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Psychology

Psychology at York University (Video transcript)

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour viewed from social, developmental, clinical, and biological perspectives. At York University’s Keele Campus, the Department of Psychology offers the most extensive and diverse selection of courses among Canadian universities, taught by internationally recognized educators, researchers and clinical practitioners. 

Our program is ranked 4th in Canada and in the top 75 Psychology programs worldwide by ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024 and 4th in Canada and 2nd in Ontario by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Macleans magazine has listed Psychology as one of York’s “standout” programs.

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Duration

4 Years

Degrees

Honours (BA, BSc)

Intake

Fall (Sept), Winter (Jan), Summer (May)

Study Options

Full-time, Part-time

Delivery

In-person

Why Choose Psychology at York U?

Our strength comes from the diversity and breadth of the interests we explore ranging from studies of infancy to mental health disorders of childhood through the challenges of adolescence to adulthood and old age.

Psychology student conducting a study in a lab
  • Choose from the most extensive course selection of any Canadian psychology program.  
  • Learn from award-winning instructors who are world-leading experts in psychology.
  • Enjoy some flexible study options with evening, online and blended courses.
  • Customize your learning by completing our unique undergraduate concentrations.
  • Benefit from academic advising, (free) peer mentoring and tutoring, and an extensive student community (e.g., Undergraduate Psychology Student Association and Black Students in Psychology).
  • Stay on track with your academics, career planning, and the available resources to support your degree progress by using our exclusive Psychology Major Maps!

Degree Options

We offer both an honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) and honours Bachelor of Science (BSc) option. Both share the same core psychology requirements. However, BSc students take additional math, science, and computer science courses while BA students have more flexibility with those credits.

In both options, students begin with PSYC 1010 Introductory Psychology, exploring various topics such as personality, memory, learning, intelligence, psychological disorders, the biological basis of behaviour, perception, motivation, cognition, child development, abnormal and social psychology.  

Specialized Honours Program

The Specialized Honours Psychology program, available to current BA and BSc Psychology students, offers advanced training in research methods, statistical analysis, scientific communication, and critical thinking. Students gain hands-on research experience through faculty-supervised research projects in their third and fourth years, and complete a final thesis project. This program targets those students who are ultimately interested in pursuing research-based graduate studies (including clinical psychology). The program also provides mentorship to prepare students for the graduate school application process.

Psychology student performing a brain scan on another student

Sample Courses

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Writing in Psychology
  • Introduction to Research Methods
  • Statistical Methods I and II
  • Critical Thinking in Psychology
  • Psychological Health, Distress and Impairment
  • Animal Behaviour
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Psychology of Intimate Relationships
  • Cultural Psychology

Psychology Concentrations

Earn a digital credential and customize your degree by completing up to two Psychology Concentrations. Concentrations allow students to complete clusters of courses within specific areas of psychology like Counselling and Mental Health; Psychological Humanities, Contexts, and Communities; Child and Youth Development; Applied Methods and Analysis; Neuropsychology; Aging and Late Life Development; and Our Social World and Social Minds.

Undergraduate Certificates

We also offer four certificate options students can complete alongside their degree. Certificates provide further specialization and training in specific subfields of psychology.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) [OUAC code YHA]:

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • ENG4U 
  • And five additional 4U or M courses
  • Overall average of at least mid to high 70s

Bachelor of Science (BSc) [OUAC code YHB]:

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • ENG4U
  • 4U math
  • SBI4U or SCH4U or SPH4U 
  • And three additional 4U or M courses
  • Overall average of at least mid to high 70s

Requirements will vary depending on your curriculum and previous training, please visit Future Students Admission Requirements for more information.

Experiential Learning Opportunities in Psychology

Students can apply classroom learning through experiential education in diverse settings, including research and community experiences such as:

  • Analyzing brain imagery in our fMRI lab
  • Studying vision and perception in the Centre for Vision Research
  • Engaging in community-service learning in courses like Atypical Development, Advanced Community-Based Applied Research
  • Completing work-integrated learning in collaboration with various community organizations 

Experiential education provides students the opportunity to integrate psychological theories, methods, and skills through hands-on experiences that address real-world challenges.

Many of these experiences are made possible through partnerships with organizations such as CAMH and Black Creek Community Health Centre, aiding students to build broader networks outside of the program and university.

Career Outcomes

Psychology graduates pursue diverse career options in fields like health, law, business, and education. The program prepares students for graduate studies, professional schools (e.g., medicine, applied behavioral analysis), or direct entry into the workforce.

Our alumni work as psychologists, teachers, social workers, lawyers, marketing managers, therapists, and more!

Becoming a Psychologist or Psychotherapist

To become a psychologist or psychotherapist in Ontario, a master’s or PhD is required. You can use your BA or BSc in Psychology to apply to accredited graduate programs. Start researching program requirements early through school websites or reliable online resources.

