Program Overview

BA Honours Program Overview

The Honours program is designed for psychology majors who are interested in conducting psychological research and who plan to pursue a research-oriented PhD in psychology or a related scientific field. Students who fit this profile — and who meet the high standards for admission into the Honours program — benefit from the additional coursework that is required of Honours students, as well as from the research projects that Honours students conduct under faculty supervision during their third and fourth years.

Admissions

Admission to the Psychology Honours program is highly competitive with a maximum of 30 incoming third-year students admitted into the program each year.

• Minimum requirements:
  • At least a 76% average in the second year
  • At least 80% in PSYC 217 and 218
• Admission decisions will be based on students' overall record of academic excellence as well as on other information bearing on the extent to which students' aptitudes are well-matched with the objectives of the honours program.

Degree Requirements

• Honours students are required to take four courses that are directed specifically toward honours students:
  • PSYC 312 (History of Psychology)
  • PSYC 359 (Advanced Research Methods)
  • PSYC 349 (Honours Seminar, third year)
  • PSYC 449 (Honours Seminar, fourth year)
• Additional honours requirements pertaining to the required number of additional courses, upper-level courses, etc.
• These additional requirements vary depending on whether a student is getting a BA or a BSc degree.

Honours Courses

• Students admitted into the Honours program complete several advanced research-relevant courses during their third and fourth years, in addition to completing the regular BA degree requirements.
• Key courses in the program include:
  • PSYC 349 Honours Seminar
  • PSYC 449 Honours Seminar and Essay
  • PSYC 312 History of Psychology
  • PSYC 359 Advanced Research Methods in Behavioural Sciences

Research Opportunities

• In addition to our honours program, the Psychology Department also provides other means of obtaining the kinds of intensive hands-on research experience that is valued by graduate programs in psychology and related fields.
• For example, our department offers "Directed Studies" courses (PSYC 340, 388, 440, 488), which are designed specifically to give interested students an opportunity to do research under faculty supervision, and to earn course credit for doing so.

Application Process

• Current or continuing UBC students must submit their applications by March 1 to April 1.
• Transfer students may submit their applications and official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions until June 1.
• Students must have already taken (or be currently enrolled in) PSYC 217 and PSYC 218 (or their equivalent at another institution) before applying.
• Admission decisions will await posting of grades for the spring term.
• Interviews with the Honours Admissions Committee will take place in May and June.
• These interviews permit the Honours Admissions Committee to clarify information that was not clear in the application and permit applicants to ask questions about the honours program to help them decide if the program is a good fit for their educational goals and life circumstances.