Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology
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Program Overview
The Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology degree equips graduates with extensive knowledge, theory, and practice in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Students will learn to discern evidence-based practices, analyse them, and draw upon their findings to guide their own practice. The program culminates in students completing a thesis on a topic of their choice.
Program Details
Program Code
BBP1
Credential:
Degree
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2024 September
London
Open
2023 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2024 September
London
Open
2023 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
The Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program is a four-year degree that equips graduates with extensive knowledge, theory, and practice in the specialized field of behavioural psychology, or Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), a sector within the broader field of Psychology. The program provides extensive work-integrated learning experiences for students, including 420 hours of practicum, and 420 hours of internship.
The program introduces students to the cognitive and behaviour perspective of the human lifespan, and prepares them to work with people with autism, developmental disabilities, and/or addictions across a variety of sectors including corrections, early intervention, education, gerontology, rehabilitation, and health care. Graduates will be prepared to actively conduct assessments, design and carry out interventions, and complete evaluations with a wide array of individuals.
This program will also prepare students to be effective communicators through its emphasis on written and oral communication. Effective communication is taught, evaluated and reinforced throughout the curriculum, with students practicing their listening and comprehension skills as they learn to implement behavioural interventions based on information provided by others. Students will enhance their communication skills by transferring knowledge of the field and clients to other ABA practitioners and to laypeople, including clients and their support people.
Students will also engage in a live lab element within coursework, in collaboration with a local partner, where they will observe and engage in cutting-edge work, research, and apply theory to practice.
Graduates may further their studies in B.Ed. programs (teacher’s college) or pursue a master's degree.
Bridge to Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology with Advanced Standing
Steps to pursue this pathway:
- Students will need to first meet one of the following requirements:
- Graduates of the Autism and Behavioural Science (AUT) program at an Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 will be eligible to complete bridging requirements in order to enter the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology degree program in Year 3 (Level 5).
- Bridging eligibility of graduates from other related post-secondary programs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, based on a combination of related education and experience, as judged by the College.
- Students can apply for the bridging semester as follows:
- Fanshawe AUT grads and current level four students may apply to Level 5 of the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology (BBP1) by completing Fanshawe's Program Transfer Form. Contact admissions@fanshawec.ca at the Office of the Registrar for more information.
- Non-Fanshawe applicants please apply via ontariocolleges.ca under Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology Degree Completion Ontario College graduates.
- Students will need to then successfully complete the four bridging courses offered online during the May to August term:
- Developmental Disabilities in Ontario (from Level 2 of BBP1)
- Composition & Rhetoric (from Level 2 of BBP1)
- Applied Research Methods (from Level 3 of BBP1)
- Family Studies - Research & Application (from Level 4 of BBP1)
- Successful bridging students will enter Level 5 of the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology degree in September. Note, levels 5-8 will be offered in a hybrid delivery.
Career Information
Through a combination of theory and practical skills gained in the field, graduates from this program will be able to work in these growing fields of behavioural psychology:
- Autism
- Developmental disabilities
- Education
- Acquired brain Injury
- Corrections
- Addictions
- Organizational behaviour management
- Gerontology
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate the principles of psychology and specifically Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in professional practice and current behavioural research.
- Apply appropriate theories and approaches to practice when working with individuals across the life continuum and from different populations.
- Assist individuals in evaluating their current situations, selecting achievable, socially significant goals, and realizing those goals within the community.
- Select and implement appropriate methodologies when conducting and evaluating research in the fields of psychology and ABA.
- Communicate clinical knowledge to suit various audiences in order to collaborate with members of the community in support of the achievement of the individual’s particular behavioural goals.
- Observe and evaluate the behaviour of individuals in their environment, within a life continuum focus and across different populations, while conducting appropriate assessments prior to implementation of interventions.
- Design, write, and implement appropriate behavioural intervention strategies for a range of specialized populations across the lifespan, utilizing the science of ABA and evidence-based practices to increase skills and decrease challenging behaviours.
