Majoring in Psychology, but don't know what to do?

WAIT!! It doesn't have to be like this!!

The UPEI Psychology Department offers an Honours BA and an Honours BSc. However, the department has recently made some important changes to the Honours Program! Please review the points in the following sections CAREFULLY! Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Honours co-ordinator, Dr. Cathy Ryan.

The Honours Program in Psychology

Course Requirements

Eighteen semester courses (54 semester-hours) in Psychology which must include Psychology 101-102, Psychology 271-272, Psychology 480 (Honours Literature Review), and Psychology 490 (Honours Thesis). Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Psychology must complete all of the requirements for a BA with a major in Psychology. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Psychology must complete all of the requirements for a BSc with a major in Psychology. To graduate with an Honours degree requires a total of 42 semester courses (126 semester-hours).

Admission Requirements

  1. A student must be a Psychology major who has completed or is near completion of the third year.
  2. A student must have an overall academic average of at least 70%, and at least an 75% average for Psychology courses. A student must continue to meet these minimum criteria to remain in the program. However, due to the increasing number of Honours applications, and for the purposes of admittance into most graduate programs, a 75% overall average and an 80% psychology average are considered more competitive.
  3. A student must have a full-time faculty member agree to act as the thesis supervisor.
  4. Students must formally apply to the Department of Psychology for admission, and all applications are subject to departmental review. Students will be required to fill out an application form, and to provide an updated official transcript (available from the Registrar's Office). All applications must be signed by the student, the faculty member who has agreed to supervise the thesis, and the Honours Co-ordinator.
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Honours Seminars and the Honours Thesis

The Honours Thesis will consist of a paper written in an APA (American Psychological Association) format. Most theses typically report on a supervised independent research project (quantitative and/or qualitative), but other alternatives include:

  1. a review paper that includes an original historical and/or theoretical overview of the topic, or
  2. a critique of the theory, research, and/or practice of psychology.

Honours students are required to present their thesis proposals and completed thesis research in a "Proposal" and "Thesis" Seminar. Proposal seminars will typically be held in early January, while theses at or near completion will usually be presented in April (the exact dates will vary from year to year).

Other Honours seminars will be led by faculty members on various topics pertinent to writing an honours thesis, such as "Research Ethics in Psychology," "Conducting a Literature Review," and "Proposal Writing." Faculty may also present their own research, providing students with an understanding of how various types of research are conducted. These seminars are intended to help the student not only with their thesis, but to serve as guidance for future career plans and goals. Honours student are expected to attend all seminars.

Honours Theses will be defended in an oral exam to the student's supervisory committee. This committee will normally consist of the student's supervisor plus two other faculty members, or one other faculty member and a professional from the community. After the defence, the committee will assign the thesis one of the following grades: Failed, Passed, or Passed with Distinction.

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The "Honours Process": Starting and Finishing an Honours Degree

There are three "entry points" into the Honours Program (i.e., times at which one is accepted into the Program): May 1, September 1, or December 1. Because of the extra course requirements and the extra time consumed by the process of producing an Honours Thesis, early planning is important. Although the Honours Program is not just for students thinking of graduate school, an Honours degree is needed for admission into most graduate programs (including non-psychology). Those interested in this path are advised to complete their Honours thesis in their fourth year, and should consider the following time-line:

  • 3rd year (1st term): Consider options after graduation; identify area(s) of interest; discuss with academic advisor.
  • 3rd year (2nd term): Contact the Honours Co-ordinator or a professor who is conducting research in an area of interest, and who is accepting Honours students the following year.
  • Starting the program: Pending an agreement with a professor, students should submit their application to enter the Honours Program in either the beginning of the summer (May 1) or fall (September 1) semesters (i.e., between 3rd and 4th or beginning of 4th year).

Other Important Points about the Honours Program

  • Admission to the program will be competitive, and because the demand for the program will likely exceed the resources, not all applicants who meet the formal requirements will be accepted.
  • Students may be required to produce their theses largely at their own expense. The Department of Psychology is able to provide some financial support in the form of an Honours Thesis account, but the amount will depend on the funding the Department receives, and the number of students in the program.
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