Please follow the program structure outlined in the Academic Calendar from your FIRST academic year as a student at St. Thomas University. Find the Academic Calendars HERE. If you have any questions, please contact your academic advisor.
Note: PSYC 1013 and 1023 Introduction to Psychology are normally prerequisites for all other Psychology courses.
Minor in Psychology
Students who wish to obtain a Minor in psychology are required to complete PSYC 1013 & 1023 Introduction to Psychology, and 12 additional credit hours in psychology.
Major in Psychology
1. Specific requirements:
i. A minimum of 36 credit hours in Psychology is required for a major
ii. PSYC 1013 and 1023
iii. PSYC 2013 and 2023 - both must be taken in 2nd year
iv. at least two 3 credit-hour Psychology courses at the 3000 level
v. at least one 4000 level seminar course in Psychology
2. at least 6 credit hours from the following division:
FUNDAMENTALS Division:
2013 Introduction to Statistics
2023 Introduction to Research Methods
3053 Qualitative Research in Psychology
3933 Advanced Statistics
3943 Advanced Research
3953 Quantitative Methods
3963 History of Psychology
3. at least 3 credit hours from each of the following divisions:
BIOLOGICAL Division:
2113 Sensation
2123 Perception
2153 Biological Psychology
2163 Drugs and Behaviour
2193 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
3113 Hearing
3123 Visual Perception
3153 Advanced Biological Bases of Psychology
3173 Memory and the Brain
3423 Motivation and Emotion
4173 Seminar in Neuropsychology
4193 Seminar in Cognitive Psychology
CLINICAL Division:
2253 Psychology of Personal Growth
2643 Abnormal Psychology (CRIM 2643)
2653 Abnormal Child Psychology
3223 Health Psychology
3613 Models of Psychotherapy with Adults
3813 Psychological Testing and Assessment
4433 Seminar in Women and Mental Health (WSGS)
4453 Seminar in Stress and Health
4513 Seminar in Popular Psychology
DEVELOPMENTAL Division:
2613 Physical and Emotional Development
2623 Cognitive and Social Development
3623 Adolescent Development
3733 Developmental Psycholinguistics
4623 Seminar in Developmental Psychology
LEARNING & COGNITION Division:
2213 Principles of Learning
2263 Cognitive Psychology
3213 Behaviour Modification
3273 Human Memory
4213 Seminar in Behaviour Management
4243 Seminar in Behaviour Psychology
4263 Seminar in Cognitive Psychology
SOCIAL & PERSONALITY Division:
2183 Human Sexuality
2313 Personality Psychology
2413 Social Psychology (CRIM 2413)
2443 Environmental Psychology
3183 Sexuality and Diversity (WSGS)
3413 Advanced Social Psychology
3443 Psychology of Human-Nature Connection (SEST)
3533 Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology
4183 Seminar in Sexuality (WSGS)
4313 Seminar in Personality
4323 Seminar in Romantic Relationships
4423 Seminar in Social Psychology
4443 Seminar in Environmental Psychology
4. The remaining credits can be taken from any of the courses offered by the Department including the following list:
2823, 2833, 2843 Special Topics
3823, 3833, 3843 Special Topics
4823, 4833, 4843 Special Topics: Seminar
4883 Independent Study
Honours in Psychology
Students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in Psychology are advised to complete the Honours BA program. This program provides greater breadth and depth in the substantive and methodological areas of Psychology. Completion of an Honours degree and Honours thesis is an important part of preparation for graduate study in Psychology. In addition to meeting the general criteria of the University for an Honours degree, students who wish to take the Honours BA program in Psychology must meet specific regulations of the Psychology Department.
The Department of Psychology offers courses leading to the BA (Honours) degree. Faculty can provide expertise in the substantive areas of cognition, neuropsychology, human development, social psychology, social cognition, clinical psychology, personality, quantitative and qualitative methods, and psychometrics.
1. Admission to Honours
Admission to the honours program is competitive. Students who wish to complete an Honours degree in Psychology normally apply to the Department Chair by March 15 of the academic year before they intend to complete their Honours thesis. At this time, students apply, in writing, describing their preferred area of study for the Honours thesis project. Usually, students accepted to the Psychology Honours program will have a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher for the last 60 credit hours (in all courses, including those taken in the Winter term in which they are applying). Given the workload of the Honours Program, students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.9 are encouraged to seek the advice of the Department Chair before applying.
