Science Academic Plans

Advisors: See Faculty of Science, Academic Advisors.

Overview and Admission

The Honours Psychology Bachelor of Science (BSc) Academic Plan is available in both the regular and co-operative stream of study, and is appropriate for students interested in cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology or medicine, with specialization in neurology, psychiatry, or pediatrics. A strong background in the "natural science" area of psychology would complement a student's preparation for research or graduate work in these fields of study.

Honours Psychology provides opportunities for in-depth study of psychological theory and research. Courses are available in the following areas: clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and social psychology. Third- and fourth-year students have opportunities to study in small groups, to obtain hands-on laboratory training, to enrol in courses where they work one-on-one with faculty members, and to enrol in apprenticeship courses that provide practical field experience in applied settings.

Students interested in Honours Psychology will normally be admitted at the beginning of their second year based on their academic performance in Year One courses. Application for admission to Honours Psychology is made at the time of enrolment for Year Two. Admission decisions for the Honours Psychology BSc plan are normally made after winter term grades are available.  For those whose admission decisions are deferred pending spring term grades, admission decisions will be made in early September.

To be considered for admission to Honours Psychology (BSc), students must have successfully completed:

• PSYCH 101/PSYCH 101R
• One of PSYCH 207, PSYCH 211, PSYCH 238, PSYCH 253/PSYCH 253R, PSYCH 257/PSYCH 257R, or PSYCH 261
• MATH 127/MATH 128
• All BIOL and CHEM courses required for Year One Honours Science (see Recommended Course Sequence for details).

The cumulative averages for admission are: Faculty of Science at least 60%, overall at least 60% and Psychology at least 75%.

Notes:

1. Students should attend the information session for prospective Psychology majors before applying to the Psychology major. Refer to the Psychology undergraduate website for the date and time (late February or March).
2. Students should see the Psychology undergraduate website for the application documents required, frequently asked questions regarding admission decisions, course offerings by Psychology area, tips regarding course planning and student success, experiences and opportunities for current students, and other relevant topics.
3. Students who complete a research methods course and/or an introductory statistics course should seek advice at the Psychology Undergraduate Office regarding degree requirements before the first term of enrolment in the Honours Psychology BSc plan.
   
   

Requirements

Continuation in  Honours Psychology (BSc), requires a cumulative average of at least 60% in the Faculty of Science courses, a cumulative overall average of 60% and a cumulative average of at least 75% in the Psychology courses. Conditional standing may be granted to students whose averages fall below these criteria.

Eligibility for graduation in Honours Psychology (BSc) includes successful completion of the following requirements:

1. 21.0 units of which at least 19.0 must be lecture units and no more than 2.0 can be lab units. The 21.0 units must include all of the following:
   • MATH 127, MATH 128
   • Two 100-level courses in BIOL and any related labs (exclusive of BIOL 101)
   • CHEM 120, CHEM 120L, CHEM 123, CHEM 123L
   • 5.5 additional Faculty of Science units including:
     • no more than 2.0 SCI-labelled units
     • no more than 1.5 lecture units at the first year level (i.e., courses other than the Year One BIOL and CHEM)
     • no more than 1.5 lab units, inclusive of first year BIOL lab units
     • at least 2.0 units at the 300- or 400-level, exclusive of SCI units
   • 9.0 units in Psychology (PSYCH) including:
     • PSYCH 101/PSYCH 101R
     • Methodology Core: PSYCH 291, PSYCH 292, PSYCH 389, PSYCH 390, PSYCH 391, PSYCH 492
     • Discipline Core: PSYCH 207, PSYCH 211, PSYCH 257/PSYCH 257R, PSYCH 261, and one of PSYCH 238 or PSYCH 253/PSYCH 253R
     • Honours Seminar: one of PSYCH 420, PSYCH 451, PSYCH 453, PSYCH 454, PSYCH 455, PSYCH 457, PSYCH 458, PSYCH 459, PSYCH 461, PSYCH 462, PSYCH 463, PSYCH 485
     • four additional PSYCH courses to be at taken at the 300-level or above
     • one additional PSYCH course at any level
   • 3.0 units of unspecified elective
2. Completion of the English Language Proficiency Requirement.

