Welcome to the Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology at UWaterloo offers several programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Undergraduate Major Programs

The University of Waterloo offers two undergraduate degrees in Psychology: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

For information about our BSc Psychology program, please check the Faculty of Science website.

Students enrolled in the Faculty of Arts can major in Psychology through one of the following programs:

  • BA Honours Psychology (regular or co-op)
  • BA Honours Arts and Business, Psychology (regular or co-op)
  • BA Four-Year General Psychology (regular only)
  • BA Three-Year General Psychology (regular only)

It is also possible to graduate with a double major in Psychology and another discipline.

Click here for more information about our degree options and specializations at the undergraduate level.

Undergraduate Minors and Diploma

Psychology Minor

Along with the wonderful major program options, the psychology department also has a Psychology Minor consisting of eight courses. This Minor gives students a chance to experience a variety of psychology disciplines.

Human Resources Management Program

The Human Resources Management (HRM) program here in the Department of Psychology is made up of two possible academic plans: a Minor for undergraduates and a Diploma for post-degree students. We are excited to be able to provide students with the opportunity to learn from working professionals in various areas of the HR world while also being able to complete the course requirements needed for the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation or the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation offered by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).

Cognitive Science Minor

Another great Minor to consider is the Cognitive Science Minor. Cognitive Science courses include courses from a variety of disciplines and faculties, including Computer Science, English ECE, Biology, Psychology, Philosophy, and more!

Psychology Graduate Programs

The Department of Psychology offers three types of programs at the graduate level.

Master of Arts in Psychology

The University of Waterloo offers a full-time, two year Master of Arts in Psychology program that can be completed in the following research areas. Please visit the area webpage to find more information on the area of study.

Master of Applied Science in Psychology

The University of Waterloo offers two Master of Applied Science level programs.

The Master of Applied Science (MASc) program in Developmental and Communication Science (DCS) is a full-time, one-year program offered within the Developmental Area of the Department of Psychology.

The Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is a full-time, two-year program offered within the Industrial-Organizational Area of the Department of Psychology.

PhD in Psychology

The University of Waterloo offers a PhD in Psychology that can be completed in the following research areas. Please visit the area webpage to find more information on the area of study.

Our faculty are internationally renowned and our graduate and undergraduate programs are consistently ranked among the top departments in Canada. Our department conducts high-impact research in each of the six major subdivisions of psychology listed below.

Resources

News

Recently, Cognitive Neuroscience PhD candidate, Brady Roberts, aimed to investigate how well symbols are remembered compared to words with the same meaning. “Symbols might be more easily remembered because they give concrete visuals to abstract ideas,” said Roberts, "When we think about abstract concepts, like love, it can be difficult to visualize clearly. But with symbols, we can use a sort of image that represents the concept – like a heart for love – which makes the abstract idea more concrete and therefore easier to remember."

UWaterloo Cognitive Neuroscience Prof. Dr. James Danckert, recently delivered a fascinating TEDx Talk on his groundbreaking research into adaptive approaches to boredom, and how his research can help us avoid boredoms troubling effects.

Check it out here: