Psychology Department
Explore what makes us think, feel and act the way we do. Studying the science of psychology will give you a better understanding of yourself and the people around you — in your life and at work.
Why study psychology at CapU?
Psychology is the scientific study of people. At CapU, you'll explore how we learn, develop and change throughout our lives.
You'll learn what motivates us, how our personalities, social roles, neurobiology, and culture affect us, and the impact of stress and resilience on our mental health.
New skills and knowledge
CapU’s small classes allow for greater interactivity and individual attention from our passionate instructors. You’ll establish personal connections that can help steer you toward your goals.
Our department offers innovative programming with opportunities for hands-on learning. Studying psychology also improves critical thinking, and increases scientific literacy through exposure to research methods and statistics. With interpersonal “soft” skills and research experience, you’ll be equipped with the right skills and knowledge for any career.
Career paths and further education
Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate degrees across most universities. Depending on your goals for your career, take courses in psychology that will lead you to a 2 year Associate of Arts degree in Psychology, or to a 4 year Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology, or to a Minor in Psychology.
If your goal is to apply to Graduate Studies after your BA, consider completing the Psychology Honours program in your 4th year. Our courses are also excellent electives for students in other programs at Capilano University.
Courses in psychology offer experiential and work-integrated learning for careers in a variety of fields, including mental health and wellness, health care, child or elder care, social services, education, research, law, business, retail, sports, rehabilitation, or police work.
Students in the BA Major in Psychology program may complete a Concentration in Applied Psychology, which includes courses for a variety of applied career paths, a course in Professional Ethics in Psychology, and a Service Learning Practicum.
Psychology programs
Learn the science, history and theories of psychology.
- Associate of Arts Degree - Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology
- Minor in Psychology
If you graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in psychology, you may continue at CapU and progress into the third year of the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Psychology.
Or you may wish to complete a four-year degree in another BA program, such as the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies or the Bachelor of Arts - Applied Behaviour Analysis (Autism).
Or you may choose to block transfer to the third year of a BA Major in Psychology at another post-secondary institution (See the BC Transfer Guide).
If you are a student in another Bachelor degree program, you can opt for a Minor in Psychology.
Psychology courses
Our courses range from introductory to upper-level, covering a broad variety of topics, themes and domains.
Interested in transferring credits to another institution? Consult the BC Transfer Guide.
- PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology I
- PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology II
- PSYC 200 Social Psychology
- PSYC 207 Lifespan Development
- PSYC 212 Research Methods in Psychology
- PSYC 213 Statistical Methods in Psychology
- PSYC 222 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 225 Biopsychology of Behaviour
- PSYC 230 Cognitive Psychology
- PSYC 240 Applied Psychology
- PSYC 300 Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
- PSYC 301 Group Dynamics
- PSYC 303 History of Psychology
- PSYC 304 Child Development
- PSYC 305 Adult Development and Aging
- PSYC 306 Adolescent Psychology
- PSYC 315 The Psychology of Human Sexuality
- PSYC 321 Theories of Personality
- PSYC 325 Health Psychology
- PSYC 326 Positive Psychology
- PSYC 327 Workplace Psychology
- PSYC 328 Forensic Psychology
- PSYC 329 Community Psychology
- PSYC 330 Thinking and Reasoning
- PSYC 331 Psychology and Language
- PSYC 332 Reconstructing the Past: The Psychology of Memory
- PSYC 333 Learning
- PSYC 334 Sensation and Perception
- PSYC 335 Motivation and Emotions
- PSYC 336 Neuropsychology
- PSYC 337 Drugs and Behaviour
- PSYC 338 Evolutionary Psychology
- PSYC 340 Psychology of Environmental Sustainability
- PSYC 341 Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
- PSYC 342 History of Psychology: Conceptions of Imagination
- PSYC 343 Psychology of Anomalous Experiences
- PSYC 400 Cultural Psychology
- PSYC 401 Indigenous Psychology
- PSYC 410 Professional Ethics in Applied Psychology
- PSYC 412 Applied Research Methods in Psychology
- PSYC 413 Applied Data Analysis in Psychology
- PSYC 415 Psychology and the Internet
- PSYC 420 Tests and Measurement
- PSYC 422 Clinical and Counselling Psychology
- PSYC 430 Service Learning Practicum
- PSYC 440 Contemporary Topics in Psychology
- PSYC 480 Honours Thesis
- PSYC 481 Honours Seminar
- PSYC 490 Directed Studies
Student opportunities
Get connected and gain skills to benefit your future career. Also check out the Student Resources section below for important links to help you access relevant psychology information, including the essential Psychology Student Resources eLearn site.
