University Transfer: Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

at Red Deer Polytechnic Canada

The focus is on concept-based and intentional clinical learning.  Intentional clinical learning is a purposeful approach to providing students with the foundational knowledge and skills to provide safe quality patient care in today's complex health settings. 

The program begins with admission to RDC in Year 1 as a student in the University of Alberta Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program with RDC. For the first three years, you are registered as an RDC student. During Year 3 you apply for official admission to the University of Alberta for your fourth year. As long as you meet the criteria (see below), you continue at RDC to complete your 4th year.

After completing year 4, you will convocate from the U of A with a BScN. As a graduate, you will be eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This is required for a license to practice in Alberta as a registered nurse (RN).

The Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) diploma program is designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in the rapidly growing manufacturing, petroleum, and infrastructure design industries in Central Alberta. Students will use both hands-on and theoretical approaches to learn mechanical engineering fundamentals including mathematics, solid mechanics, thermal-fluid sciences, and kinematics, blended with industry-focused topics such as automation, control, lean and computer integrated manufacturing, and reliability. Based on National Technology Benchmarks for Mechanical Engineering Technology, this program, coupled with industry experience, will lead to the Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) and Professional Technologist (PTech) designations.

Graduates will develop knowledge and skills enabling the learner to:-

• Employ relevant industry health and safety standards, codes, policies and procedures in accordance with current legislation, regulations and organizational policy.
• Prepare, analyze, evaluate and modify mechanical engineering drawings and other related technical documents.
• Analyze and specify the requirements for product and manufacturing operations to optimize manufacturability.
• Apply and demonstrate knowledge of material and engineering principles to manufacturing operations and processes to produce components according to required specifications.
• Analyze and solve complex technical problems by applying principles of advanced mathematics and science.
• Design, analyze, specify, interface, program, and maintain computer integrated manufacturing systems.
• Apply the principles and practices of project management.
• Research, analyze, prepare, author, and communicate in written, verbal, nonverbal, and presentation formats, technical documentation appropriate for a variety of audiences.
• Identify, develop, and demonstrate strategies for maintaining continuing competency and practice standards associated with global industry trends and practices.
• Design, specify, and analyze mechanical components and equipment by applying the fundamentals of mechanical engineering.
• Design, specify, deploy, and maintain mechanical systems; and apply principles of facilities management.

The Accredited Medical Laboratory Assistant program is designed to produce health care professionals who have the basic technical and theoretical skills to work in heathcare laboratories.  Their duties consist mainly of sample collection, specimen processing and various clinical laboratory procedures.  Graduates will attain all the specified MLA competencies that are outlined by the Canadian Society of Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).  They will be eligible to write the CSMLS MLA exam and obtain national certification.

The program is completed over 29 weeks and includes classroom and laboratory study on campus and a 7 week practicum off campus for clinical laboratory training.  Students are trained to collect, process, and prepare patient specimens, enter data, perform clerical and reception services, perform electrocardiograms and urinalysis, and carry out basic laboratory procedures. During practicum experience, students will address a selection of competencies in simulation labs.

Program outcomes are designed to enable successful transition to the role of the Medical Lab Assistant, assisting students to:

• Perform safe work practices according to established safety protocols, guidelines, and legislation
• Verify relevant data and patient information to ensure that appropriate specimens are collected and handled correctly
• Perform pre-analytical procedures and laboratory testing on a variety of specimens through the use of equipment according to established protocols
• Apply a variety of communication strategies, teamwork skills, and inter-professional collaboration to effectively and respectfully build positive relationships with patients/clients and other healthcare professionals
• Practice and promote the principles of quality management systems
• Practice in a legal, ethical and professional manner, demonstrating conduct that meets expectations of laws and regulations governing the profession
• Exhibit empathy, respect, and appreciation of diversity, while protecting the patient's right to a reasonable standard of care
• Apply critical thinking skills to constructively investigate, evaluate, and problem-solve to engage in the self-reflective practice, self-care, and lifelong learning

The two-year University Arts Diploma offers students the opportunity to learn about the issues and people shaping their world through a holistic approach to knowledge that is interdisciplinary in emphasis and chronologically broad in its topics. Students are able to determine their futures through a focus on general University Arts, which allows students to concentrate on a particular area of interest within the Humanities (English, History/Classics, Philosophy) and Social Sciences (Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) or through one of three thematic specializations—Global Perspectives; Science and Society; Culture, Societies, and Gender—that centre on timely themes and subjects. With a choice of pathways, resulting in a University Arts Diploma, students are able to concentrate on what matters to them while gaining transferable knowledge and skills that will give them a leg up in an ever-uncertain future. In an age where intricate problems do not respond to traditional solutions, the ability to think beyond disciplinary boundaries, offer critical analysis, craft well-considered assessments, supported by adaptive thinking in pursuit of solutions, will be the foundation for students’ further educational goals or employment aspirations.