Successful applicants will normally meet the following criteria:
a) completion of Psyc 1013 and Psyc 1023 (or their equivalents);
b) completion of Psyc 2013 and Psyc 2023 (or their equivalents; typically completed in 2nd year), with a minimum grade of B;
c) completion of Psyc 3933 and Psyc 3943 (or their equivalents; typically completed in 3rd year), with a minimum grade of A-;
d) No grade less than B- in second year courses and above
e) indication of interest in pursuing a research-based graduate degree, or a career involving research skills, following graduation from St. Thomas University;
f) indication that two or more full-time faculty members in the Psychology Department have expressed interest in supervising the student in a thesis project.
g) In addition, previous research experience will be considered an asset.
Important: Students are not typically accepted into the Honours program until the end of their third year. However, students planning to apply to the Honours Program must discuss a course plan that adequately prepares them for the Honours thesis, and subsequent career goals, as early as possible in their program, with either the Department Chair or some other full-time faculty member.
2. Sequence of Activities for Prospective Honours Students
i. Initial interview with full-time faculty members (in the Fall term or early in the Winter term of the academic year before the student intends to complete their honours thesis).
ii. Application to the Chair of Psychology by March 15 of the academic year before the student intends to complete their Honours thesis, expressing interest in the Honours program. This application should include: a) a letter describing your reasons for pursuing an Honours degree, your general areas of interest, and an indication of which two (or more) full-time faculty members in the Psychology Department have expressed interest in supervising you in a thesis project, and an unofficial copy of your transcript, b) a CV or resume, and c) your email address and/or a summer contact address.
iii. Notification of acceptance into the Honours Program will occur in the late Spring or early Summer of the year you applied to the program (typically 3rd year). This notification will include the name of your Thesis Supervisor. On receiving the notification, students should contact their supervisor as soon as possible.
Important note: Some graduate programs require students to write the GRE (General and/or subject test). It is recommended that students begin looking into potential graduate programs in the summer before their last academic year to determine if GRE test scores are required to apply.
3. Thesis
Students admitted to the Honours program are required to complete an Honours Thesis. An Honours Thesis is an independent research project undertaken in collaboration with a Faculty Member in the Psychology Department who serves as Thesis Supervisor. Typically, Thesis Supervisors are full-time faculty members. The topic for the Honours Thesis is developed in consultation with the Thesis Supervisor, and the research may employ quantitative and/or qualitative methods. Honours students are required to orally present their completed thesis in the Departmental Thesis colloquium. This colloquium is typically held in April (exact dates vary from year to year).
4. Program Requirements
A. Specific requirements:
i. a minimum of 54 credit hours in Psychology
ii. PSYC 1013 and PYSC 1023
iii. PSYC 2013 and 2023 (must both be taken before PSYC 3933 and PSYC 3943 and it is strongly recommended to be taken in 2nd year)
iv. PSYC 3933 (Advanced Statistics)
v. PSYC 3943 (Advanced Research)
vi. PSYC 3963 (History of Psychology)
vii. PSYC 4996 (Honours Thesis)
viii. at least one additional 3 credit hour Psychology course at the 3000 level
ix. at least one additional 3 credit hour Psychology course at the 4000 level (in addition to the Honours Thesis)
B. At least 15 credit hours from the FUNDAMENTALS Division
C. At least 3 credit hours from each of the following divisions as outlined in the Major section:
BIOLOGICAL Division
CLINICAL Division
DEVELOPMENTAL Division
LEARNING & COGNITION Division
SOCIAL & PERSONALITY Division
Note: See the Major section for list of courses under each division
D. The remaining credits can be taken from any of the courses offered by the Department including the following list:
2823, 2833, 2843 Special Topics
3823, 3833, 3843 Special Topics
4823, 4833, 4843 Special Topics: Seminar
4883 Independent Study
5. Degree Requirements
To be awarded the Honours degree in Psychology upon graduation, students must meet the following requirements:
i. The program must include 54 credit hours in Psychology, and normally not more than 60 credit hours, including those specific course requirements outlined above.
ii. In addition to grade requirements for admission to the Honours Program (students usually have a GPA of 3.9 or higher), students must obtain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (B) in all Psychology courses taken, normally with no grade lower than C+ in any Psychology course.
Student Information
SONA Participant Instructions (PDF)
Department of Psychology - Psychology Research Information System