Bachelor of Arts: Behavioural Science Major (4 year)

The four-year Bachelor of Arts: Behavioural Science Major focuses on building significant depth and breadth of understanding in the disciplines of psychology and sociology. Core to the BHS Major is a focus on developing knowledge and skill in research methods and data analysis, as well as allowing for two terms of field placement experience (6 credits) in experimental or applied areas within one or both disciplines. Students are able to specialize in several key areas in behavioural science that prepare them for the following broad career domains: Education, Counselling, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Child and Youth Work, Supporting Vulnerable Populations, Working with Racially Diverse Populations, Chaplaincy, and Church and Denominational Settings. It also prepares the student for advanced positions in fields related to behavioural science and entrance into academic graduate programs. Students intending to attend graduate school should consult the Department Chair early in their studies.

Profile of the Graduating Student

Understanding: Graduates should be able to articulate their understanding of individual and group attitudes and behaviours, drawing upon foundational concepts, theories, methods, ethics, and data in Psychology and Sociology, including the interplay between these two disciplines.

Research: Graduates should be able to showcase their comprehension of research ethics as well as quantitative and qualitative methodology in Psychology and Sociology that includes designing, gathering, interpreting, and communicating primary and secondary social scientific research.

Analysis: Graduates should be able to engage in scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and problem solving by integrating and applying foundational disciplinary knowledge when analyzing and evaluating diverse and complex social scientific literature, ‘real-world’ problems, and their own experience, showcasing original ideas in the process.

Communication: Graduates should be able to communicate their knowledge and express themselves in written and verbal forms, doing so clearly, concisely, and compellingly.

Character: Graduates should be able to demonstrate ethical, socially responsible, and Christian attitudes and behaviours in a pluralistic global context, maintaining the dignity and respect for all people via practices attentive to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This includes proven proficiency in areas of self-discovery, intellectual and cultural humility, and awareness of the limits of one’s knowledge.

Professional Competence: Graduates should be able to demonstrate critical self-reflexivity of their vocation alongside professional development knowledge and abilities for working in a variety of human service fields or continue to graduate work or after-degree programs. These competencies include the total sum of knowledge and skills detailed in outcomes #1-5, plus knowledge and application of ethical and professional standards, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and teamwork.

 

Career and Education Paths

The graduating student will:

• be able to demonstrate a holistic understanding of critical theoretical and applied domains within psychology and sociology as they contribute to ethical research and responsible practice in each discipline;
• be prepared to seek employment in fields related to the behavioural sciences, such as family and social services, human resources, mental health, or communication;
• have the necessary academic preparation for the pursuit of graduate studies in the humanities, education, psychology, sociology, theology, or other fields related to behavioural science.

Bachelor of Arts: Behavioural Science Major Program Requirements (4 year - 120 credits)

Behavioural Science (21 credits)
HUM 101 Reading and Writing for University
BHS 240 Research Methods
BHS 310 Quantitative Methods for Social Sciences
BHS 400 Behavioural Science Capstone
BHS 410 Basic Multivariate Statistics or BHS 311 Qualitative Research
BHS 320 Field Placement 1
BHS 420 Field Placement 2

Psychology (9 credits)
PS 121 Introduction to Psychology
PS 250 Social Psychology
PS 300 Personality 

Sociology (9 credits)
SO 121 Principles of Sociology
SO 220 Social Problems
SO 310 Classical Social Theory

UNI 101 The Ambrose Experience (non-credit)

Christian Formation (9 credits)
REL 105 Introduction to the Bible
REL 161 Introduction to Christian Theology
3 credits in Religion (REL) at the senior level 

English (3 credits)
EN 130 Introduction to English Literature 

Fine or Performing Arts (3 credits)
(ART, DA, FA, MU, TH, EN 100, EN 200, EN 350)

History (3 credits)
HI 140 Themes in World History 

Philosophy (3 credits)
PH 125 Introduction to Philosophy 

Science (3 credits)
(ASTR, BCH, BIO, BOT, CHE, ECOL, GEO, GEOG, KIN*, MED, PHY, SC, ZOO)
*Note: Not all KIN courses can be used as Science credits; check the course descriptions.

Science or Mathematics (3 credits)
(the above, plus MA)

Psychology and Sociology Electives by Career Domain (18 credits)
18 credits within a single stream, with a minimum of 6 credits in Psychology and 6 credits in Sociology:

Careers in Education
(i.e., Teacher; Teaching assistant; BEd, MEd/MSc Educational Psychology or School and Applied psychology)
Note: Applied psychology graduate programs prefer student to have 63 credits in psychology. Please meet with your faculty advisor for course choices.

INDG 229 Indigenous Ways of Knowing I
INDG 329 Indigenous Ways of Knowing II
PS 220 Child Development
PS 230 Adolescent Development
PS 310 Motivation and Emotion
PS 320 Developmental Psychopathology
PS 333 Play Therapy
PS 342 Culture and Psychology
PS 350 Cognitive Psychology
PS 430 Social Development: Child, Family, School, Community
SO 200 Sociology of Families
SO 240 Sociology of Education
SO 300 Sociology of Racialization and Ethnicity
SO 301 Sociology of Youth

Careers for Counseling Field
(i.e., Graduate programs are required: MC, MEd, MA and MSc in Counseling, MSW, Guidance Counsellor, Addictions Counsellor, Mental Health Worker, Rehabilitation Counsellor, Mediator)
Note: Applied psychology graduate programs prefer student to have 21 half courses in psychology. Please meet with your faculty advisor for course choices.

