Access to Psychology courses

The Department of Psychology reserves the right to:

  1. manage/restrict access to psychology courses (PSYCH) using, for example,
    1. requisites for enrolment e.g., prerequisite, co-requisite, antirequisite, department permission required
    2. enrolment limits
    3. reserve space/caps (priority enrolment) for particular target groups
    4. course application forms for enrolment in particular courses such as Apprenticeship Courses (PSYCH 264, 464, 465, 467) and Directed Studies Courses (PSYCH 480 through PSYCH 486).
  2. require Psychology Majors to take PSYCH 291 (offered Fall only) during the calendar year of admission to the Psychology Major,
  3. restrict the number of students enrolling in PSYCH 499A (Honours Thesis - Part 1) with a cumulative psychology average less than 82%,
  4. implement priority enrolment for:
    1. Research Intensive courses: PSYCH 391, 389, 390, 492
    2. honours seminars: PSYCH 420, 451, 453, 454, 455, 457, 458, 459, 461, 462, 463
    3. PSYCH 470 - Capstone course for Psychology Majors
    4. all UWaterloo psychology courses:

      higher priority to UWaterloo degree students compared to others e.g., visiting students studying at UWaterloo on Cross-Registration (Laurier University only), Letter of Permission, or international exchange programs, etc.

      (Incoming international exchange students, see restricted courses.) 
  5. restrict the number of days for students to submit course override requests and waiting list requests for enrolment in PSYCH courses (see note below), and to prioritize such requests at the discretion of the academic advisors in the Psychology Undergraduate Office. Examples:
    1. Psychology Majors and applicants to the Psychology Major receive highest priority followed by those who are officially enrolled in the Psychology Minor.
    2. higher priority to UWaterloo degree students.
    3. lowest priority to those who have not met requisites for enrolment (i.e., prerequisite, corequisite, antirequisite). 

All requests for 'course overrides' to waive a course requisite for enrolment, for permissible time conflicts, to exceed course limits, or to exceed reserve caps are considered 'waiting list requests' for enrolment. A waiting list request does not guarantee enrolment. Those on waiting lists will not be informed of their position on waiting lists, and will only be contacted if the course request has been approved.

For waiting lists for enrolment in psychology courses, see enrolment problems.

General Psychology students appealing for enrolment in PSYCH 391, advanced research methods courses, and honours seminars

These courses are open to those in Honours Psychology and Make-Up Psychology only:

  • PSYCH 391
  • advanced research methods courses: PSYCH 389, 390, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 483, 484,
  • honours seminars: Psych 420, 451, 453, 454, 455, 457, 458, 459, 461, 462, 463, 485.

Psychology programs

Those who are not in Honours Psychology and are appealing for enrolment in the above courses must satisfy the course requisites for enrolment (i.e., prerequisite, corequisite, antirequisite) as well as all of the following conditions:

  • at least 60% in PSYCH 291,
  • at least 70% in PSYCH 292,
  • cumulative UWaterloo psychology average of at least 74.0%,
  • grades of at least 75% in each of the individual UWaterloo psychology courses for the last 2 terms including at least 5 psychology courses,
  • successfully completed at 3 (preferably 4) of PSYCH 207, 211, 253, 257, 261.

Target for graduation is not grounds for an appeal to the above policy regarding enrolment restrictions.

Direct enrolment inquiries to the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor. If the enrolment request is granted, a decision regarding admission to Honours Psychology and/or enrolment in Honours level courses for subsequent terms will not be made until after the grades are available for PSYCH 391 and the first advanced research methods course.

Access to Psychology programs

Last updated: Feb 2, 2016