Department of Psychology, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences.

The discipline of Psychology is normally associated with the social sciences, the biological sciences, and the health professions. Specialization in Psychology at Guelph is available as a B.A. honours program major, a B.A. honours program major (co-op), and as an honours specialization in the B.SC. program (described in the schedule of studies for B.SC. programs). Through its different undergraduate programs, the Psychology Department attempts to provide a) a broad general education emphasizing psychological theory and methodology, with an empirical basis in course work (e.g. experiments and projects); b) an appropriate background in psychology for those who leave the University with an undergraduate degree to embark on careers in related areas (e.g. social services); and c) a sound preparation for graduate study in psychology. Students intending to apply for admission to graduate programs in Psychology are advised to refer to the Graduate Advisory Note.

A cumulative average of at least 70% in all course attempts in Psychology is required to enter or continue in the Honours Psychology program major in semesters 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Minors

Students interested in a Minor in Psychology should examine the schedule of studies for the Minors in Cognitive Neuropsychology, Developmental Psychology, Organizational Behaviour, or Social Psychology. Within the BA Degree program, these are the only Honours Minors available from the Psychology Department. The department does not offer Psychology as an Honours BA Minor, or as an Area of Concentration in the General BA Program.

Special Study Opportunities

Students interested in Career Counselling, or a related career, should consider the Career Development Practiitioner Program (C.D.P.P.) described in Section XI--Special Study Opportunities of this calendar. The C.D.P.P. option allows students to complete a B.A. Degree concurrent with a Career Development Practitioner Program. The C.D.P.P. option is designed to be somewhat comparable to a Minor in Career Counselling.

Note on Honours Courses

Courses marked (H) in Section XII--Course Descriptions are designed for students in a Honours Psychology program (Honours Program Major or Honours Program Minor in Cognitive Neuropsychology, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, Organizational Behaviour, or Social Psychology), the Information Systems and Human Behaviour program, Career Development Practitioner program (C.D.P.P.), or Human Resources Management major of the Bachelor of Commerce program. Students in other programs wishing to take these courses must obtain the permission of the instructors concerned. Courses designated with (H) in Section XII--Course Descriptions are Honours level courses requiring for registration a cumulative average of at least 70% in all course attempts in Psychology. Courses not designated as (H) are open to all students having the prerequisites. The department also offers an array of elective courses beyond the minimum required by the Honours Psychology program (see Section XII--Course Descriptions).

Core Requirements

Each of the Psychology programs requires that students complete at least 6 of the following 2000 level Psychology courses (3.00 credits). Psychology students are advised that they are normally expected to complete at least four 2000 level Psychology core courses prior to attempting any 3000 level Psychology courses.

However, students should take the 3000 level methodology courses PSYC*3320(H) and PSYC*3371/2(H) as early as possible, even though 4 core courses may not have been taken.

PSYC*2310 [0.50] Introduction to Social Psychology

PSYC*2330 [0.50] Principles of Learning

PSYC*2390 [0.50] Principles of Sensation and Perception

PSYC*2410 [0.50] Behavioural Basis of Neuroscience, I

PSYC*2450 [0.50] Introduction to Developmental Psychology

PSYC*2650 [0.50] Introduction to Cognitive Processes

PSYC*2740 [0.50] Personality

Major (Honours Program)

A minimum of 9.00 credits in Psychology is required, including (see notes below):

PSYC*1100 [0.50] Principles of Behaviour

PSYC*1200 [0.50] Dynamics of Behaviour

6 of the 2000 level Psychology core courses listed above

PSYC*2010 [0.50] Quantification in Psychology

PSYC*2360 [0.50] Introductory Research Methods

PSYC*3250 [0.50] Psychological Measurement (H)

PSYC*3320 [0.50] Statistical Principles in Psychological Research (H)

1.50 additional credits at the 3000 level or above (Students electing to take PSYC*3371/2 (H) will need to select only 0.50 additional elective credit at the 3000 level or above in order to satisfy this requirement (see Graduate Advisory Note)

1.50 additional psychology credit at the 4000 level (see Graduate Advisory Note)

Notes:

1. PSYC*2010 should normally be completed by the end of semester 3

2. PSYC*2360 should normally be completed by the end of semester 4

3. PSYC*3320 SHOULD NORMALLY BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF SEMESTER 4

4. NOTE THAT PSYC*3320 IS A PREREQUISITE FOR PSYC*3371/2 and that PSYC*3320 is an (H) designated course.

Note: The regulations of the B.A. program that govern the number of credits that must be taken at the 3000 level or above (see B.A. Program Regulations). With permission of the Psychology Department PRIOR to course selection, up to 1.00 non-psychology credit that would enhance the student's studies in Psychology, especially in preparation for post-graduate work, may be credited towards the total number of credits required for graduation in the honours program major in Psychology.

Graduate Advisory Note: Most graduate programs require the student to have at least a B+ average in order to be considered for admission. Students contemplating graduate work in Psychology are strongly advised to complete the major by completing 0.50 elective credit at the 3000 level or above and 0.50 elective credit at the 4000 level beyond PSYC*4870 and PSYC*4880 which would otherwise satisfy the 3000-4000 level elective requirement for the major.

These students are encouraged to complete the Psychology major as follows:

a) take PSYC*1100 AND PSYC*1200

b) take 6 of the 2000 level Psychology core courses

c) take PSYC*2010 and PSYC*3320

d) PSYC*2360, and PSYC*3371/2

e) an additional 0.50 credit in Psychology at the 3000 level or above

f) PSYC*3250

g) PSYC*4370 or PSYC*4900

h) 0.50 elective at the 4000 level

i) PSYC*4870 plus PSYC*4880. Students may wish to seriously consider taking a course in another specialized field as part of their preparation for graduate admission or graduate studies (for example, an elective in a specific subject such as Industrial Relations, Human Kinetics, Consumer Studies, Human Computer Interactions, Genetics, Mathematical Modelling, Logic or Critical Thinking Animal Behaviour, Physiology, Pharmacology, Child Studies, Linguistics, Historical Methods, Criminology, Children's Literature, Theatre for Young Audiences or a 2nd language). Students should also note that Honours Thesis is normally taken as a Fall-Winter sequence worth the equivalent of 1.50 credits toward the 20.00 credit Honours B.A. degree requirement.