BSc or BA (120 credit hour) Concentrated Honours in Psychology
Students who want a challenging program resulting in a broad background in Psychology, including independent research experience, may want to enroll in an Honours program. Students interested in eventually pursuing graduate studies are particularly encouraged to consider Honours.
Honours students complete a minimum of 54 (and a maximum of 66) credit hours above the 1000 level in Psychology, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and write a research-based Honours thesis. The Honours Thesis and Qualifying Examination requirements, outlined in the College of Arts and Science Honours Program Requirements, are satisfied through completion of PSYO 4901.03 and PSYO 4902.03.
Admission to Honours
Students must apply for admission to Honours programs. Students wishing to enroll in Honours in Psychology should consult with an Honours Advisor. Students may not apply for Honours before April of their third year of studies. A detailed description of the Honours application process can be found on the departmental website, www.dal.ca/psychandneuro. Admission requirements include:
- A grade of B+ (or higher) in PSYO 2000.03: Methods in Experimental Psychology & Neuroscience (or equivalent)
- An average of A- (or higher) in the last six completed Psychology courses (excluding 1000-level PSYO courses and PSYO 2000.03)
- A confirmed, eligible supervisor who has agreed to supervise the student's honours thesis
Departmental requirements
All students must fulfill the requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations and College of Arts and Science Degree Requirements sections. Students are advised that a number of requirements differ between the BA and BSc degrees. In addition, students in a Concentrated Honours program in Psychology must complete the following:
1000 level
- PSYO 1011.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience I: From Neuron to Person (or equivalent) with a grade of B- or better
- PSYO 1012.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience II: From Social Interaction to Psychopathology (or equivalent) with a grade of B- or better
OR
- A grade of B- or better in the Psychology component of SCIE 1506.09 and SCIE 1507.09: Integrated Science Program I and II (or equivalent)
2000 level
- PSYO 2000.03: Methods in Experimental Psychology & Neuroscience (with a grade of B+ or better)
- PSYO 2501.03: Statistical Methods I
- PSYO 2470.03: Systems Neuroscience (or equivalent)
Plus an additional nine credit hours, selected from:
Care should be taken in selecting second-year courses to ensure they provide the necessary prerequisites for courses intended to be taken in third and fourth years of study.
3000 level
Six credit hours of designated lab courses, selected from:
- PSYO 3051.03: Research Methods in Sensation and Perception
- PSYO 3082.03: Experimental Social Psychology
- PSYO 3091.03: Methods in Developmental Psychology
- PSYO 3122.03: Methods in Experimental Clinical Psychology
- PSYO 3131.03: Research Methods in Attention
- PSYO 3133.03: Research Methods in Memory
- PSYO 3134.03: Psycholinguistic Methods Across the Lifespan
- PSYO 3137.03: Research Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSYO 3161.03: Measuring Behaviour
- PSYO 3165.03: Neuroethology
- PSYO 3370.03: Advanced Methods in Neurobiology
- PSYO 3371.03: Neuronal Organization Laboratory
- PSYO 3505.03: Neural Data Science
- PSYO 3511.03: Data Communication and Visualization in Psychology
- PSYO 3100.03/3101.03: Independent Research Project (Note: PSYO 3100/3101 full-year Independent Research Project may only be used to fulfill 3 credit hours of lab course requirement)
Plus an additional nine credit hours of 3000/4000-level PSYO courses
4000 level
- PSYO 4901.03: Honours Foundation (a grade of B- or better is required to continue to PSYO 4902.03)
- PSYO 4902.03: Honours Thesis
- PSYO 3502.03: Statistical Methods II
- Six credit hours of 4000-level PSYO or NESC seminar courses (the following courses may also count toward this requirement: BIOC 4301.03, BIOL 4510.03, PATH 4100.03, PHAC 4001.03, PHAC 4403.03, PHAC 4409.03)
Plus six additional credit hours of 3000/4000-level PSYO courses
Other regulations
- Laboratory courses focusing on human psychology typically require students to serve as participants and/or as experimenters in course projects. Students who do not wish to participate in such projects should ensure that they have the prerequisites necessary to register in alternative laboratory courses.
- Courses that are counted towards the Honours program requirements must have a minimum grade of C.