Chair
Elizabeth Bowering, BSc (MUN), BEd ( Dalhousie), PhD (McMaster), Associate Professor
Admission RequirementsReview sections 2.1.5 Admission Requirements and 2.1.7 Additional Admission Requirements.
Students intending to major in psychology must consult with the departmental chairperson, so that a program can be planned in consultation with an advisor. A student may obtain a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology. A Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology requires a 3.0 unit arts or professional studies minor and a Bachelor of Science degree requires a 3.0 unit science minor. Majors, honours degrees, a concentration and minor in psychology are offered. Potential majors are strongly advised to take MATH 2208 and 2209 as part of their first 5.0 units of study (see MATH 2208 for prerequisites). Selected courses are available via distance learning.
Psychology Core Program
A degree with a major in psychology requires completion of the psychology core program.
| This core program consists of: |
| ❏ | MATH 2208 and 2209 |
| ❏ | PSYC 1110 and 1120 (PSY 100 may be substituted) |
| ❏ | PSYC 2209, 2221, 2222, and 3307 |
| ❏ | PSYC 3330 or 3331 |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from PSYC 2213, 2214, 2215, 2216, 2250, 3312, 3320, 3332, 3350, 3360 (Experimental stream) |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from PSYC 2205, 3302, 3305, 3309, 3370, 4410 (Clinical/Applied stream) |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from PSYC 2208, 2265, 2267, 3313, 3315, 3317, 4415 (Social/Personality stream) |
Major (20 Units)
The degree with a major is intended for those students with a clearly focused interest who wish to gain knowledge in depth of a single discipline.
Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before they register for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10 units in the major as follows:
❏ complete the Psychology Core Program
❏ 1.0 unit of ENGL
❏ 1.5 additional units of PSYC
❏ a further 2.0 units of PSYC may be included
❏ 3.0 units of PSYC must be at the 3000 level or above: PSYC 3307 and 3330 or 3331, and at
least 2.0 additional units
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of PSYC |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units in an Arts or Professional Studies discipline as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)(exclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional elective |
Bachelor of Science - Psychology| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10 units in the major as follows:
❏ complete the Psychology Core Program;
❏ 1.0 unit of ENGL
❏ 1.5 additional units of PSYC
❏ a further 2.0 units of PSYC may be included
❏ 3.0 units of PSYC must be at the 3000 level or above: PSYC 3307 and 3330 or 3331, and at
least 2.0 additional units
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units in a science field (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and designated Applied Human Nutrition courses) as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor or up to 2.5 additional units of arts or science electives |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives. |
Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.
Major CertificateStudents who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) or Bachelor of Science (General Studies) degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.
Honours DegreeStudents wishing to do an honours degree must make formal application through the departmental chairperson. Typically, application would be made after successful completion of 15 university credits. Minimum requirements for honours program application are a grade of at least B+ in PSYC 3312 (a student is expected to reach this standard the first time this course is taken), a GPA of at least 3.0 in psychology courses, and the agreement of a faculty member to supervise the thesis. Admission to honours, however, is subject to department approval.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Psychology
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 units in the honours subject as follows;
❏ MATH 2208 and 2209
❏ PSYC 1110 and 1120 (PSY 100 may be substituted)
❏ PSYC 2209, 2221, 2222, 2260, 3307, 3312, 3332, and 4499
❏ PSYC 4405 or 4406
❏ 0.5 unit from PSYC 2213, 2214, 2215, 2216, 2250, 3320, 3350, 3360
❏ 1.0 unit from PSYC 2205, 3302, 3305, 3309, 3370, 4410
❏ 1.0 unit from PSYC 2208, 2265, 2267, 3313, 3315, 3317, 4415
❏ 1.0 unit of ENGL
❏ 1.5 units of PSYC
❏ a further 2.0 units of PSYC may be included
❏ 3.0 units of PSYC must be at the 3000 level or above: PSYC 3307, 3312, 3332, (4405 or 4406),
and 4499 |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units in an Arts or Professional Studies discipline as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the honours subject):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 of the required honours units |
| ❏ | achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives. |
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Psychology
| Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 units in the honours subject as follows;
❏ MATH 2208 and 2209
❏ PSYC 1110 and 1120 (PSY 100 may be substituted)
❏ PSYC 2209, 2221, 2222, 2260, 3307, 3312, 3332, and 4499
❏ PSYC 4405 or 4406
❏ 0.5 unit from PSYC 2213, 2214, 2215, 2216, 2250, 3320, 3350, 3360
❏ 1.0 unit from PSYC 2205, 3302, 3305, 3309, 3370, 4410
❏ 1.0 unit from PSYC 2208, 2265, 2267, 3313, 3315, 3317, 4415
❏ 1.0 unit of ENGL
❏ 1.5 units of PSYC
❏ a further 2.0 units of PSYC may be included
❏ 3.0 units of PSYC must be at the 3000 level or above: PSYC 3307, 3312, 3332, (4405 or 4406),
and 4499 |
| ❏ | a minor consisting of 3.0 units in a science field (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, and designated Applied Human Nutrition courses) as specified by the department. St udents must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the honours subject):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 of the required honours units |
| ❏ | achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken |
| ❏ | Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives. |
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.
Honours CertificateStudents who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in psychology may apply to the department chairperson to do an honours certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the honours degree listed above and meet the University regulations regarding honours certificates.
Concentration
| To obtain a concentration in Psychology, students must fulfill the following requirements: |
| ❏ | PSYC 1110 and 1120 |
| ❏ | 2.0 units of PSYC at the 2000 level or above |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit of PSYC at the 3000 level or above |
Minor
| To obtain a minor in Psychology, students must fulfill the following requirements: |
| ❏ | PSYC 1110 and 1120 |
| ❏ | 2.0 additional units of PSYC |