy the following criteria for each Major.
Academic Course Requirements
The following specific courses (or their equivalencies) with the specified minimum grades are required for admission into the Bachelor of Arts program:
Majors: Anthropology, English, History and Sociology
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
- Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 or a 30-level language
Major: Psychology
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
- Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 - 60%
Major: Policy Studies
- English Language Arts 30-1 - 60%
- Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2 - 60%
Although conditional admission may be granted in advance of receipt of final/official transcripts, confirmation of the achievement of specified minimum grades will take place after all final/official transcripts have been received by the University. Applicants who do not meet these minimum grade requirements will be denied admission.
Indigenous Student Admission
Each year, 7% of the seats in the Bachelor of Arts program will be reserved for Indigenous applicants through an Indigenous admission target. To be considered for admission under the Indigenous admission target, the applicant must:
- self-identify as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission;
- meet the definition of an Indigenous Applicant; and
- meet the minimum admission requirements as indicated in the general admission requirements for Mount Royal University as well as any program level admission requirements.
Designated seats for this special consideration target will be filled by Indigenous applicants on a competitive basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply during the early admission period. Any unfilled designated seats will be released on June 15 to students applying under the general admission requirements.
See general admission requirements in the Admission section of this calendar for further information.
Declaration of Major
Students must declare their major field of study within one year (ten courses) of enrolling in the program. Students who have decided on their major are advised to declare it as soon as possible to facilitate proper course selection and access to core courses.
Double Majors
Double majors must be chosen within the six majors offered as part of the Bachelor of Arts and include:
- 10-12 general education courses, of which four can fulfill the requirements of the double major.
- All core courses are specified for each major (a minimum of 32 courses).
- All core requirements for each major must be satisfied in a manner approved by the Associate Dean, Curriculum and Policy
- Courses that satisfy an elective requirement can be used to satisfy the program requirements for a double major.
Curriculum
Program Structure - Psychology
| Total number of three-credit courses (or equivalent) |
40 courses minimum |
| Required courses in Psychology |
11 courses |
| Additional required courses |
6 courses |
| Elective courses |
13 courses |
| General Education Courses |
10 courses |
| First-year course limit (1000 level) |
16 courses maximum |
Maximum number of courses outside of the Faculty of Arts, and/or the
Faculty of Science and Technology, and/or designated as General Education courses |
8 courses |
| Course limit in a single discipline |
24 courses maximum |
| Grade Point Average (GPA) to graduate |
2.00 minimum |
Required Courses
All students must meet the general graduation requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, in addition to the graduation requirements for the Psychology major.
Additional Course
Choose one additional course from the following list:
Note
Psychology Major students must obtain a minimum grade of C (2. 00) in all core courses with the prefix PSYC. This does not include general education or elective courses.
Electives
Students are eligible to choose any 3-credit university-level course to complete an elective requirement, including Bachelor of Arts - Psychology courses that are not already fulfilling a major requirement. Students should be aware that no more than 24 courses within one discipline will be counted towards their degree (e.g., no more than 24 courses with the course prefix PSYC).
General Education Requirements
Ten courses must be completed to meet the General Education requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts - Psychology.
- Four courses will be taken at the foundational level: one from each of the thematic clusters.
- Three courses will be taken at the second tier: no more than one from each of the thematic clusters. One of these courses must be from the Numeracy and Scientific Literacy cluster.
- Three courses must be taken at the third tier, selected from at least two of the thematic clusters.
Graduation Requirements
Eligibility To Graduate
To be eligible to graduate from a Mount Royal program, a student must have been officially admitted into the program and must normally complete at least 25% of the graduation requirements as a student within the program, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the faculty/centre/school.
Normally, 50% of the academic work completed toward the award of a Mount Royal parchment must be completed at the University, except where written approval has been given by the dean/director of the appropriate faculty/centre/school.
Application for Honours after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in the same discipline.
A student who has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts may not apply to enter Honours in the same discipline in which he or she has received the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Time Limitation
All graduation requirements for the BA degree program must be completed within eight years of initial admission to and enrolment in the program. The prior learning of all students entering baccalaureate programs will be fully assessed at the point of admission for possible advanced standing or transfer credit. Applicable credit for prior learning which is recognized at the point of entry into the program will remain valid for the same time limit (eight years) as is permitted to complete the program.
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