The advice below is for students in the "Old" Honours Psych plan or the "New" Research Intensive Specialization.
PSYCH 291 (Fall only) and PSYCH 292 (Winter only) are taken in year two. Exception: Those in Arts and Business Co-op take PSYCH 292 in the 3A (year/level) Winter term. Those in Honours Psychology take PSYCH 391 (Fall and Winter only) in year 3. Those unable to take PSYCH 291, 292, 391 on time (e.g., because late admission to the Psychology Major) should review the supplementary course sequence information on this website in conjunction with the appropriate degree requirement check list (see Psychology programs).
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- Admitted to General Psychology in Year 2 but transferring to Honours Psychology in year 4
- Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 3 from a discipline other than Psychology and have not previously passed a research methods course and a statistics course that is equivalent or antirequisite to PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 292.
- Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 3 from a discipline other than Psychology but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., transfer students)
- Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 4 from a discipline other than Psychology but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., transfer students)
- Admitted to Honours Psychology from a Psychology Major at another university
- Admitted to Joint Honours Psychology in year 3 or 4, the other Major does not require a research methods or statistics course, and have not previously passed a research methods or statistics course that is equivalent or antirequisite to either PSYCH 291 or PSYCH 292
- Admitted to Joint Honours Psychology in year 3 or 4 but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., STAT 202 or the combination of STAT 230/231 or STAT 220/221)
- Requests to take PSYCH 291, PSYCH 391, and PSYCH 39X advanced research methods concurrently in the Fall term
1. Admitted to General Psychology in year 2 but transferring to Honours Psychology in year 4
Take PSYCH 291, 292, and 3 (preferably 4) of PSYCH 207, 211, 253 or 238, 257, 261 prior to year 4.
Take the following courses in year 4:
- PSYCH 391 and one of PSYCH 389, 393, 395, 397, 399, 484 (Fall).
- one of PSYCH 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 483 (Winter)
- one of PSYCH 420, 453-463, 485 (Fall or Winter)
Must complete PSYCH 391 and 1 of PSYCH 389, 390, 392-399, 483, 484 before enrolling in Psych 499A/B/C (Honours Thesis).
PSYCH 499A/B/C enrolment is optional. The course takes at least 2 terms to complete and is worth 3 courses (1.5 units). The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict or limit the number of students enrolling in PSYCH 499A in a given year with a cumulative Psychology average less than 82%. See further details regarding PSYCH 499 including enrolment restrictions.
Suggestions for developing a course plan
2. Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 3 from a discipline other than Psychology and have not previously passed a research methods course and a statistics course that is equivalent or antirequisite to PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 292
Take PSYCH 291 (Fall), PSYCH 292 (Winter), and 3 (preferably 4) of PSYCH 207, 211, 253 or 238, 257, 261 before year 4.
Take the following courses in year 4:
- PSYCH 391 and one of PSYCH 389, 393, 395, 397, 399, 484 (Fall).
- one of PSYCH 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 483 (Winter)
- one of PSYCH 420, 453-463, 485 (Fall or Winter)
Must complete PSYCH 391 and 1 of PSYCH 389, 390, 392-399, 483, 484 before enrolling in PSYCH 499A/B/C (Honours Thesis).
PSYCH 499A/B/C enrolment is optional. The course takes at least 2 terms to complete and is worth 3 courses (1.5 units). The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict or limit the number of students enrolling in PSYCH 499A in a given year with a cumulative Psychology average less than 82%. See further details regarding PSYCH 499 including enrolment restrictions.
Suggestions for developing a course plan
3. Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 3 from a discipline other than Psychology but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., transfer students)
If informed by the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor that you are exempt from taking PSYCH 292 and you have successfully completed at least 3 (preferably 4) of PSYCH 207, 211, 238 or 253, 257, 261 you will be permitted to take the following courses in year 3:
- PSYCH 291, PSYCH 391, and one of PSYCH 389, 393, 395, 397, 399, 484 concurrently (Fall)
- one of PSYCH 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 483 (Winter)
- one of PSYCH 420, 453-463, 485 (Fall or Winter, or delay to year 4)
Taking PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 391 concurrently
Must complete PSYCH 391 and 1 of PSYCH 389, 390, 392-399, 483, 484 before enrolling in PSYCH 499A/B/C (Honours Thesis).
PSYCH 499A/B/C enrolment is optional. The course takes at least 2 terms to complete and is worth 3 courses (1.5 units). The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict or limit the number of students enrolling in PSYCH 499A in a given year with a cumulative Psychology average less than 82%. See further details regarding PSYCH 499 including enrolment restrictions.
