Bachelor of Arts Honors in Psychology Degree Program Guide

The extremely competitive Psychology Honors program offers an exciting opportunity for motivated undergraduate students to get first-hand experience conducting research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. You will also build a professional network, and join a cohort of like-minded peers who share your passion for psychology. This program will prepare you for your next step after university, including preparation for research or clinical graduate programs or one of the many careers that benefits from psychology training. Finally, the honors seminars will teach you important skills, including public speaking, collaboration/teamwork, writing, data management, and critical thinking skills.

Psychology is offered as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, the Psychology component (required courses and experiences) are exactly the same in both degrees, what differs are the basic degree requirements outside of Psychology. We recommend taking the BA Psychology route if your interest is to focus more on the social sciences and humanities over the biological. This interdisciplinary approach allows you to apply your scientific knowledge of the human mind to our constructed social world, and interrogate our interactions and systems through lenses such as anthropology, political science, sociology, and more based on your unique interests.

Academic Requirements for Psychology Honors students

General Requirements and Information
  • Honors in Psychology requires 72 units in Psychology courses. The student’s program of courses must be approved in advance each year by the Honors Advisor
  • First year Honors students must complete a formal presentation (i.e., oral or poster) about their research progress, and second year Honors students must formally present the results of their thesis research. This is typically done at the annual Honors Psychology Conference. Other public venues can fulfill this requirement, with approval by the Honors advisor
  • Promotion from year to year requires a GPA of at least 3.0 over the previous annual performance (Fall/Winter)
  • Graduation with Honors in Psychology requires a graduation average of at least 3.0 with an average of at least 3.0 in all Psychology courses. First-Class Honors Degrees are awarded to any student in an Honors program who obtained a GPA of at least 3.5 and no failing grades on the last 60 units of course weight, excluding courses declared extra-to-degree
Course Requirements
  • PSYCH 104 - Basic Psychological Processes
  • PSYCH 105 - Individual and Social Behavior
  • PSYCH 212 - Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
  • PSYCH 213 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Psychology I OR STAT 151 - Introduction to Applied Statistics I
  • PSYCH 313 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Psychology II OR STAT 252 - Introduction to Applied Statistics II
  • PSYCH 300 - Honors Seminar I (must be taken in the first year of the Honors program)
  • PSYCH 399 - Honors Thesis I: Research Apprenticeship (must be taken in both Fall and Winter Terms of the first year of the Honors program)
  • PSYCH 400 - Honors Seminar II (must be taken in the second year of the Honors program)
  • PSYCH 490 - Honors Thesis II: Thesis Research (must be taken twice in the second year of the Honors program)
  • 6 units from:
    • PSYCH 223 - Lifespan Developmental Psychology
    • PSYCH 239 - Abnormal Psychology
    • PSYCH 241 - Social Psychology
  • 6 units from:
    • PSYCH 258 - Cognitive Psychology
    • PSYCH 275 - Brain and Behavior
    • PSYCH 282 - Behavior Modification
  • 3 units from:
    • PSYCH 303 - History of Ideas in Psychology
    • PSYCH 304 - History of Modern Psychology
  • 3 units from:
    • any 300- and 400-level PSYCH advanced research methods course: PSYCH 356, PSYCH 413, PSYCH 415, PSYCH 431, PSYCH 471, or equivalent course approved by the Honors advisor (normally taken in the first or second year of the Honors program)
  • 6 additional units from:
    • any 300- and 400-level PSYCH course
  • 6 additional units from:
    • any 400-level PSYCH course
  • 9 additional units from:
    • any 200-, 300-, and 400-level PSYCH courses
Additional Notes
  • PSYCH 212 and PSYCH 213 should be completed within the first two years (60 units) of the degree

Academic Requirements for Psychology Combined Honors students

  • The requirements in Psychology are the same as described above, including the specified courses from other departments. Careful planning is required, and consulting the Honors Advisors in both departments is mandatory.
  • In a Combined Honors program, students must meet the promotion and graduation standards of each Department.

The University of Alberta Calendar will always contain the most up-to-date degree requirements for your program, and your requirements are determined by the calendar year you were admitted in.

What kinds of courses can Psychology Honors students take?

  • PSYCH 302 - Psychopharmacology
  • PSYCH 305 - Organizational Psychology
  • PSYCH 327 - Adolescent Development
  • PSYCH 347 - Interpersonal Relationships 
  • PSYCH 350 - Human Memory
  • PSYCH 375 - Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSYCH 310 - Foundations in Professional Competencies
  • PSYCH 371 - The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
  • PSYCH 381 - Principles of Learning
  • PSYCH 403 - Injury and Repair Mechanisms After Stroke
  • PSYCH 405 - Animal and Nature Assisted Therapy
  • PSYCH 447 - Self and Identity
  • PSYCH 478 - Behaviour and Brain Chemistry

What kinds of careers can you pursue with a Psychology Honors degree?

There are many different fields and career paths that students can pursue with a Psychology Honors degree. From mental health and counselling to community services, graduates are equipped with interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and research skills to name a few, that are assets in today’s job market. Although there is a list of career options below, it is important to understand that careers are not linear. Intentionally engaging in a variety of activities and following your curiosities will open new opportunities that you might not have expected. To learn more about how you can put your Arts degree to work, stop by the HUB Career Centre (8917 HUB Mall) for more information.

  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Academic Advisor
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Probation Officer
  • Human Resources Specialist
  • Organizational Development Consultant
  • Training and Development Coordinator
  • Communications & Marketing Associate
  • Community Service Manager
  • Youth Counselor
  • Program Coordinator
  • Advocacy Specialist
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • +More!

Interested in gaining work experience related to your career goals? If so, apply to Arts Work Experience to gain full-time, PAID, work experience before you graduate!

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