Program Overview

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Psychology (Bachelor of Arts degree)

The Psychology program at the University of Waterloo offers students the opportunity to explore the frontiers of the mind, examining human behavior from various perspectives, including neuroscience, cognition, clinical, developmental, industrial/organizational, and social psychology. Students can deepen their understanding by taking complementary courses in other subject areas, such as legal studies, sociology, biology, and health studies.

Program Structure

• The program is available as a co-op or regular program.
• Students can study Psychology through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.
• The Faculty of Arts offers the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree.

First-Year Courses

Honours Arts

• September to December:
  • PSYCH 101 – Introductory Psychology
  • ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
  • Prospective major #2
  • 2 electives
• January to April:
  • Choose one course from:
    • PSYCH 207 – Cognitive Processes
    • PSYCH 211 – Developmental Psychology
    • PSYCH 238 – Organizational Psychology
    • PSYCH 253 – Social Psychology
    • PSYCH 257 – Psychopathology
    • PSYCH 261 – Physiological Psychology
  • Prospective major #2
  • 3 electives

Honours Arts and Business

• September to December:
  • ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • PSYCH 101 – Introductory Psychology
  • Prospective major #2
  • Elective
• January to April:
  • ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
  • ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
  • ARTS 160 – Inquiry and Knowledge Creation
  • Prospective major #2
  • Plus one course from:
    • PSYCH 207 – Cognitive Processes
    • PSYCH 211 – Developmental Psychology
    • PSYCH 238 – Organizational Psychology
    • PSYCH 253 – Social Psychology
    • PSYCH 257 – Psychopathology
    • PSYCH 261 – Physiological Psychology

After First Year

• At least 40% of the classes will be Psychology courses.
• With the remaining classes, students can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.

Sample Upper-Year Courses

• PSYCH 230 – Psychology and Law
• PSYCH 317 – Child Psychopathology
• PSYCH 307 – Human Neuropsychology
• PSYCH 459 – Human Seminar - Close Relationships

Customizing Your Degree

• The optional Research Intensive specialization provides in-depth training in experimental design.
• Students can include one or more of the minors available to all Waterloo students, such as Human Resource Management, Cognitive Science, Legal Studies, Economics, and Sexualities, Relationships, and Families.

Co-op Program

• The co-op program offers relevant paid work experience.
• Sample co-op job titles include:
  • Research assistant
  • Marketing and communications assistant
  • Policy and research assistant
  • Resource management coordinator
  • Human resource assistant
  • Junior user experience designer
  • Teaching assistant
  • Sustainability intern
• The co-op work-study sequence involves alternating between school and work every four months, starting in second year.

Career Opportunities

• Graduates find a wide variety of career opportunities in areas such as counselling, therapy, mental health services, human relations, public education, speech pathology, research, education, and more.
• Recent graduates have found employment as teachers, protection support workers, psychologists, human performance managers, customer implementation specialists, human resource generalists, and therapists.

Admission Requirements

• Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%).
• Mathematics of Data Management is recommended.
• Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular).

How to Apply

• Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose Psychology as your major at the end of first year.
• Students may choose to co-register through St. Jerome's University, located on Waterloo's campus.