Psychology

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Department: Psychology Faculty: Science Campus: St. John's
Honours available: Yes Co-op available: Yes Length: Four years
University Calendar: Psychology
Prospective students: Fill out our student inquiry form to receive updates from Memorial. 


Psychology is the study of behaviour and the mind. As a science, psychology employs careful investigation to understand behaviour, thinking and experience. The profession of psychology applies this information to promote human welfare. The combination of writing, research and statistical analysis acquired in an undergraduate psychology degree is a sound preparation for many careers.

Psychology at Memorial

Our major programs in psychology provide students with a solid background in the science of psychology, and culminate with small classes offering direct, hands-on experience in conducting research in a wide variety of areas such as observation of sea bird behaviour, assessment of people’s attitudes, and experiments on memory and spatial learning.

We offer major, minor and honours programs leading to either a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (B.Sc.) in psychology. A joint program is offered in biology/psychology (B.Sc. honours).

The Department of Psychology offers a co-operative education option available to psychology majors. Admission to the co-op option is competitive for a limited number of places.

Admission requirements

New Memorial students

Intake: Fall, winter or spring semesters
Application deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply by: March 1 for fall admission, Oct. 1 for winter admission and Feb. 1 for spring admission

You may apply for admission into the Faculty Science or the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences by indicating bachelor of science or bachelor of arts, respectively, as your program choice on the undergraduate application for admission.

Direct entry into the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences from high school is subject to meeting the general admission requirements for Memorial University, including appropriate courses in mathematics and a laboratory science for bachelor of science. Applicants without a laboratory science subject should apply for bachelor of arts.

You cannot choose psychology as your major at the time of application.

Sample first year

Admission into the psychology major requires the completion of university level courses. Wondering what courses you should take in your first year? Check out a sample program of suggested courses you need to complete before applying for the psychology major.

Admission to the major for current students

Intake: Fall semester only
Application deadline: June 1 via departmental application (details below)

Entry into the psychology major is competitive, selective and based on academic standing. Selection is based on academic performance, normally cumulative average and performance in recent courses. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission to the program.

To be eligible for admission to the psychology major, you must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours (eight courses), including the following:

  • six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least three credit hours in English
  • one of Mathematics 1000, 1006 or Statistics 1500 or two of Mathematics 1090, 1050 or 1051 (or equivalent)
  • Psychology 1000 and 1001
  • six credit hours of elective courses (three additional credit hours if only Mathematics 1000 is completed) 

A minimum average of 65% in Psychology 1000 and 1001 and an overall average of 60% in psychology, CRW, and mathematics courses is required.

Students intending to major in a psychology program must submit a departmental online application form by June 1 to the Department of Psychology. Forms are usually submitted at the end of the second semester.

Sample courses beyond first year

PSYC 3450 - Human Cognition
PSYC 3650 - Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 4980 - The Psychology of Money and Financial Behaviour

Career opportunities

A bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree, with a major in psychology, prepares students for a variety of careers including:

  • administration
  • advertising
  • clinical psychologist
  • health educator
  • human resources
  • lawyer
  • social services
  • speech-language pathologist

Note: some of these careers may call for supplementary education or preparation in the form of graduate studies, experiential learning or professional courses and exams.