Experiential learning
As a student at CapU you’ll have opportunities for applied skills and experiential learning.
CapU Students Psychology Club
Join the Capilano University Psychology Club to take part in stimulating discussions in a non-judgmental environment, find out about current events and topics in psychology, and connect with resources.
Student resources
The lists below link to useful information related to CapU’s psychology department as well as industry-related news and associations.
Psychology Student Resources: This Moodle site is your go-to resource for research assignment guidelines, news announcements, APA style tips, information regarding the workshop series and more.
Capilano Universe: Psychology instructors often take part in this presentation series, giving free lectures in local public libraries.
PsycINFO: Access to the CapU library's database of scholarly articles and other sources used for research in the behavioural sciences and mental health.
APA Careers in Psychology brochure (pdf): an excellent introduction to what psychology is, the kinds of work psychologists do, and the training required to become a psychologist.
Library Research in Psychology: APA’s introduction to the scholarly literature of psychology required for your term and research papers and the keyword searchable database PsycINFO.
Tutorials on APA databases: American Psychology Association provides tips and strategies to optimize your search techniques.
Canadian Psychological Association: the national association for psychology in Canada, with opportunities and resources available to students.
American Psychological Association: this major association provides a range of information and services.
Association for Psychological Science: a source of psychology research news, upcoming conventions other related information.
Professional Associations and Societies: Wikipedia's exhaustive list.
Alberta Girardi BA, MA, PhD
Instructor PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 984 1770 ext. 1770
Fir Building, room FR447
albertagirardi@capilanou.ca
Aman Bassi
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 984 4953 ext. 4953
Fir Building, room FR401
amanbassi@capilanou.ca
Dana Bernier
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3129
Fir Building, room FR407
danabernier@capilanou.ca
Danielle Labossière BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Convenor/Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3027
Fir Building, room FR455
daniellelabossi@capilanou.ca
Danyael Lutgens BA., M.Sc., PhD
Instructor, PsychologySchool of Social Sciences
Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
604 984 4913 ext. 4913
Fir Building, room FR441
daniellelutgens@capilanou.ca
Dianne Crisp
FacultySchool of Social Sciences
Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
604 986 1911 ext. 3070
Fir Building, room FR407
diannecrisp@capilanou.ca
Douglas Alards-Tomalin BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Instructor, PsychologySchool of Social Sciences
Psychology
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
604 986 1911 ext. 3551
Fir Building, room FR407
douglasalardstomalin@capilanou.ca
Iris Gordon
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3074
Fir Building, room FR449
irisgordon@capilanou.ca
Jason Martens PhD
Instructor, PsychologySchool of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3696
Fir Building, room FR445
jasonmartens@capilanou.ca
Jennifer Davis
Instructor, PsychologySchool of Social Sciences
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3028
jennifernerissadavis@capilanou.ca
Jessica Motherwell McFarlane
InstructorFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3073
Fir Building, room FR407
jmcfarlane@capilanou.ca
Judy Te Kanawa
Emergency Floor Warden Fir, DDA 1, School of Social SciencesSchool of Social Sciences
Applied Behaviour Analysis
Criminology
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Women's & Gender Studies
604 986 1911 ext. 2036
Fir Building, room FR401
jtekanawa@capilanou.ca
Justin Wilson BA (Hons), M.Ed., PhD
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 984 4953 ext. 4953
Fir Building, room FR401
justinwilson@capilanou.ca
Lesley Schimanski
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3091
Fir Building, room FR461
Lesleyschimanski@capilanou.ca
Louise Cournoyer
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 984 4953 ext. 4953
louisecournoyer@capilanou.ca
Peizhong Li
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3088
Fir Building, room FR449
Peizhongli@capilanou.ca
Sandra Cooper
Divisional SupervisorSchool of Social Sciences
Anthropology
Applied Behaviour Analysis
Criminology
Economics
Geography
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Women's & Gender Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
604 983 7525 ext. 7525
Fir Building, room FR415
scooper@capilanou.ca
Sarah Moore
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3034
sarahrosemoore@capilanou.ca
Vivian Lai
Instructor, PsychologyFaculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Social Sciences
Psychology
604 986 1911 ext. 3130
Fir Building, room FR445
vivianlai@capilanou.ca
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Contact
Have questions about this department?
Psychology Department
604 984 4953 Fir Building, room FR401 psychology@capilanou.ca
For general inquiries about the Psychology Department.
Student Information Services
604 984 4900 604 984 1798 (fax) Library Building, room LB152 registration@capilanou.ca