Degree Program - Psychology
Degree Program - Psychology
Bachelor of Arts
Both the 3-year Psychology concentration and 4-year Psychology major degrees at St. Mary’s University provide you with a deeper understanding of human behaviour by learning about how our experiences, relationships and social worlds interact with our predispositions and cognitive abilities to shape and impact our everyday lives.
This degree will also ground you in psychological research methods and expose you to the variety of ways in which human behaviour can be understood. On this journey, you will learn to interpret and synthesize a broad range of ideas and research.
In addition to the 3-year and 4-year degrees, high achieving students in the 4-year major have the opportunity to apply for the Honours Psychology program upon completion of their third year. With a dedicated psychology laboratory, StMU offers these exceptional students the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge as they conduct independent research in their area of interest under the supervision of a faculty member. Successful completion of the Honours program provides you the opportunity to gain experience that is highly valued in a number of fields and prepares you for the rigours of graduate school.
Skills You'll Gain
Graduates from the Degree Program Psychology program will develop strong skills in the following aspects:
Knowledge of Psychology
Build your understanding of physiological, emotional, cognitive and social determinants of behaviour; basic understanding of the various disciplines in psychology as well as the major theories and history of psychology.
Research
Develop your knowledge of and experience with psychological research methods, including data collection and basic techniques of statistical analysis; conducting literature reviews; synthesizing and interpreting vast amounts of information; designing and conducting new research data analysis and interpreting and understanding both your own and other’s research results.
Communication
Learn clear and persuasive speaking and writing and the formulation and defence of an informed opinion.
Problem-solving
Develop critical thinking skills, evidence-based decision-making, logical reasoning, and a flexibility to take multiple perspectives.
Career Pathways
Graduates of our Psychology program enter the workforce with an awareness of basic principles of human behavior (biological, developmental, mental disorder-related, social). This background will prepare you for success in areas like business, client-oriented professions, health services, marketing, law, sales and teaching.
Beside is a sample of jobs that find this degree valuable. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and some occupations require further education and experience.
Research Assistant
Clinical Study Coordinator
Peer Health Education
Individual, Couple and Family Counsellor
Speech Language Pathologist
Organization & Human Performance Analyst
Youth Worker
Lab/Research Assistant
Psychometrist
Information & Referral Counsellor
Clinical Therapist
Marketing Coordinator
Student Success Assistant
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Psychology Honours Research Conference
Psychology Honours Research Conference
An Honours degree in psychology provides more extensive exposure to the knowledge and practice of the discipline; and in particular, the research process. In addition to the courses required to obtain a BA in Psychology, Honours students write an Honours thesis (Psyc 500). Admission to the Honours stream is based partially on GPA, only those who have excelled as undergraduate students are accepted into the stream. This academic excellence is recognized with the Honours distinction. Students who are accepted into the Honours stream write an Honours thesis, in which they research, design, and analyze the results of an independently executed study. This study is carried out in collaboration with a thesis supervisor (faculty member), who provides advice, direction, and, if possible, resources for carrying out the study. This all culminates in a year-end conference in which students will present their research findings to their St. Mary’s peers and professors as well as to the wider community.
