Athabasca University

What you'll study

Students complete required core psychology and research courses plus foundational electives to reach the major credit totals. Required core courses (15 credits) include:

• an introductory statistics course chosen from MATH 215, MATH 216, or SOCI 301
• PSYC 289 – Psychology as a Natural Science (3 credits)
• PSYC 290 – General Psychology (3 credits)
• PSYC 375 – History of Psychology (3 credits)
• PSYC 304 – Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)

A minimum of 15 credits must be selected from designated foundational psychology courses (the program specifies a list of foundational courses such as PSYC 323). Students are strongly encouraged to take ENGL 255 early to meet the English writing skills requirement and to consider MATH 216 for statistics and MATH 315 as an elective for stronger quantitative preparation.

Entry requirements

Students follow the program regulations in effect at their enrolment and must select a major when entering the BA (4-year) program. Transfer from the BA (3-year) requires a new Undergraduate General Application Form and reassessment of previous education. The English writing skills requirement is met by credit in ENGL 255 or a grade of B- (70%) or better in an AU English course above the preparatory level, or equivalent credit. A residency requirement obliges students to obtain a minimum of 30 credits through Athabasca University.

Career prospects

Graduates gain skills applicable across multiple sectors. The program notes relevance to roles in business and management, government research, program evaluation, human services, and law, as well as providing preparation for graduate study in psychology and related disciplines.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

As with most undergraduate degrees, students should explore institutional scholarships, government student aid, and external awards. Meeting program milestones—such as completing required upper-level credits through the university—may be relevant for eligibility for certain internal distinctions and funding opportunities.