Psychology is a scientific approach to understanding mind and behaviour.
A liberal arts education provides students with opportunities to develop a wide variety of skills including interpersonal, oral and written communication, organizational, time management, problem solving, etc. In addition, Psychology majors develop distinctive observation, analytic, numeracy, computer, and oral and written communication skills. The degree to which these specific skills are developed will depend on the specific academic plan in which the student is enrolled. Students also develop an understanding about why they and others think and behave the way they do, and why they react as they do to situations and to one another. This knowledge can be very helpful in everyday life as well as at work. Feedback from co-op students and employers confirms that these distinctive skills are highly valued in today's workplace.
For those who pursue graduate level training (i.e., Masters or Doctor of Philosophy level) in psychology, career options include: teachers/researchers at universities; research scientists in government or industrial research and development labs; product/market researchers in the private sector; clinicians who provide assessment and treatment services for individuals, groups, or families; psychometrists who design and administer psychological tests; health psychologists who conduct research and are involved in health promotion and illness prevention programs; industrial/organizational psychologist who are employed as researchers, consultants, and/or human resources managers; senior administrators, etc. Students are advised that a General Bachelor of Arts in Psychology will not be sufficient for admission to graduate studies in Psychology. An Honours degree in Psychology that includes an honours thesis is typically required.
Many students build on their undergraduate degree in psychology by furthering their education in applied areas other than psychology before entering the work force. These areas include disciplines such as teaching, social work, marriage and family therapy, pastoral counselling, child studies, speech pathology, medicine, occupational therapy, law, business, human resources management, industrial relations, and criminology.
Please refer to the Psychology undergraduate website for further details.