PS 220 Child Development
PS 230 Adolescent Development
PS 240 Adulthood and Aging
PS 270 Introduction to Neuroscience
PS 285 Abnormal Psychology
PS 305 Psychology of Family
PS 310 Motivation and Emotion
PS 320 Developmental Psychopathology
PS 336 Health Psychology
PS 342 Culture and Psychology
PS 345 Interpersonal Communication
PS 350 Cognitive Psychology
PS 400 Narrative Psychology
PS 403 Human Sexuality
PS 420 Introduction to Counseling
SO 200 Sociology of Families
SO 206 Sociology of Gender
SO 273 Sociology of Aging
SO 300 Sociology of Racialization and Ethnicity
SO 307 Sociology of Health
SO 325 Sociology of Deviance
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers in Criminology and Criminal Justice
(i.e., policing, corrections, MA in Sociology, Probation Officer, Forensics Worker, Child and Youth Worker, Community Outreach Worker, Paralegal, Surveillance Officer, Victims Advocate)

PS 285 Abnormal Psychology
PS 320 Developmental Psychopathology
PS 450 Forensic Psychology
SO 203 Introduction to Criminology
SO 325 Sociology of Deviance
SO 402 Human Trafficking
SO 403 Global Criminology
SO 404 The Canadian Criminal Justice System
SO 413 The Sociology of Youth Crime and Deviance
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers in Child and Youth Work
(i.e. Child and youth care, Community Outreach Worker, Child Welfare Worker, MEd School and Applied Psychology, MSc School and Applied Psychology, MSW)

PS 220 Child Development
PS 230 Adolescent Development
PS 306 Working with Vulnerable Persons
PS 320 Developmental Psychopathology
PS 333 Play Therapy
PS 354 Culture and Human Development
PS 403 Human Sexuality
PS 430 Social Development: Child, Family, School, Community
SO 200 Sociology of Families
SO 203 Introduction to Criminology
SO 206 Sociology of Gender
SO 240 Sociology of Education
SO 301 Sociology of Youth
SO 325 Sociology of Deviance
SO 413 The Sociology of Youth Crime and Deviance
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers Supporting Vulnerable Populations: Intervention, Prevention and Policy (Homelessness, Poverty, Addictions)
(i.e., Front Line worker, Shelter Work, MA in Counselling; MSW Community; MSW Clinical, Community Worker, Social Policy Researcher, Non-profit Administrator, Lobbyist, Political Advisor/Analyst)
Note: Courses can be used towards Community development minor

BHS 350 Poverty in Western Society
BHS 450 Social Policy and Government
PS 306 Working with Vulnerable Persons
PS 307 Psychological Impacts of Poverty
PS 441 Drugs and Behaviour
SO 203 Introduction to Criminology
SO 206 Sociology of Gender
SO 273 Sociology of Aging
SO 300 Sociology of Racialization and Ethnicity
SO 307 Sociology of Health
SO 370 Nationalism, Populism, and Democracy
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers working with Racially Diverse Populations
(Settlement Worker, Immigration Officer, competence beneficial for working in all applied fields)

INDG 229 Indigenous Ways of Knowing I
INDG 329 Indigenous Ways of Knowing II
PS 342 Culture and Psychology
PS 346 Language, Culture and Communication
PS 354 Culture and Human Development
PS 402 Psychology of Immigration
SO 240 Sociology of Education
SO 273 Sociology of Aging
SO 300 Sociology of Racialization and Ethnicity
SO 307 Sociology of Health
SO 370 Nationalism, Populism, and Democracy
SO 413 The Sociology of Youth Crime and Deviance
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers in Chaplaincy
(A graduate certificate in Spiritual Care, can be embedded in a seminary program (i.e., Masters of Divinity or Masters in Leadership and Ministry).
Note: students will need to take a minor in Christian Studies if they plan to complete further training in Chaplaincy.

PS 220 Child Development
PS 230 Adolescent Development
PS 240 Adulthood and Aging
PS 285 Abnormal Psychology
PS 320 Developmental Psychopathology
PS 336 Health Psychology
PS 345 Interpersonal Communication
PS 400 Narrative Psychology
PS 403 Human Sexuality
PS 420 Introduction to Counselling
SO 206 Sociology of Gender
SO 300 Sociology of Racialization and Ethnicity
SO 307 Sociology of Health
SO 320 Sociology of Religion
SO 273 Sociology of Aging
SO 440 Religion and Culture in Canada
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Careers in Church and Denominational Settings
(i.e., any church-related position; parachurch settings; denominational contexts; Masters of Divinity; MA in Sociology)

PS 305 Psychology of Family
PS 310 Motivation and Emotion
PS 342 Culture and Psychology
PS 344 Psychology of Religion
PS 345 Interpersonal Relations
SO 200 Sociology of Families
SO 320 Sociology of Religion
SO 273 Sociology of Aging
SO 410 Religious Diversity in North America
SO 440 Religion and Culture in Canada
SO 480 Internship with Flourishing Congregations Institute
Related special topics courses in Psychology or Sociology

Electives
To meet senior level requirements in the program, 21 credits of electives must be taken at the senior level.
    Arts and Science or Open Electives (36 credits)

General Requirements for Completion and Graduation

• Completion of The Ambrose Experience (UNI 101) (non-credit; this course is required for all programs, and must be completed within the first two semesters of enrolment. Students who do not complete UNI 101 may not be permitted to continue in their program.)
• Completion of a total of 120 credits (as outlined above)
• A minimum of 72 credits must be taken at the 200-level or higher
• A maximum of 72 credits taken in any one discipline (PS/SO combined)
• A Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.0, with a CGPA of at least 2.0 in BHS/PS/SO courses combined