Nov 9, 2011

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

If you are a current UW student seeking information regarding the application/admission process for the Psychology Major (including answers to FAQ regarding admission decisions), click here for details. For other FAQ, see below.

Click on the FAQ # to read the answser to the corresponding question.

There are several ways to find the FAQ you are looking for:

sort the questions by number and then scroll through the questions
- note - click once to sort ascending and twice to sort descending
sort the questions by category and then scroll through the questions in the category
- note - click once to sort ascending and twice to sort descending
do a 'find' on a key word using the search tool in your web browser.

FAQ # Click here to sort FAQ by #	CATEGORY OF QUESTION Click here to sort FAQ by category	QUESTION	ANSWER BELOW OR LINKS TO ANOTHER SITE
1	Degree Requirements	Which courses satisfy the 'Advanced Psychology Course' requirements for the Psych Major or Psych Minor?	below
2	Course Content	What is involved in the Research Methods courses in Psychology (i.e., Psych 291, 392-399, 483, 484)?	below
3	Course Content	What is involved in an Honours Seminar (Psych 453-463)?	below
4	Course Content	What is involved in an Honours Thesis (i.e., Psych 499A/B/C)?	below
5	Course Content	What is involved in a Directed Studies course (Psych 480-486) and how do I apply to take one of these courses?	below
6	Course Content	What is involved in an Apprenticeship Course (i.e., Psych 264, 464, 465, 467) and how do I apply to take one of these courses?	below
7	Course load	Is there a limit on the number of psychology courses that I can take before graduation?	below
8	Degree Requirements	Can courses such as HLTH 348 (Social Psychology of Health Behaviour), HLTH 349 (Health Behaviour Change), RS 270 (Psychology of Religion), and M Sci 211 (Organizational Behaviour) count as psychology electives towards a Psychology Major or the Psychology Minor?	below
9	Admission Decisions - Transfer Students	I noticed that the admission cutoffs for Psychology Majors are higher for transfer students than for UW students. I transferred to UW from another post-secondary institution(s) and I have already completed some courses at UW. When the Psychology Department considers my application for admission, will I be considered as a transfer student or a UW student?	below
10	Degree Requirements	I will have completed a research methods course and/or a statistics course by the time I begin a Psychology Major. Can I be exempted from Psych 291 (Research Methods) or Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis)?	below
11	Degree Requirements	I'm doing Joint Honours Psychology and my second Major requires a research methods course and/or a statistics course. What do I do?	below
12	Academic Plan - Second Choices	Is it necessary to have a second Major, Minor, Option, or Specialization?	below
13	Online Student - Want Honours Psych	I am a current UW Psychology Major studying taking online courses only. How can I obtain an Honours BA in Psychology?	below
14	Online Student - Want Honours Psych	I am a current UW Psychology Major studying taking online courses only and I plan to apply for admission to Honours Psychology and then to graduate studies in Psychology. In what ways will I be disadvantaged if I don't transfer to on-campus studies before the start of the fourth year?	below
15	Career Planning	How do I obtain the 'classroom experience' necessary for applying to a faculty of education?	below
16	Career Planning	I am in Honours Psychology. How do I obtain the research and/or applied experience necessary for applying to graduate school in psychology?	below
17	Career Planning	How do clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and social workers differ in their approaches to helping people with their problems?	below
18	Career Planning	Do I have to be registered in the Faculty of Science if I am planning a career in medicine?	below
19	Course Enrolment - Choices	How do I choose courses relevant to my future goals?	below
20	Academic Standing	My grade report states that I am on conditional standing. What does this mean?	below
21	Academic Standing	What can I do to improve my future grades?	below
22	Academic Plan Change within Psychology	I'm in General Psychology and my cumulative Psych average is currently 75% or better. How do I switch to Honours Psychology and how do I plan my remaining courses?	below
23	Academic Plan Change within Psychology	My Psych average is currently less than 75% and I'm enrolled in General Psychology. I want to be in Honours Psychology in the future. How do I plan my courses?	below