- Consult with a range of stakeholders to promote behavioural skill building with multiple populations.
- Carry out behavioural counselling in one or more settings under appropriate supervision.
- Adhere to ethical standards and codes of conduct in the field of ABA, including relevant provincial and national legislation and best practices.
- Act as a member of an interdisciplinary team in a wide variety of educational, health, clinical, and social environments to best serve an individual’s needs.
- Recognize and adhere to the limits of one’s practice and determine when to seek additional consultation and professional development.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with six Grade 12 U or M with a minimum overall average
of 65% with the following specific courses:
- Grade 12 English (U)
(Note: minimum final grade required is 65)
- Any grade 12 Math (C* or U) or Any Grade 12 Science
(U) or (M)
- *applicants applying with Grade 12 College level math must
ensure they have six courses at the U or M level
- Final minimum average of 65.0% based on the highest six
Grade 12 U or M courses
OR
Mature Applicant with standing in the
required courses and grade stated above
OR
Applicants applying from a community
college must have successfully completed a diploma program with an
overall GPA of 2.5 in their program. In addition, all students
applying from university or college must have completed the
pre-requisite courses in Mathematics and English as stated in the
Admission Requirements.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 88 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 176 with no language skill less than 169 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 9, 75% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 120, with no score lower than 105 |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Any Grade 12 Mathematics (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Biology (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 or Grade 12 Chemistry (C) or (U)
- Grade 11 Raising Healthy Children (O)
- Grade 11 Working with Infants and Young
Children (C)
- Grade 12 Challenge and Change in Society
(U)
- Grade 12 Families in Canada (C) or (U)
- Grade 12 Human Development Throughout the
Lifespan (M)
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available
spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:
- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
- Achievement in Post-Secondary Studies** (if applicable)
- Assessment of Applicant's skill set relevant to the program based on a Digital Portfolio and Writing Sample
- **Applicants currently enrolled in a university or who have previously attended university or other post-secondary institutions and are applying to transfer into the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology program are considered on the basis of their post-secondary standing. Specifically, applicants currently enrolled in a university or who have previously attended university must maintain a minimum average of 65.0% in the last ten full credit or full credit equivalent courses in order to be considered for admission. Applicants with less than ten full credit courses must maintain a minimum average of 65.0% in all courses in order to be considered for admission.
Courses
| Core Courses | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory (Core) Courses: The Minimum Cumulative GPA for Core Courses is 2.5 (Bridging students enter level 5 of the BBP1 program and must complete BSCI-7002, SOCI-7016, ECED-7003 and COMM-7008 from previous levels of the program.) | ||||
Group 1 | ||||
| LEVEL 1 - In addition to the following mandatory courses, please refer to the Non-Core Level 1 requirement below | ||||
| PSYC-7044 | Principles of Psychology | 3 | ||
| This is a survey course in psychology, exploring psychology's orientation and subfields, its guiding principles and research strategies. Through learning about the scope of psychology's subfields and the interrelationships among them, students are encouraged to appreciate the diversity and richness of human behaviour. Students acquire knowledge about the key concepts that constitute the core of the introductory psychology curriculum. | ||||
| BSCI-7008 | History of Behaviour | 3 | ||
| This course will introduce students to the philosophical underpinnings of the science of human behaviour and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). The course will take students on a journey through how the philosophy became a science. Students will learn about influential scientists in the field of ABA, and will examine their role in the field's development. | ||||
| BSCI-7001 | Disability Studies | 3 | ||
| This course will dissect various definitions and approaches to disability. A focus will be placed on the philosophical underpinnings of disability studies, while also examining how disability is constructed in society (e.g. in the media, workplace, and family, and through environmental barriers). | ||||
| ECED-7004 | Human Development-Foundations | 3 | ||
| The course introduces the study of human development from a developmental health perspective. Recent findings about early brain development and genetic expression join traditional theories from development psychology and population health perspectives into a framework of understanding that is the foundation for working with young children and their families. | ||||
Tuition Summary
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.