Chris Wirth is a 4th Year Psychology Major who needed to find a way “to complete [his] degree while working full-time in order to pay for [his] studies.” Registering in two Psychology courses through distance education made this scenario possible, while providing him with pleasantly unexpected experiences in his education.
Chris is currently taking both PSYC 308B: Social Psychology and PSYC 309B: Cognitive Processes to fulfill the requirements for his major. He “chose to take those courses due to [his] work schedule, which makes attending UBC classes during the daytime difficult.” For Chris, this alternative to meeting his degree requirements allows him the flexibility of maintaining his full time job while excelling in his academics.
Chris has had the interesting experience of participating in both types of distance courses offered at UBC, online and print-based. PSYC 308B: Social Psychology is the 6 credit print based option for this course (which is now being offered online) and “is about how the social context affects the individual from an emotional and behavioural perspective.” Chris is learning about the theory and research of individual social behaviour, social motivation, attitudes, group interaction, socialization, and racial prejudice, among other interconnected topics. As a print-based correspondence course PSYC 308B “is comprised of readings and then assignments which are sent in to the professor.”
In contrast, PSYC 309B: Cognitive Processes is “online based, which was interesting and unexpected” for Chris. This online format looks quite different from the print-based courses. In addition to course readings “there is a discussion forum to discuss the class with other students, [as well as] a lot of multimedia activities, such as online exercises and videos which really brings the material to life.” As the course covers material “about human cognitive processes such as memory, language and attention,” the multimedia components provide a clearer picture of the complexities of these interacting systems.
PSYC 308B and PSYC 309B have been very practical for Chris’ degree and have supplemented his other coursework nicely. “Both courses have tied in nicely to my other coursework, as there is a fair bit of overlap among Psychology courses. Specifically, both courses reviewed experiments and the scientific method within the context of Psychology which was immensely helpful in my other Psychology courses.” An added benefit to taking these two courses by distance education is that they are more flexible “since you can work on them whenever you want.”
Notably, Chris mentions these distance courses “are a bit more labour intensive, probably to make up for the lack of lectures.” This may come as a surprise to some students, but Chris shares how he has benefitted from the increased academic rigour. . “My grades have been better and thus taking distance education courses should raise my overall GPA and may help me get into graduate school when I am finished my BA.” Distance education is opening up doors to opportunities for Chris, from supplementing his current coursework to offering him the prospect of graduate school.