Please note: all students apply to the University Arts Diploma. Following Admission, students may, if they choose, declare a specialization in Year 1 or Year 2 prior to graduation. Specializations are noted on transcripts. Students who choose not to specialize, or who do not meet the requirements of a specialization, will graduate with the same University Arts Diploma (without a specialization noted on their transcripts).

Program Outcomes

• Recognize the provisional nature, inherent complexity, and ambiguity of knowledge.
• Acknowledge a variety of critical and theoretical approaches to local and global issues and identify the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches.
• Engage in scholarly inquiry, both independently and collaboratively, to identify and investigate questions of a theoretical and applied nature using appropriate disciplinary methodologies and sources.
• Integrate knowledge and perspectives across disciplinary boundaries.
• Demonstrate intellectual integrity and academic accountability.
• Recognize reasonable objections to positions one endorses and to the arguments one uses to support their own position when presenting oral and written arguments.
• Acknowledge the diverse social, cultural, and historical forces that shape identities and values and examine personal and cultural diversity.
• Analyse and interpret historical and contemporary events, texts, and data within disciplines.
• Demonstrate collaborative, independent, and inclusive attitudes and practices.

This two-year program provides a broad background in accounting, finance, human resource management, information technology, marketing, economics, statistics, management, law, and policy. Five majors are offered: Accounting, Financial Services, General, Human Resources, and Marketing.

The Business Administration Diploma may be completed in two years if a student proceeds through their program of study by completing five (5) courses per semester, as set out under "Program Content" below. Alternatively, students may choose to take fewer (from one to four-courses per semester) in order to accommodate other obligations. The Business Administration Diploma requires the completion of 60 credits.

Psychology is the study of mental processes and behavior. RDC special interests include: memory and attention, social psychology, physiological psychology, and anomalous experiences.

Program Content
The below schedule is a general pattern that transfers to the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge. Check the Alberta Transfer Guide for transfer credit information.

The Bachelor of Commerce program will provide you with background skills and knowledge in the various specialized areas of business, as well as in the humanities and social sciences. Emphasis is on developing the ability to analyze various organizational problems of a human and/or technical nature.

At RDC, students may complete Year 1 and Year 2 of the undergraduate business degree programs offered at Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge, Athabasca University or other Canadian universities. At RDC, students may complete Year 1 of the program offered at the University of Calgary.

When the student transfers to the University of his/her choice, a specialized area of study (a major) may be selected. These specializations include:

• Accounting
• Computer Science
• Economics
• E-Commerce
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• First Nations' Governance
• Human Resource Management & Labour Relations
• Finance
• International Business
• Marketing
• Political Science
• Supply Chain Management
• Others as offered by the University you choose      

The one-year business certificate is designed for individuals looking to acquire introductory business skills to increase their employability or augment existing work experience. It also allows for budding entrepreneurs to gain a credential quickly while learning the key functional areas of business.

Students participate in our signature course, Business Topics and Skills. This course connects students to themselves, to learning, to the diverse Central Alberta community, and to career opportunities. Students are provided with networking opportunities in various courses.

Program Learning Outcome

• Collaboration: Practice collaborating in and with diverse teams.
• Communication: Communicate effectively utilizing oral, written, nonverbal, and media communication skills.
• Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving: Practice using critical and reflective skills and practices to analyze organizational challenges.
• Globalization: Recognize the impact of globalization across cultures and markets.
• Social and Cross Cultural Awareness: Recognize the value of diverse ideas, perspectives, and worldviews in a business environment.
• Information, Communication, Technology, and Financial Fluency: Apply information literacy, technology, research skills, and numerical and financial fluency to solve problems.
• Ethics: Employ ethical decision making and demonstrate professionalism.
• Business Acumen - Tools: Apply qualitative and quantitative methods to business scenarios.
• Business Acumen - Holistic: Explain holistic and entrepreneurial approaches for working in, and managing, socially responsible organizations.
• Lifelong Learning: Recognize the value of lifelong-learning and community engagement.
• Indigenous: Contribute to the advancement of reconciliation and apply principles of Indigenous knowledge including identifying and describing Indigenous cultural protocols, worldviews, and learning approaches in both a business and societal context.

RDC’s Health Care Aide program prepares students to be a part of a health-care team in a variety of different settings, providing high level of front-line care to clients in need of assistance.

As a Health Care Aide students may work in acute care facilities, continuing care facilities, hospitals, as well as in clients' homes. A Health Care Aide assists individuals needing care in a variety of ways including: assisting with eating, dressing, washing and moving.

The program uses a variety of learning approaches including online readings, assignments and lessons, in-person labs with a certified instructor, and in-person clinical placements. This program follows the Government of Alberta approved Health Care Aide 2020 curriculum and successful graduates are certified as Health Care Aides in Alberta.

Program Outcomes:
Health Care Aides must demonstrate competency as specified in the Alberta Health Care Aide Competency Profile.