Psychology Option

Department of Psychology

Faculty

• Byers, E. Sandra, BA (Roch), MA, PhD (W Virginia), Prof & Chair - 1978
• D'Entremont, Barbara, BSc, MSc (Dal), PhD (Qu), Assoc Prof - 2000
• Hamilton, Ryan, BA, MSES, PhD (UNB), Assoc Prof - 2013
• LaChapelle, Diane, BSC (McM), MA, PhD (Regina), Assoc Prof - 2002
• Olthuis, Janine, BA (Smith), PhD (Dal), Assoc Prof - 2016
• O’Sullivan, Lucia, BA, MA (UNB), PhD (Bowl), Prof - 2006
• Palmer, Michael, BS, MS, PhD (Central Michigan), Asst Teaching Prof - 2017
• Perunovic, W. Q. Elaine, BA, PhD (Wat.), Assoc Prof - 2007
• Poulin, Carmen, BA (UNB), MA, PhD (Qu), Prof - 1991
• Ronis, Scott, BA (Brandeis), MA, PhD (Missouri), Prof - 2009
• Sears, Heather, BSc (Acad.), MA, PhD (Victoria), Prof - 1995
• Stevanovski, Biljana, BA (McM), MA, PhD (Wat), Assoc Prof - 2007
• Voyer, Daniel, BSc, MSc (Montr.), PhD (Wat.), Prof - 2000
• Whitford, Veronica, BA, PhD (McGill), Asst Prof - 2019

The Department of Psychology offers several undergraduate programs through the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science. Arts students may complete Minors, Majors, Double Majors, Honours, Joint Honours and Specialization in Neuroscience programs. Science students may complete Minors, Majors or Honours in Psychology. Some students may complete degrees in a combined (BASc) program or earn both Arts (BA) and Science (BSc) degrees in a concurrent program. Students in the concurrent program may declare the Major or apply for admission to Honours in Psychology in either Faculty but not both. Students in the combined program may declare the Major (following the Double Major regulations) in Psychology in either Faculty but not both.

The second digit in each course number indicates Teaching Areas within the discipline of psychology. The Areas and the specific course numbers of the courses belonging to each Area are as follows:

0 General PSYC 1013, PSYC 1023, PSYC 3033, PSYC 3043, PSYC 3053, PSYC 3063, PSYC 4003, PSYC 4053;
1 Research PSYC 2103, PSYC 2113,  PSYC 3113, PSYC 3123, PSYC 3151, PSYC 3152, PSYC 4110;
2 Developmental PSYC 2203, PSYC 3213,PSYC 3215, PSYC 3233, PSYC 3243, PSYC 3253, PSYC 3263, PSYC 3273, PSYC 4203, PSYC 4223;
3 Clinical PSYC 2313, PSYC 3313, 3315, PSYC 3323, PSYC 3353, PSYC 3373, PSYC 3383, PSYC 4303;
4 Personality and Social PSYC 2403, PSYC 3403, PSYC 3415, PSYC 3423, PSYC 3433, PSYC 4403;
6 Memory, Learning and Cognition PSYC 2603, PSYC 2613,  PSYC 3613, PSYC 3623, PSYC 3633, PSYC 3643, PSYC 4603;
7 Biological PSYC 2703, PSYC 3713, PSYC 3723, 3733, PSYC 3743,PSYC 3745, PSYC 3753, PSYC 3773, PSYC 3783, PSYC 4713, PSYC 4743, PSYC 4773.

The third digit in each course number designates the course within the Subject Area. Terminal digits of 3 or 5 indicate the course could be offered in any term. Please note that no more than three of PYSC 3033, PYSC 3043, PSYC 3053, and PSYC 3063 may be counted toward a Major or Honours in Psychology.

Statement on Web Courses

The Department of Psychology offers some online Web Courses to students through the College of Extended Learning. The Department of Psychology has approved these courses as equivalent to regular courses. In the Undergraduate Timetable, the section number for all Web Courses is listed as Open Access Learning.

