Concentrations

The purpose of the Concentrations is to provide an opportunity for Undergraduate Psychology students to focus their learning within specific areas of Psychology by taking sets of thematically related courses.  

The Concentrations are available to any Psychology Undergraduate Student (BA/BSc, Honours BA/BSc, Specialized Honours BA/BSc), including those completing double majors, or a minor in another program. The Concentrations are only available to students who have not already completed their Psychology degree (i.e., the Concentrations are not retroactive). Students are permitted to complete up to two Concentrations.

Each Concentration requires the completion of 18 credits in a set of thematically related courses. Courses completed towards a Psychology degree can also count towards the completion of a Concentration (i.e., you can fulfill degree and Concentration requirements simultaneously). However, it is also possible to take extra courses (beyond those required for your degree) in order to complete a Concentration.

GPA Requirement

In order to receive a given Concentration, students are required to have an average GPA over all courses counting towards the completion of the Concentration of C+ or higher. This rule applies to students completing any Degree (BA/BSc, Honours BA/BSc, Specialized Honours BA/BSc).

Completion

Students can start to complete courses required for receipt of a given Concentration at any time. In other words, no application is required. Concentrations are available to any student graduating during or after Fall 2021.

Once all courses are completed for a given Concentration, students must complete the appropriate Concentration Checklist. In addition to the Concentration Checklist, students must also include a copy of their grade report which can be found by logging into your student account: My Online Services. Courses counting towards the completion of the Concentration must be clearly highlighted.

The completed Concentration Checklist and highlighted grade report must be emailed to psy_conc@yorku.ca.

Concentration completion documents can be submitted any time between when final grades are available for all courses counting towards the Concentration and three months following the conferment of the student’s degree (e.g., three months following Convocation). In addition, we encourage students to send an email to  psy_conc@yorku.ca  after enrolling in the final course(s) required for a given Concentration to alert Undergraduate Office staff of the potential Concentration completion. Completion of Concentration requirements will be verified by staff members in the Department of Psychology Undergraduate Office, and students will be notified regarding the completion status of their Concentration within 15 days.

Students who successfully complete all of the requirements for a Concentration are eligible to receive a Digital Credential/Badge. These Digital Credentials/Badges are managed by Credly. For more details see Digital Credentials/Badges for Concentrations

Important Notes

1) Please make note of course prerequisites, as prerequisites will not be waived because you are completing a Concentration

2) To be eligible to enrol in 3000-level psychology courses, students must complete at least 54 credits and HH/PSYC 1010 6.00. To be eligible to enrol in 4000-level psychology courses, students must be enrolled in an Honours program, see (3) below, have completed at least 84 credits, and have taken HH/PSYC 1010 6.00.

3) Note that some Concentrations require students to complete 4000 level courses, which are not available to BA/BSc students in the 90 credit program. Concentrations with 4000 level requirements include: a) Counselling and Mental Health; b) Child and Youth Development; and c) Psychological Humanities, Contexts and Communities.  Therefore, these Concentrations are only available to Honours BA/BSc and Specialized Honours BA/BSc students.