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Department of Psychology Faculty of Health

Honours BA/BSc

The Honours in Psychology program is a 120-credit degree program designed for students who are interested in learning about and applying knowledge accumulated from the discipline of psychology. 

Students who graduate from this program will have demonstrated knowledge in a breadth of subdisciplines within Psychology, and will be able to critically evaluate research results, theories, and opinions within this field. Graduates of this program will be able to engage in quantitative reasoning through the interpretation of empirical results. Additionally, graduates will have demonstrated an appreciation of alternative methods used in psychological inquiry and will be able to synthesize potentially conflicting results and communicate these ideas to the general public. 

Students can also complete a Double Major or a Major/Minor option. This program is well suited for students who intend to enter the workforce following graduation and/or who may intend to pursue postgraduate studies in professional and applied related fields of psychology.

Psychology Links

Degree Program Requirements

We have recently made program changes. Your degree program requirements are often based on your year of entry. If you started your degree program here at York University in 2017 or later, you will need to satisfy the New Degree Requirements.

If you joined our department prior to 2017, you will typically follow the Previous Degree Requirement (as of Fall 2013; Major credits only). However, if you (a) changed to the Faculty of Health, (b) changed your degree type (e.g., BSc to BA), or (c) entered the Specialized Honours program in 2017 or later, OR, if you anticipate finishing your degree requirements after the Winter 2021 term, you will follow the New Degree Requirements. 

Also, if you entered the university prior to 2013, your degree requirements outside of the major may differ. Please check your Degree Progress Report, the Academic Calendar from your year of entry, and/or consult with OSAS or the Undergraduate Office in the Department of Psychology if you have any questions.

Psychology (Honours BA Program): 120 Credits

Residency requirement: a minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

Graduation requirement: all graduates must complete a total of at least 120 credits with a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 5.00 (C+).

General education: a minimum of 18 credits as follows:

  • six credits at the 1000 level in approved Faculty of Health general education or humanities categories approved by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
  • six credits at the 1000 level in approved Faculty of Health general education or social science categories approved by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
  • six credits at the 1000 level in natural science (NATS) offered by the Faculty of Science

Note 1: it is strongly recommended that students complete the general education requirements above within their first 54 credits.

Note 2: students may complete a maximum of 30 credits in general education, any additional credits not being used to fulfill general education may count toward electives.

Note 3: general education requirements are satisfied by taking natural science courses, approved humanities or social science categories courses and Faculty of Health general education courses. For further information please visit http://health.info.yorku.ca/current-student-information/general-education-requirements/.

Major credits: students must complete at least 48 credits in psychology, including at least 12 credits at the 4000 level.

Psychology courses must include:

At least three credits chosen from Group 1 (2100 series):

At least three credits chosen from Group 2 (2200 series):

At least three additional credits chosen from Group 1 (2100 series) or Group 2 (2200 series):

At least nine credits in psychology (PSYC) at the 3000 level.

At least six credits in psychology (PSYC) at the 4000 level.

Note 1: to be eligible to enrol in 3000-level psychology courses, students must have: at least 54 credits, HH/PSYC 1010 6.00  and all additional course prerequisites.

Note 2: to be eligible to enrol in 4000-level psychology courses, students must be enrolled in an Honours program and must have: at least 84 credits, HH/PSYC 1010 6.00 with a minimum grade of C and all additional course prerequisites.

Upper-level credits: a minimum of 36 credits must be taken at the 3000 level or 4000 level, including at least 18 credits at the 4000 level.

Credits outside the major: a minimum of 18 credits outside the major. Credits outside the major may be used to fulfill upper-level credits.

Honours Double Major BA Program

The Honours BA program described above may be pursued jointly with Honours Double Major bachelor’s degree programs in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, or Science, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Honours Major/Minor BA Program

The Honours BA program described above may be pursued jointly with any Honours Minor bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, or Science, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Psychology (Honours BSc Program): 120 Credits

Residency requirement: a minimum of 30 course credits and at least half (50 per cent) of the course credits required in each undergraduate degree program major/minor must be taken at York University.

Graduation requirement: all graduates must complete a total of at least 120 credits with a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 5.00 (C+).

General education requirement: a minimum of 18 credits as follows:

  • six credits at the 1000 level in approved Faculty of Health general education or humanities categories approved by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
  • six credits at the 1000 level in approved Faculty of Health general education or social science categories approved by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
  • six credits at the 1000 level in approved Faculty of Health general education or humanities or social science categories approved by the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Note 1: it is required that students complete the general education requirements above within their first 54 credits.

Note 2: students may complete a maximum of 30 credits in general education, any additional credits not being used to fulfill general education may count toward electives.