In exceptional cases Full-time students may be given permission to enroll in Web Courses as part of their regular course load. Current regulations require Web courses taken by Full-time students during the Winter and Fall terms to be approved by the Dean of the faculty offering the course. Web Courses must be on the list of courses approved by the Department as equivalent to existing courses and must include a proctored final exam.

The following Web Courses have been approved by the Department of Psychology as equivalent to regular courses:

Majors and Honours

Minimum Academic Standards

Students should note that in the Science Faculty the minimum acceptable grade in a course which is required by a particular program or is used to meet a prerequisite, is a "C". Any student who fails to attain a "C" or better in such a course must repeat the course (at the next regular session) until a grade of "C" or better is attained. Students will not be eligible for graduation until such deficiencies are removed. The only exception will be granted for a single course with a “D” grade that is a normal part of the final year of that program, and is being taken for the first time in the final year.

Students are advised to carefully plan their selection and sequencing of Foundation courses as each course is a prerequisite for higher level courses within the same Teaching Area.

Normally, course selection for each program should conform to the following pattern:

First Year

1. PSYC 1013, PSYC 1023; BIOL 1001, BIOL 1006, BIOL 1012, BIOL 1017, CHEM 1001, CHEM 1006, CHEM 1012, CHEM 1017, and MATH 1003 or MATH 1053, and one of MATH 1013, MATH 1063, or PSYC 3113 (PSYC 3113 would be taken in Year 3 or 4).
2. 6 ch of approved electives (9 ch of electives in Year 1 if PSYC 3113 is selected in lieu of MATH 1013).

Second Year

1. PSYC 2113, PSYC 2103.
2. Two term courses of first year science lectures (Earth Sciences or Physics).
3. PSYC 2603, PSYC 2703 and 12 ch chosen from List A. 

Third and Fourth Years

1. PSYC 4053
2. Two of: PSYC 2203, PSYC 2313, PSYC 2403, PSYC 2515 (ideally taken in Fall of Year 3), PSYC 3113 (if taken in lieu of MATH 1013 or MATH 1063.)
3. 24 ch of Advanced Psychology electives (excluding PSYC 3113 if taken in lieu of MATH 1013 or MATH 1063).
4. 12 ch chosen from List A (6 ch must be at advanced level).
5. 15 ch of approved electives.

List A: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics.

Minor Program

A Minor will consist of 24 ch in Psychology courses and will include the following:

• PSYC 1013, PSYC 1023, PSYC 2103,
• two Foundation courses (selected from PSYC 2203, PSYC 2313, PSYC 2403, PSYC 2603, PSYC 2515 and PSYC 2703), and
• three advanced level (3xxx or 4xxx) Psychology courses.

Major Program

Students wishing to Major in Psychology will normally declare their major during their second year after they have seen their Department advisor.

A Major will consist of 51 ch in Psychology courses, 50 ch in other Science courses, 6 ch for the Math requirement, and 21 ch of elective for a total of 128 ch.

A Major in Psychology will include the following:

• Introductory Psychology 6 ch (PSYC 1013 and PSYC 1023)
• Research Methods 6 ch (PSYC 2113 and PSYC 2103)
• Area 6 and 7 Foundation courses 6 ch (PSYC 2603 and PSYC 2703)
• Two general Foundation courses 6 ch (selected from PSYC 2203, PSYC 2313, and PSYC 2403)
• Four advanced level Area 6 or Area 7 Psychology courses 12 ch (3xxx or 4xxx level)
• Four general advanced level Psychology courses 12 ch (3xxx or 4xxx level chosen from any area of Psychology), excluding PSYC 3113 if taken in lieu of MATH 1013 or MATH 1063.
• History of Psychology 3 ch (PSYC 4053)
• Biology 10 ch (BIOL 1001, BIOL 1006, BIOL 1012, and BIOL 1017)
• Mathematics 6 ch (MATH 1003 or MATH 1053; and one of MATH 1013, MATH 1063, or PSYC 3113).
• Chemistry 10 ch (CHEM 1001, CHEM 1006, CHEM 1012, and CHEM 1017)
• 6 ch  in PHYS 1061/PHYS 1071, PHYS 1062/PHYS 1072, ESCI 1001 or ESCI 1012.
• List A Science Courses 18 ch (Any level (i.e. 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, or 4xxx) from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics), and
• List A Advanced Science Courses 6 ch ( 3xxx or 4xxx) from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics ), and
• Electives 21 ch ( any level from any discipline )

Honours Program

Students wishing to Honour in Psychology will normally apply to the Department in their third year. The Honours Program is designed to provide broad exposure to the discipline and develop research skills appropriate for students wishing to pursue graduate studies in Psychology.