Notes:

1. Psychology courses are offered by the Faculty of Arts.
   • If Psychology courses are required for another Arts academic plan, please refer to the Faculty of Arts double-counting regulations for further details.
2. Students should note that Year-One Physics is a pre-requisite for some professional or graduate programs and is relevant to material covered in some professional and graduate admission tests (e.g., MCAT, OAT). Some upper year, non-Physics courses, require completion of one or more first year Physics courses, including:
   • BIOL 376 Cellular Neurophysiology
   • BIOL 377 Systems Neuroscience
   • EARTH 260 Applied Geophysics 1
3. Students considering applying to professional or graduate programs should ensure that they have the appropriate labs associated with courses needed for admission.
4. PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 292 must be completed in Year Two.
5. PSYCH 391 must be completed in 3A (fall).
6. PSYCH 211, PSYCH 257/PSYCH 257R, and one of PSYCH 238 or PSYCH 253/PSYCH 253R must be completed before taking PSYCH 389 and PSYCH 391. PSYCH 207, PSYCH 211, and PSYCH 261 must be completed before taking PSYCH 390.
7. Advanced Research Methods Courses:
   • Normally, both PSYCH 389 and PSYCH 390 will be completed in Year Three.
   • Typically only one section of PSYCH 390 is offered in the spring term and priority enrolment that term is given to those in the co-op system of study.
8. Transfer students should note the transfer credit maximums listed on the Faculty of Science Admission page, and at least half of the PSYCH courses must be taken at the University of Waterloo with a numeric grade.
9. Refer to the Psychology programs section on the Psychology undergraduate website for further course sequence information and class enrolment instructions.

Honours Thesis

The Honours Thesis (PSYCH 499A/PSYCH 499B/PSYCH 499C) course (1.5 units) is optional but recommended for students who:

a) are considering graduate or professional programs that may require a completed honours thesis for admission, or

b) have a strong interest in, and commitment to, conducting original research.

The Honours Thesis will count for three of the four additional PSYCH courses required at the 300-level or above. Please consult the Honours Thesis Handbook (course outline for PSYCH 499) on the Psychology Undergraduate website for further details regarding PSYCH 499A, PSYCH 499B, and PSYCH 499C.

Honours Psychology Co-operative Academic Plan

Honours Psychology Co-op students gain beneficial work experience, perform a wide variety of tasks in numerous sectors, and are valued by their co-op employers and mentors. Students have opportunities to practice skills learned in Psychology courses (e.g., analytic, numeracy, computer, oral, and written communication skills) and develop new marketable skills.

Students should refer to the Psychology Co-op section on the Psychology undergraduate website for further details about the admission requirements and application procedures, and information regarding co-op positions, the requirements for writing work-term reports, and Professional Development (PD) course requirements.

Those accepted to co-op will have four work terms. The first work term will be in the spring term following Year Two. The school/work sequence ends with a school term. Psychology students pay co-op fees during five full-time school terms, with the first co-op fee charged in the 2B (year/level) school term.

Note

For Joint Honours Psychology Co-op (BSc), the first of the two Honours Majors must be Psychology, and the Home Faculty must be Science.

Joint Honours Psychology

Pursuing two Honours plans, second major Psychology, home Faculty Science:

Follow the double Honours Psychology requirements in the Faculty of Arts calendar section, as well as the requirements for the first major.

Note:

1. See first major if interested in co-op.
2. See Honours Double Majors with Psychology for further details.

Pursuing two Honours plans, first major Psychology, home Faculty Science:

All of the requirements as listed for Honours Psychology (BSc) must be completed, as well as the requirements for the second major.

Note:

1. The second major must not be in the Faculty of Science.
2. For Joint Honours Psychology Co-op (BSc), the first of the two Honours Majors must be Psychology, and the Home Faculty must be Science.

Honours Psychology (Bachelor of Arts)

Honours Psychology is also available through the Faculty of Arts in both the regular and co-operative system of study. The Psychology course and Psychology average requirements for Honours Psychology (Bachelor of Arts) are different from those for Honours Psychology (Bachelor of Science). For details regarding requirements for Honours Psychology (Bachelor of Arts) refer to the Psychology section of the Faculty of Arts.