Becoming a Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in psychiatry. This requires pursuing a medical degree after your BA or BSc in Psychology. Admission requirements vary for medical schools. Begin your research early to help ensure you meet the application requirements.

A person looking at an fMRI image of the brain.

FAQs

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan and prepare.

Both the BA and the BSc in Psychology share the same core Psychology course requirements including developmental psychology, social psychology, motivation, cognition, abnormal psychology, statistical methods, and biological basis of behaviour. 

The difference between these two is in the other courses you would take: BSc students complete additional math, science, and computer science requirements outside of their psychology courses while BA students do not. This means that a BA student may have more space in their schedule to take additional humanities, social science or any other courses at York (Business, arts, sciences, etc.) 

Your choice between the BA and BSc degree options should align with your academic interests and career goals. While career outcomes for both degrees are similar, and many employers or graduate/professional programs do not indicate a preference, it is your responsibility to ensure the option you select best supports your future aspirations.

The Psychology program currently does not have a co-op option, but it offers numerous opportunities for hands-on experience. Students engage in case studies, simulations, guest lectures, and research opportunities both in the classroom and the community. 

One of the program's key strengths is its research opportunities, available both within courses and through collaborations with professors who are active practitioners. Some courses include built-in research experiences, and students receive training in advanced research methods, which can enhance a resume or professional school application. 

Additionally, students can take advantage of experiential learning opportunities across York, such as the Cross Campus Capstone Course (C4), international exchanges, and study abroad programs. 

In your first year, you will take Introduction to Psychology, general education courses in subjects such as Social Sciences and Humanities, and additional courses outside your major. BSc students will also complete additional Math and Science courses. 

Unlike high school, your schedule will not follow a fixed Monday-to-Friday routine—your classes may be scheduled at different times each day but will remain consistent week to week. 

Your courses may include lectures and tutorials. The tutorials are smaller discussion-based sessions led by a Tutorial Leader (TA), where you will review lecture material in more depth.If you are taking science courses, you may also have labs. 

Transfer applicants may follow a slightly different course plan depending on the transfer credits they receive. 

The Psychology program at the Keele Campus, offered within the Faculty of Health, is located in North Toronto.  It is a larger program and therefore has greater course offerings for students to choose from.  At the Keele campus, the Psychology courses are offered in English only.   

The Psychology/Psychologie program at the Glendon campus is located in mid-town Toronto.  It is a smaller program and offers Psychology courses bilingually in English and in French.  The Glendon campus also has different requirements in terms of Glendon core courses and bilingualism.

Yes, both the BA and the BSc in Psychology are 4-year Honours degrees, requiring 120 credits to complete. There is also a 90 credit, non-honours option 

120 Credits Honours BA/BSc (4 years) 

  • Can be completed as a single major, double major, or major/minor. 
  • Most graduate programs (e.g., master's degrees) require an Honours degree for admission. 
  • You can apply directly to the Honours BA/BSc through the OUAC or the York University Online Application. 

90 Credit BA/BSc (3 Years) 

  • It has fewer required major courses than the Honours option. 
  • Cannot be applied to directly – students must first be admitted to the Honours Psychology program (BA or BSc) and then submit a program change request or apply to graduate early.  
  • Some applicants may be admitted to this program based on their past academic record at the discretion of the admissions committee. 
  • Does not allow for double majors or minors. 

We would also caution that many graduate programs require an Honours degree (120 credits)—students who complete only the 90-credit degree may be ineligible for certain graduate-level programs. 

York also offers a specialized honours option for Psychology, which is a 120-credit degree option that can be completed in four years but has additional major requirements compared to the Honours option. However, you cannot apply directly to this program.  If a student is interested in this option, they would need to apply to and be admitted to the Honours 120 credit (4 year) Psychology program and then submit an additional application to the Psychology program in May of their 2nd year after satisfying a number of requirements as a current student.  The specialized honours option does not allow for double major, nor minors.  The Specialized Honours Psychology Program is designed for students who intend to pursue postgraduate studies (ie Master or PhD) in Psychology or a related discipline.  

The interesting thing about Psychology is that graduates can use this degree to work in the health field or other fields such as law, business, and education.  The Psychology program is great preparation for those looking to continue on to graduate study (e.g., Master and PhD in Psychology), or professional school such as medicine or applied behavioural analysis, or to enter the workforce.  Our graduates are working as psychologists, teachers, social workers, addictions counsellors, lawyers, marketing managers, mediators, therapists, community justice workers and more!   


Learn More

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying for Faculty of Health programs, your application status, or your next steps after receiving an offer of admission.

Faculty of Health Recruitment Office
hlthrec@yorku.ca
416-736-2100 x 33164