Programs of Study

Introduction

The Department of Psychology offers research-based BSc programs that focus on the experimental and biological approaches to the discipline rather than on a clinical approach to Psychology often found at other universities. We do not have any BA programs based in the Social Sciences; Psychology at the University of Toronto is based in the Life Sciences. However, please note that our programs do not require students to take other science courses such as Biology, Physics, or Chemistry.

At UofT, only a four-year Honours degree (20-credits) is offered. To obtain this, students must take at least one of the following combinations of Subject POSts (Programs of Study): 1) One specialist; 2) Two majors; or 3) One major and two minors. The Dept. of Psychology at the St. George Campus has four programs to choose from: Minor, Major, Specialist, and Research Specialist. Detailed descriptions of these programs are listed below.

Programs

Note - program requirements changed effective April 2010. For students who joined one of our programs from 2006 to 2009, please view program requirements on the 2005-2009 Programs of Study page.

MINOR
MAJOR
SPECIALIST
RESEARCH SPECIALIST

Minor Program in Psychology
(4-full courses or their equivalent)

You should consider pursuing the Minor Program in Psychology if you are interested in Psychology as a part of your general education or as a compliment to your training in another profession (e.g., nursing, rehabilitation medicine, physical and health education, social work, etc.).

Required Courses:

1. First Year: PSY 100H1
2. Statistics: PSY 201H1 (or its equivalent)
2. Two of PSY 210H1/220H1/230H1/240H1/260H1/270H1/280H1/290H1
3. Two half-courses (1.0 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 (Clusters A and/or B)
4. 1.0 FCEs from Goups 1 and/or 2 at any level

Major Program in Psychology
(7-full courses or their equivalents)

You should consider pursuing the Major Program in Psychology if you want to concentrate in Psychology together with another discipline.

Required Courses:

1. First Year: PSY 100H1
2. Statistics: PSY 201H1 (or its equivalent)
3. Two of PSY 210H1, 220H1, 230H1, 240H1 (Cluster A)
4. Two of PSY 260H1, 270H1, 280H1, 290H1 (Cluster B)
5. One half-course (0.5 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 in Cluster A
6. One half-course (0.5 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 in Cluster B
7. Two half-courses (1.0 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 (Clusters A and/or B)
8. One 400-level half-course (0.5 FCE) from Group 1 below (Cluster A or B)
9. 1.5 FCEs from Groups 1 and/or 2 at any level

Specialist Program in Psychology (Non-Thesis)
(10-full courses or their equivalents)

You should consider pursuing the Specialist Program in Psychology if you want a greater concentration in Psychology than provided by the Major Program. Having a Specialist is not required to be admitted to a graduate school in Psychology but is helpful in making your application competitive.

Required Courses:

1. First Year: PSY 100H1
2. Statistics: PSY 201H1 and PSY 202H1 (or their equivalents)
3. Two of PSY 210H1, 220H1, 230H1, 240H1 (Cluster A)
4. Two of PSY260H1, 270H1, 280H1, 290H1 (Cluster B)
5. One half-course (0.5 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 in Cluster A
6. One half-course (0.5 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 in Cluster B
7. Three half-courses (1.5 FCEs) at the 300/400-level from Group 1 (Clusters A and/or B)
8. One lab course (0.5 FCEs), and no more, taken from PSY 319H1, 329H1, 339H1, 379H1, 389H1, 399H1
9. Two seminar courses (1.0 FCEs) taken from JLP 471H1, PSY 410H1, 420H1, 430H1, 440H1, 460H1, 470H1, 471H1, 480H1, 490H1, 497H1
10. 2.5 FCEs from Groups 1 and/or 2 at any level

Research Specialist Program in Psychology (Thesis)
(10-full courses or their equivalents)

This program is designed for students who have demonstrated particular interest in and aptitude for research and who want to complete a Thesis.

Required Courses:

Course Groups and Clusters

Group 1 (Courses offered through the Psychology Department):

Cluster A (Courses with a focus on Social/Personality/Developmental/Abnormal Psychology):
JLP315H1; PSY210H1/220H1/230H1/240H1/299Y1/311H1/312H1/313H1/316H1/319H1/320H1/321H1/322H1/323H1/
326H1/328H1/329H1/330H1/331H1/332H1/333H1/336H1/337H1/339H1/341H1/342H1/343H1/402H1/403H1/404H1/405H1/406H1/
410H1/414H1/417H1/420H1/421H1/424H1/425H1/426H1/427H1/430H1/434H1/435H1/440H1/450H1

Cluster B (Courses with a focus on Cognition/Perception/Learning/Brain and Behaviour):
JLP374H1/471H1,PSY260H1/270H1/280H1/290H1/299Y1/312H1/316H1/362H1/370H1/371H1/372H1/378H1/379H1
/380H1/389H1/390H1/396H1/397H1/399H1/402H1/403H1/404H1/405H1/406H1/450H1/460H1/470H1/471H1/473H1/
475H1/480H1/490H1/492H1/493H1/494H1/497H1

Note: Some PSY courses are included in both of Clusters A and B and may count in either cluster, but not both, for program requirements. For independent study courses being used to complete the cluster requirement, please confirm group cluster with the Psychology undergraduate office (PSY 405H1 and 406H1). PSY 202H1 can be used towards program requirements as well (under the final requirement for each program).

Group 2 (Courses relevant to Psychology offered outside the Psychology Department):
BIO130H1/150Y1/252Y1/270H1/271H1; COG250Y1 (formerly UNI250Y1); CSB332H1; ENG384Y1 (formerly ENG290Y1); ETH220H1; HIS489H1; HMB200H1/220H1 (formerly HMB204H1)/300H1/310H1/320H1/400Y1/420H1; JLS474H1; LIN100Y1/200H1; NEW232Y1/302Y1/303H1/332H1/333H1/336H1/339H1/433H1/438H1 (formerly NEW338H1); PCL475Y1; PHL240H1/243H1/319H1/340H1/383H1; POL313Y1; PSL300H1/301H1 (together formerly PSL302Y1)/440Y1/444Y1; RLG211Y1/301H1/302H1/421H1; RSM260H1/353H1; SOC363H1; VIC261H1; WDW260H1/360H1/365H1; WGS372H1

Note: Please note that the courses in Group 2 are optional and that enrolment priority is not given to PSY program students.