Note 3: general education requirements are satisfied by taking approved humanities or social science categories courses and Faculty of Health general education courses. For further information please visit http://health.info.yorku.ca/current-student-information/general-education-requirements/.

Basic science requirement: a minimum of 15 credits as follows:

Note: Psychology students are strongly recommended to take LE/EECS 1570 3.00.

Major credits: Students must complete a minimum of 48 credits in psychology.

Psychology courses must include:

At least three credits chosen from Group 1 (2100 series):

At least three credits chosen from Group 2 (2200 series):

At least three additional credits chosen from Group 1 (2100 series) or Group 2 (2200 series):

At least nine credits in psychology (PSYC) at the 3000 level.

At least six credits in psychology (PSYC) at the 4000 level.

Note 1: to be eligible to enrol in 3000-level psychology courses, students must have: at least 54 credits, HH/PSYC 1010 6.00 with a minimum grade of C and all additional course prerequisites.

Note 2: to be eligible to enrol in 4000-level psychology courses, students must be enrolled in an Honours program and must have: at least 84 credits, HH/PSYC 1010 6.00 with a minimum grade of C and all additional course prerequisites

Upper-level credits: a minimum of 42 credits at the 3000 level or 4000 level, including 18 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level in the major with 12 credits at the 4000 level.

Required science credits outside the major: a minimum of nine credits in science disciplines outside the major, of which three credits must be at the 2000-level or above. Required science credits outside the major can be selected from the following:

Electives: additional elective credits for an overall total of at least 120 credits. Elective credits may be used to fulfill science and upper-level credits.

The Honours BSc program described above may be pursued jointly with an Honours Major bachelor’s degree in the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Science or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Notes

  1. Students pursuing a double major or major/minor may be required to complete more than 120 credits to satisfy all degree requirements.
  2. The science requirement outside the major is not applicable to the double major or major/minor.

Honours Major/Minor BSc Programs

The Honours BSc program described above may be pursued jointly with an Honours Minor bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Science or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Notes:

  1. Students pursuing double major or major/minor may be required to complete more than 120 credits to satisfy all degree requirements.
  2. The science requirement outside the major is not applicable to the double major or major/minor.

Previous Honours BA/BSc Program Requirements (entry 2007–2016; Major credit only)

Psychology (Honours BA/BSc Program): 120 Credits

Please note: below we outline only your Major (meaning your psychology) requirements. The psychology course requirements are identical for both BA and BSc students.

However, additional university-wide (e.g. General Education Requirements) and Faculty-Wide degree requirements will differ based on your degree type (i.e. BA or BSc) AND your year of entry. Please search online for the York University academic calendar for your year of entry for more information about your degree requirements. Please also consult your Degree Progress Report. 

If questions remain, please feel free to book an advising appointment through OSAS and/or the Department of Psychology.

Major credits: students must complete at least 42 (but not more than 54) credits in psychology, including at least 12 credits at the 4000 level.

Psychology courses must include:

at least three credits chosen from:

at least three credits chosen from:

at least 12 credits in psychology (PSYC) at the 4000 level, including:

at least nine additional credits in psychology (PSYC).

Upper-level credits: a minimum of 36 credits must be taken at the 3000 level or 4000 level, including at least 18 credits at the 4000 level.

Credits outside the major: a minimum of 18 credits outside the major. Credits outside the major may be used to fulfill upper-level credits.

The Honours BA program may be pursued jointly with Honours Double Major bachelor’s degree programs in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, or Science, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Honours Major/Minor BA Program

The Honours BA program may be pursued jointly with any Honours Minor bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Environmental Studies, Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, or Science, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Honours Double Major BSc Programs

The Honours BSc program may be pursued jointly with an Honours Major bachelor’s degree in the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Science or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Notes

  1. Students pursuing a double major or major/minor may be required to complete more than 120 credits to satisfy all degree requirements.
  2. The science requirement outside the major is not applicable to the double major or major/minor.

Honours Major/Minor BSc Programs

The Honours BSc program may be pursued jointly with an Honours Minor bachelor’s degree program in the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Science or the Lassonde School of Engineering as listed in the Faculty of Health Rules and Regulations section.

Notes

  1. Students pursuing double major or major/minor may be required to complete more than 120 credits to satisfy all degree requirements.
  2. The science requirement outside the major is not applicable to the double major or major/minor.

Conducting an Honours Thesis

If you would like to complete a thesis, you will need to apply for the Specialized Honours BA/BSc. program"

Honours Students

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Faculty Resources for Department of Psychology

History of Psychology Department at York

Undergraduate Psychology Students' Association

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