Psychology

Psychology is the study of human thought and behaviour. The discipline covers a range of topics, including how we think and process information, how our brain functions, how we develop over time, how others can influence our behaviour, and mental health and wellness.  

Langara College has a wide selection of psychology course offerings. Our courses range from surveys of fundamental concepts to in-depth investigations of human behavior. When you study psychology at Langara, you will develop a better understanding of your own behaviour and the behaviour of others, as well as the methods psychologists use to study the human mind.  

The psychology department offers courses in traditional, mixed-mode, and online course formats.

View a comprehensive list of our course offerings.

For questions regarding our program and courses, please email the Psychology Student Advisor at psychology@langara.ca 

FAQs

I completed Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) psychology. How does it transfer to Langara?

The Langara College Psychology Department does not currently accept AP or IB accreditation. It is our experience that students who take psychology in high school are not adequately prepared for courses taught by discipline experts with graduate degrees (MAs and PhDs in psychology) at a post-secondary level.

What if I obtain my prerequisites from another post-secondary institution?

If you have course prerequisites from another institution, you must apply to the registrar’s office to have your credits officially transferred to the Langara online registration system. This process doesn’t happen automatically – you have to apply to complete it. Failure to do so will mean that you will waste valuable registration time trying to chase down advisors for prerequisite overrides.  

Our psychology courses fill quickly and have huge waiting lists, so you want to do everything to ensure that you can register on time. If you have met all prerequisites, the Psychology Department Student Advisor will provide an override, but first, the advisor will need to see the following:  

• The course outline (or syllabus) of the course
• A copy of your transcript indicating your grade in the course  
• A receipt demonstrating that you have applied to have your credits transferred to Langara 

More information on how to request transfer credit at Langara (external link) .

(Note: Even if you only plan to remain at Langara for one or two semesters, you still need to have your prerequisites from other institutions “officially” put into the system.)  

What happens if I don’t have the prerequisites required to take 2nd- and 3rd-year psychology courses?

All of our 2nd- and 3rd-year courses require that you have completed our introductory psychology courses (PSYC 1115 and PSYC 1215) with a minimum of a “C-”.  Some courses have higher minimum standards. These standards have been established based on previous student performance. (Students who do not meet the prerequisites have been shown to struggle and not succeed in 2nd- and 3rd-year courses.) If you don’t meet the minimum requirements, we strongly suggest that you retake PSYC 1115 and/or PSYC 1215 to raise your grades.

If I am currently registered in a course that is a prerequisite but haven’t completed it yet (e.g., PSYC 1115 and PSYC 1215), do I need to request a prerequisite override for the higher-level course?

No. If you are currently registered in a course that serves as a prerequisite, you can register for the higher-level course. However, be aware that if your final grade in the prerequisite course does not meet the necessary standard, your registration in the higher-level course will automatically be dropped.

Do I really need the math prerequisite for Psychology 2321 (Data Analysis in Psychology)?

Yes. In addition to obtaining a minimum of a “C+” grade in PSYC 1115 and PSYC 1215, the prerequisite for PSYC 2321 includes a minimum "C" grade in one of Foundations of Mathematics 11, Pre-calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 12, or Pre-calculus 12; OR a minimum "S" grade in MATH 1150; OR a satisfactory score (053) on the Statistics Diagnostic Test (SDT).

Note 1: Students who have taken the Math Diagnostic Test (MDT) and scored a 055 or higher should email psychology@langara.ca to receive a prerequisite override for the math prerequisite for PSYC 2321.  

Note 2: If you are missing the high school math prerequisites for PSYC 2321, you absolutely need to write the Statistics Diagnostic Test (SDT) – there are no exceptions. The Statistics Diagnostic Test allows us to determine whether you have the necessary mathematical background to be successful in PSYC 2321. For test dates, please consult the SDT Schedule. Register early – we do NOT allow students to register for PSYC 2321 before they have obtained their math prerequisite.

Note 3: Students who wish to have support in learning the mathematic skills required for this course can register into Math 1100 and at the beginning of the term, ask the instructor stats package. Upon completion, the student can obtain an override for the math prerequisite for PSYC 2321.

Who should I contact regarding course registration?

Students should direct all inquiries regarding psychology course registration, course selection, and course overrides to the Psychology Department Student Advisor at psychology@langara.ca. The student advisor will direct you to the appropriate contact. Do not email requests to multiple faculty members. They will just redirect you to our Psychology Department Student Advisor, as per departmental policy.

If one psychology department faculty member declines my request for a prerequisite override for a certain course, is it worthwhile for me to approach another psychology department faculty member?

No. The prerequisites for psychology courses are clearly defined, and the prerequisites exist in order to ensure that students have the best chances possible of being successful in our courses. If your request for a prerequisite override is denied by one member of the Psychology Department, you will get the same response from other faculty members because they are all following the same departmental policies.

I want to take my 1st and 2nd year in psychology at Langara and then transfer to SFU, UBC, or UVIC. What courses should I take to successfully transfer?

Each institution has its own requirements. If you are interested in completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at either UBC-Vancouver or SFU, you may wish to take the Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology Program while completing the university-specific requirements outlined in the course paths here.  

Students interested in completing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at UBC can find out more information here.

Students interested in transferring to other institutions or career paths should begin by going to the institution's website and finding the degree requirements. They can then use the BC Transfer Guide (external link) to determine if we have course equivalents at Langara. If you have any questions about course planning and university transfer, you can email the Student Advisor at psychology@langara.ca.  

I have an accessibility accommodation for group work (Example: Alternate Format/Assignment for Group Work/Group Presentations). Can I work alone/independently or be given an alternate assignment for the PSYC 2320: Research Methods Collaborative Group Project?

No. All students in PSYC 2320: Research Methods in Psychology must complete the Collaborative Group Project, in which students work in a group to design and conduct a simple psychology experiment. Accessibility Services has determined that working within a group is an essential part of this course to meet the course learning outcomes. No alternative assignment is available. PSYC 2320 is a required course for students who wish to complete the Associate of Arts Degree in Psychology.