Hons in Psychology

This undergraduate program leads to an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Ottawa, offered in English and French with a French Immersion Stream available. The curriculum emphasizes the pure-science fundamentals of psychology, with particular attention to the biological, chemical, physiological, and cognitive factors underlying human and animal behaviour, through courses in quantitative and research methods and ethics, biological and behavioural neuroscience, learning and conditioning, perception, cognition, social psychology, child development, and the history and systems of psychology. Science requirements include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, alongside basic skills courses in writing and philosophy, plus a block of electives or a minor program. Students choose between an honours thesis option and a course-based stream; the page notes that the thesis option is generally required for admission to most doctoral programs in psychology. The program is designed for students preparing for graduate study in experimental psychology, neuroscience, or health sciences, and suits those who want a science-oriented psychology degree with the choice of an independent research component before pursuing further study.