An Honours will consist of 60 ch in Psychology courses, 50 ch in other Science courses, 6 ch for the Math requirement, and 12 ch of electives for a total of 132 ch. An Honours in Psychology will include the following:

• Introductory Psychology 6 ch (PSYC 1013 and PSYC 1023)
• Research Methods 6 ch (PSYC 2113 and PSYC 2103)
• Area 6 and 7 Foundation courses 6 ch (PSYC 2603 and PSYC 2703)
• Two general Foundation courses 6 ch (selected from PSYC 2203, PSYC 2313, and PSYC 2403)
• Four advanced level Area 6 or Area 7 Psychology courses 12 ch (36xx, 46xx, 37xx, or 47xx level) and Four general advanced level Psychology courses 12 ch (3xxx or 4xxx level chosen from any area of Psychology other than Areas 6 or 7) for a total of Eight advanced level Psychology courses 24 ch
  • Students must take one or both Basic Research Seminars (PSYC 3151, PSYC 3152) in their third year. Students must also take at least one Topical Seminar (PSYC 4003, PSYC 4110, PSYC 4203, PSYC 4223, PSYC 4303, PSYC 4403, PSYC 4603, PSYC 4713, PSYC 4743, or PSYC 4773).
• Advanced Statistics 3 ch (PSYC 3113)
• Full year Honours Thesis 6 ch (PSYC 4110)
• History of Psychology 3 ch (PSYC 4053)
• Biology 10 ch (BIOL 1001, BIOL 1006, BIOL 1012, and BIOL 1017)
• Mathematics 6 ch (MATH 1003 or MATH 1053; and one of MATH 1013, MATH 1063, or STAT 2264)
• Chemistry 10 ch (CHEM 1001, CHEM 1006, CHEM 1012, and CHEM 1017)
• 6 ch  in PHYS 1061/PHYS 1071, PHYS 1062/PHYS 1072, ESCI 1001 or ESCI 1012.
• List A Science Courses 18 ch (Any level (i.e. 1xxx, 2xxx, 3xxx, or 4xxx) from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics)
• List A Advanced Science Courses 6 ch (3xxx or 4xxx) from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics) and,
• Electives 12 ch ( any level from any discipline)

The Honours Thesis: The Honours Thesis will consist of an independent research project, completed in the fourth year, supervised by a Psychology faculty member and discussed in the Honours Thesis Research Seminar. Applicants to the Honours Program should apply by submitting the Honours Program Application Form, normally in the third year of their program, to the Honours Research Co-ordinator, who will facilitate the process of matching students and supervisors. Only students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 in Psychology courses will be considered for the Honours Program. For the award of a first-class Honours degree, an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.7 is required.

Specialization in Neuroscience

Major and Honours

The major or honours with specialization in neuroscience consists of the distribution of credits as outlined under the respective program with a focus on Biology courses in the List A requirements. To achieve this specialization, students are required to take biology courses consisting of Introductory Biology 6 ch (BIOL 1001 or BIOL 1551 and BIOL 1012 or BIOL 1552) and a minimum of any six additional courses in biology (18 ch; 2 ch laboratory courses do not count toward the credit total). In addition, students are required to take at least three Area 7 courses in psychology (PSYC 37xx or PSYC 47xx) as part of their advanced psychology electives. The Honours Thesis is the same as the Honours Thesis described in the above section (The Honours Thesis). However, students are encouraged to do either their Basic Research (PSYC 3151/PSYC 3152) or Honours Thesis research work on a topic represented by Teaching Areas 6 or 7.