Suggestions for developing a course plan
4. Admitted to Honours Psychology in year 4 from a discipline other than Psychology but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., transfer students)
If informed by the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor that you are exempt from taking PSYCH 292, and you have completed at least 3 (preferably 4) of PSYCH 207, 211, 253, 257, 261 you will be permitted to take the following courses in year 4:
- PSYCH 291, PSYCH 391, and one of PSYCH .389, 393, 395, 397, 399, 484 concurrently (Fall)
- one of Psych 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 483 (Winter)
- one of Psych 420, 453-463, 485 (Fall or Winter)
Taking PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 391 concurrently
Must complete PSYCH 391 and 1 of PSYCH 389, 390, 392-399, 483, 484 before enrolling in PSYCH 499A/B/C (Honours Thesis).
PSYCH 499A/B/C enrolment is optional. The course takes at least 2 terms to complete and is worth 3 courses (1.5 units). The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict or limit the number of students enrolling in PSYCH 499A in a given year with a cumulative Psychology average less than 82%. See further details regarding PSYCH 499 including enrolment restrictions.
Suggestions for developing a course enrolment plan
5. Admitted to Honours Psychology from a Psychology major at another university
If entering year 2 and have not previously passed a research methods or statistics course, follow the course sequence information on the degree requirement check list (see Psychology programs).
If entering year 3 and you have not previously passed a research methods or statistics course previously, follow the instructions in section 2.
If entering year 3 and the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor informs you that you are exempt from PSYCH 292, follow the instructions in section 3.
6. Admitted to Joint Honours Psychology in year 3 or 4, the other major does not require a research methods or statistics course, and have not previously passed a research methods or statistics course that is equivalent or antirequisite to either PSYCH 291 or PSYCH 292
If in year 3 follow the instructions in section 2.
7. Admitted to Joint Honours Psychology in year 3 or 4 but previously passed an approved equivalent to PSYCH 292 (e.g., STAT 202 or the combination of STAT 230/231 or STAT 220/221)
If in year 3, follow the instructions in section 3.
If in year 4, follow the instructions in section 4.
8. Taking PSYCH 291, PSYCH 391, and PSYCH 39X advanced research methods concurrently
PSYCH 291 and the social science advanced research methods courses (Psych 389, 393, 395, 397, 399) are offered Fall only.
PSYCH 391 is offered Fall and Winter only.
PSYCH 390, 392, 394, 396, 398 are not offered Fall term.
We expect students to have successfully completed at least 3 (preferably 4) of the discipline core courses (i.e., PSYCH 207, 211, 238, 253, 257, 261) before taking any of PSYCH 389-399, 453-463, 483, 484, 485.
If notified by the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor that you have been exempt from taking PSYCH 292 for a statistics course previously taken, you will be allowed to take PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 391 concurrently in the Fall term.
Please read the PSYCH 291 textbook before the school term begins. Be prepared to spend extra time to master the course material in PSYCH 391.There will be no variations in the course requirements for PSYCH 391, deadlines for course work, or grading based on approval to take PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 391 concurrently. Further, the instructor(s) and/or teaching assistant(s) for 300/400 level PSYCH courses for which PSYCH 291 is a prerequisite are not expected to provide additional assistance to those who haven't taken PSYCH 291 beforehand.
If the grade for your basic statistics course was less than 70% and/or the course was taken more than 3 terms ago, recommend that you review that course material or the course material for PSYCH 292 (search Winter term course outlines) before PSYCH 391 begins.
Whether or not you will be permitted to take 1 of the social science advanced research methods courses (i.e., PSYCH 393, 395, 397, 399) concurrently with PSYCH 291 and PSYCH 391 will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor and in some cases the instructor also. Enrolment in the advanced research methods course will also be subject to priority enrolment and space availability per usual.
Those with PSYCH 292 exemption will require 'course overrides' from the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor for enrolment in any of PSYCH 389-399, 453-463. At the time of enrolment, contact the advisor for assistance.
See student success for tips for success in PSYCH 391 and strategies for improving grades.
See Psychology Department Policies for details regarding priority enrolment in advanced research methods courses and honours seminars.
Suggestions for developing a course plan
Please do the following each term:
- print the appropriate degree requirement check list (see Psychology programs).
- fill in the courses that you have successfully completed so far.
- identify the remaining required courses.
- if hoping to change Psychology programs, compare the similarities and differences for completing the two programs.
- draft a term-by-term course enrolment plan for completing the remaining courses. Check course availability and requirements for enrolment (e.g., prererequisites and corequisites).
Psychology course availability
For course descriptions, see the Undergraduate calendar.
Last updated: Feb 18, 2016