Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of thinking, feeling, and action. Psychologists study the psychological, biological, and social bases of how we think, feel, and behave and use this knowledge to solve problems in the real world. As scientists, psychologists conduct research in many settings including universities, hospitals, government, schools, and corporations. As practitioners, psychologists apply the knowledge gained from research to solve personal, social, and practical problems.
In this section
- Bachelor of Applied Arts (also Honours)
- Bachelor of Science (also Honours)
- Bachelor of Arts Major (also Honours)
- Minor
- Associate of Arts Degree
Student Profile
Students of psychology have a genuine interest in understanding human nature. They are fascinated with the human mind and want to understand why people do the things they do. Our psychology students are taught how to look carefully at behaviour and gain exposure to basic principles such as motivation, memory, thinking, sensation, and perception. The traditional BA degree will appeal to students who want the flexibility to choose one or more areas to explore in their upper years, including developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, personality psychology, or general experimental areas. The Bachelor of Applied Arts degree will appeal to students looking more specifically for a clear path during their upper years of study for specific research and workplace skills, and who enjoy learning more about how to gather, organize, analyze, interpret, and present data. The program is more rigorous than the more flexible BA, but includes courses hand-picked by faculty and employers to target job and graduate school skills. The Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology program will appeal to students whose interest in psychology is in the biological basis of behaviour and those oriented toward a career in the health sciences. Students in the B.Sc. in Applied Psychology program will enjoy courses in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics in addition to a wide range of Psychology courses with a specific focus on research and applied workplace skills.
Career Opportunities
Students of psychology have a number of options open to them once they complete their undergraduate degrees. To pursue a career specifically in the field of psychology and to call oneself a psychologist, an individual must complete at least a Master's degree and normally a Ph.D. in Psychology. However, there are many careers open to students with an undergraduate degree in psychology including social services, labour relations, health services, human resources, corrections, and marketing. There are also careers in other fields that can benefit from psychology skills and knowledge, including law, medicine, journalism, and business. Most of these require additional study. Students are advised to consult with an Arts Degree advisor and the Psychology Degree Coordinator to best plan their course of study to meet their career objectives.