Fall 2024: Apply Now! Deadline April 30
Winter 2025: Apply Now! Deadline Oct 1
Please visit the International Application Deadline page to find out when applications may be available.
If graduate school or taking part in intensive research is part of your future plans, the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology – Honours program is for you. The program incorporates a research thesis that gives you the opportunity to develop and carry out supervised, independent research. You'll also get other hands-on experience in the field, lab and through volunteering with the Douglas Psychology Society.
During your third and fourth years, you'll focus on at least one of six concentrations where psychology is typically applied in the workplace:
Things to remember before applying
If you intend to take the honours program, you should first apply to the regular Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology. Then, you should attend a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology info session (which includes information about the honours program) or contact the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology Coordinator for advising. Once you are in your final (fourth) academic year, you will then be able to apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology – Honours program.
If you are planning to apply to the Honours program you should start planning early and begin searching for a faculty supervisor.
You must apply to the program via Education Planner B.C. AND must submit a secondary application form directly to the BA Psychology Coordinator by the application deadline. The secondary application form may be obtained on the Psychology Blackboard Communication Centre. You must find a faculty supervisor by the application deadline. You will not be accepted in the Honours program without approval from the department. For more information, visit the admissions requirements tab.
All applicants must meet the General Admission Requirements for Douglas College.
Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology will occur after the completion of 60 credits. Students must have all of the following:
a) Coursework equivalent to a two year (60 credit) Associate of Arts or Science degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
b) Completion of the following courses with minimum grade of C- in each (or equivalent):
PSYC 1100 (Introduction to Psychology I)
PSYC 1200 (Introduction to Psychology II)
c) Completion of the following courses (or their appropriate equivalent) with a minimum grade of C (60%):
PSYC 2300 Data Analysis in Psychology,
PSYC 2301 Research Methods in Psychology,
And two of:
PSYC 2315 (Biological Psychology), or
PSYC 2341 (Abnormal Psychology), or
PSYC 2360 (Cognitive Psychology)
Additional Admission Requirements for the Honours Degree:
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Concentration
PSR entrance interview for BA Applied Psychology or Applied Psychology Honours students
The departmental admission process uses a structured interview by a coordinator to provide information about the roles and responsibilities of students and faculty, and to evaluate whether students have met the following criteria that are needed for successful completion of the PSR courses, including:
• 4th year status by start of PSR coursework
• Service learning course (PSYC 3390) completed or in progress
• Work/volunteer experience relevant to a helping role in the mental health sector
Students will
• submit a Letter of Intent outlining the reasons for choosing this program, long- and short-term goals, and strengths and limitations.
• submit an up-to-date resume including any volunteering or paid work relevant to a helping role in the mental health sector.
Calculate your tuition and see the approximate cost of taking your program at Douglas College with the tuition & fee estimator. See costs broken down into categories including tuition fees, textbooks, student activity fees, U-Pass and more.
For more information, refer to the tuition fee charts.
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing By Summer 2023:
Graduation Requirements For Students Completing After Summer 2023:
| PSYC 3300 | Applied Intermediate Research Methods & Data Analysis with a B grade or better |
3 credits |
| PSYC 3301 | Applied Data Analysis in Psychology |
3 credits |
|
or |
Critical Issues in Psychology History and Philosophy of Modern Psychology |
3 credits |
| PSYC 3330 | An Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 credits |
| PSYC 3390 | Applications of Psychological Knowledge (Service Learning and Research) | 3 credits |
| PSYC 4390 | Honours Seminar | 3 credits |
| PSYC 4400 | Honours Thesis I | 3 credits |
| PSYC 4410 | Honours Thesis II | 3 credits |
| PSYC 3320 | Child Behaviour and Development | 3 credits |
| PSYC 3321 | Developmental Psychology: Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood | 3 credits |
| PSYC 3322 | Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging | 3 credits |
NOTE: PSYC 3300 must be taken before enrolling in PSYC 4410 - Honours Thesis II
NOTE: PSYC 3301 should be taken in the same semester as PSYC 4410.
| One (1) upper level psychology courses | 3 credits |
| Five (5) upper level or lower level University Transfer courses from any discipline * | 12-15 credits |
| Students will complete courses within at least one applied area of concentration (see BA Applied Psychology program page) | 15 -18 credits |
*Students completing the 18 credit DABA concentration will complete three credits less of upper or lower level University Transfer electives
The BA in Applied Psychology – Honours is best suited for students who are interested in applying for graduate school, or who would like more intensive research experience.
Program Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this program and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the program, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Once you are in your final (fourth) academic year (application deadline is April 30), you will then be able to apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology – Honours program.
To apply to the honours program you will need to:
Yes, one is an application to the program through Enrolment Services and the other is a Departmental application submitted to the BA Applied Psychology coordinator.
Yes. You should apply to the regular BA Applied Psychology program in your third year (after you have completed your Associate of Arts requirements), and then apply for the Honours degree before your final year.
While there are core Psychology courses you must take, your program of studies requires that you take core courses and electives outside of Psychology such as English, Criminology, Sociology and Philosophy.
Yes, the Honours degree has the same basic structure as the Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Psychology, so all students will be required to complete a 15 credit concentration. For more information on concentrations see the BA Applied Psychology.
Each year the BA Applied Psychology coordinator will have a list of faculty members (and their areas of research) who are interested in supervising Honours students. You can contact one of the faculty members on that list, or simply approach one of your favorite Psychology instructors to see if they are interested in supervising you.
No, graduate programs in Psychology and Counselling Psychology are quite competitive and an Honours degree does not guarantee you will be accepted into a graduate program. Most graduate schools evaluate potential students on a combination of GPA, letters of reference, student-faculty fit, coursework completed, and practical experience (volunteer, research or other related experience). You should check with each specific graduate program you are interested in to clarify their requirements.
If you are in the Honours program and you do not meet the graduation requirements you will be able to graduate with a BA in Applied Psychology (as long as you meet the requirements for that degree).
Tuition deposit
When offered a full-time seat in this program a non-refundable, non-transferable $350 tuition deposit is required.
Career opportunities include: