Psychology Option

General Information and Curriculum
The Psychology discipline offers Majors, Honours, Specializations, Certificates, and two minors.

Course requirements common to the Majors and Honours BSc degree are as follows:

First and Second Year   

Third and Fourth Year

  •     PSYC 3913; PSYC 4053
  •     27 ch in Psychology courses.
  •     12 ch from List A (6 ch must be from either the third or fourth year).
  •     9 ch as electives from either the third or fourth year.

List A:
Biology,
Chemistry,
Computer Science,
Data Analysis,
Geology,
Mathematics,
Physics,
Statistics.

BSc Major Program
A student must successfully complete the equivalent of 20 full courses conforming to the above pattern and all required psychology courses must be passed with at least a C (2.0).

Normally all Psychology courses counted toward the BSc. Major in Psychology degree must have been completed within the 10 years prior to graduation.

BSc Honours Program

The Honours program in Psychology provides a broad knowledge of this field and its research methods. Students planning to pursue graduate studies in psychology are advised to consider this program. 

Students may apply to the Honours program in December of their third year and can enrol in the honours program when they have completed 90 ch (30 term-courses). To be eligible to apply they must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 (B+), as well as, a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 in all psychology courses at the 2000, 3000, and 4000 level. Please note that these minimum requirements do not guarantee acceptance into the Honours program; admittance is competitive and students must obtain a Faculty member willing to supervise them. As well, space may be limited. 

Nine term-courses derived from a selection of 3 term-courses from each of the following 3 groups is necessary. 

Group I: Biological/Cognitive Basis of Behaviour I 
PSYC 2712, PSYC 2693, PSYC 3343, PSYC 3383, PSYC 3503, PSYC 3513, PSYC 3603, PSYC 3632, PSYC 3712, PSYC 3714, PSYC 3723, PSYC 3743, PSYC 3752, PSYC 4021, PSYC 4201, PSYC 4583, PSYC 4712, PSYC 4733, PSYC 4833 

Group II: Social/Personality 
PSYC 3035, PSYC 3201, PSYC 3265, PSYC 3263, PSYC 3293, PSYC 3401, PSYC 3412, PSYC 3416, PSYC 3453, PSYC 3461, PSYC 3695, PSYC 4266, PSYC 4267, PSYC 4293, PSYC 4463.  

Group III: Clinical/Applied 
PSYC 3033, PSYC 3313, PSYC 3323, PSYC 3362, PSYC 3393, PSYC 3493, PSYC 3553, PSYC 3724, PSYC 3725, PSYC 3803,  PSYC 4233, PSYC 4263, PSYC 4265, PSYC 4264, PSYC 4313, PSYC 4493, PSYC 4813. 

An Honours student must successfully complete an Honours Thesis (PSYC 4142, PSYC 4143 and PSYC 4145). This typically requires that a student conceive, plan, perform and report an experiment under the supervision of a Faculty advisor. Normally, the thesis research is completed during the student's final year of study.

All Psychology courses taken for the Honours degree must be passed with at least a C (2.0). Furthermore, to graduate with an Honours degree in Psychology an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.3 (B+) is necessary, as well as a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 in all required Psychology courses. For a First Class Honours designation, a grade point average of 3.6 is required in such Psychology courses. 

Specializations in Psychology

In addition to the BSc in Psychology, students can specialize in three areas of psychology. In addition to the required courses listed above, each specialization includes four courses that are selected as required electives. 

BSc Psychology with a Specialization in Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience 

Required:  PSYC 3723 Introduction to Human Neuropsychology (Prerequisite: PSYC 2712 Foundations in Neuroscience) 

Three additional courses chosen from: 

BSc Psychology with a Specialization in Developmental Psychology 

Required:  PSYC 3201 Child Development 

Three additional courses chosen from: 

BSc Psychology with a Specialization in Psychology and the Law 

  1. At least one of PSYC 3263, The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour, OR PSYC 3265, Forensic Psychology 
  2. Three additional courses chosen from: 

 

Minor in Psychology 

The Minor in Psychology is an 8-term course program aimed at students wishing to acquire a basic foundation in Psychology outside of their Major area of study. 

Admission to the Minor in Psychology is not open to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a Major or Honours in Psychology, Bio-Psychology or a Certificate in Mental Health Studies. The minor requires a minimum of 8 term-courses. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses. 

NOTE: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004 are prerequisites for all Psychology courses. 

Mandatory Psychology courses (4 term-courses) 

Required Psychology Electives (4 term-courses) 

Any four (4) 3000/4000 level Psychology courses 

Minor in Gerontology A Multi Disciplinary Study of Aging 

Gerontology is the study of aging – the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that occur to individuals over the adult years. Gerontology also examines how outside influences impact the elderly in terms of health care, pensions, housing facilities, ethics, and end- of-life legislation. This minor will help students understand the needs of an aging community by examining changes from a multidisciplinary perspective. Opportunities will also exist for experiential learning in field placements in which students will work with seniors in our community. 

All 8 term-courses must be passed with a C or higher. Courses cannot be counted towards both a minor and a major. Note: PSYC 1003 and PSYC 1004 are prerequisites for all PSYC courses at 
the 2000, 3000 and 4000 level; additional prerequisites are in parentheses. 

5 Mandatory Term Courses: 
PSYC 3293 Aging (PSYC 3201) 
PSYC 3725 The Dementias 
BIOL 1411 Anatomy and Physiology I – without lab (CHEM 122 and BIOL 122 – high school) 
PHIL 3133 Health Care Ethics I (one term course in Phil or permission) 
HSCI 2001 Introduction to Health 
 
3 Term Courses from the following list*: 
BIOL 1412 Anatomy and Physiology II – without lab (BIOL 1411) 
PSYC 2693 Foundations of Perception and Cognition 
PSYC 3723 Human Neuropsychology (PSYC 2712) 
SOCI 2376 Sociology of Health, Illness and Healing (SOCI 1001 with a C or higher) 
PHIL 3134 Health Care Ethics II (PHIL 3133) 
PSYC 4266 Field Placement in Aging I (PSYC 3293 and permission of the field placement coordinator; only for completing in the gerontology minor) 
PSYC 4267 Field Placement in Aging II (PSYC 3293 and permission of the field placement coordinator; only for students completing the gerontology minor) 
* or other approved courses