24	Academic Plan Change within Psychology	I'm in Three Year General Psychology. How and when can I switch to Four Year Psychology?	below
25	Academic Plan Change within Psychology	I'm eligible to receive a Three Year General BA in Psychology. I have not requested for that degree to be conferred because I want to pursue a Four Year General degree in Psychology. The problem however, is that my cumulative Psych average is less than 70%. What are my options?	below
26	Course Drop	How do I drop a course and how does the drop affect my academic record?	below
27 a	Course Load	How many courses can I handle successfully if I am working?	below
27 b	Fast Tracking	Is it possible to 'fast-track' through the Honours Psych program by studying on a full-time basis 3 terms a year?	Below
28 Link not working, scroll down to find. Sorry.	Degree Requirements - Psych average	If I take more than the minimum number of psychology courses required for my Psychology Major, do they all count in my cumulative Psychology average?	below
29 Link not working, scroll down to find. Sorry.	Course Enrolment - Repeating Courses	I have a course on my record with a WD mark (withdrawn without academic penalty). Can I enrol in the same course during a later school term?	below
30 Link not working, scroll down to find. Sorry.	Course Enrolment - Repeating Courses	Can I repeat a passed or failed course?	below
31	Course Enrolment - Repeating Courses	Can I obtain Departmental permission to repeat a Psychology course that I have already passed?	below
32	Math Background - for taking Psych 292	My math skills are weak and I'm worried about taking Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis). What should I do?	below
33	Math Background - for taking Math 103 or 4U Math	I am concerned about taking Math 103 or a 4U Math course because the last formal math course that I took was in grade 9 or 10. What advice can you provide? (This information is also good for those who took grade 11 math or grade 12 general math in Ontario and are concerned about taking Math 103.)	below
34	Study Skills	I'm not doing well on multiple choice questions on midterm tests and final exams. What should I do to improve?	below
35	Recommendation Letters	I require letters of recommendation (also referred to as a reference letter)for applications for further study and/or employment. How do I obtain such letters?	below
36	Course Load	(Home Faculty Arts) Can I take more than 2.5 units in a given term?	below
37	Academic Plan Change - New Major	I'm a current UW student. How do I apply for admission to the the Psychology Major?	other site
38	Admission Cutoffs (i.e., average req'ts) for the Psych Major	This information is for current UW students not transfer student.	other site
39	Admission Decisions for the Psych Major - Answers to FAQ	This information is for current UW students not transfer students.	other site
40	Co-op	I'm in the Honours Psychology plan (Regular stream of study). How do I apply for admission to Departmental Co-op and what is the admission criteria?	other site
41	Co-op	I'm in the Honours Psychology plan (Regular stream of study). What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a Co-op student? If in the Co-op Stream, where would I work and how would I secure Co-op positions?	other site
42	Academic Plan Change - New Minor	I'm a current UW student. How do I apply for admission to the Psychology Minor plan?	other site
43	Academic Plan Change - Second Degree	I have a degree (not Psychology) from UW and want to pursue Psychology as a second degree. What do I do?	other site
44	Double Counting Policy	Can Psychology courses for the Psych Major be used to satisfy Psychology course requirements in other academic plans? See FAQ 12.	below
45	Application to UW	I'm not a current UW student. How do I apply for admission to UW particulary the Psychology Major?	other site
46	Application to UW	I have been studying at another university and am interested in transferring to UW for undegraduate studies in Psychology. What do I do?	other site
47	Degree Requirements - Check Lists	A degree requirement check list including course sequence information is provided for each Psych Major and the Psych Minor.	other site
49	Course Enrolment - Waiting Lists	How do get on a waiting list for a Psychology course?	other site
49	Course Enrolment - Taking Courses at Other Universities	I'm interested in taking a course at another university (other than a course on an international exchange) towards my Waterloo degree. Is this possible and what are the procedures?	other site
50	Appointment - booking an appt with an Academic Advisor in the Psych Dept	Contact the appropriate advisor in the Psych Dept.	other site
51	Appointment with an Academic Advisor not in the Psych Dept.	Contact the appropriate advisor on the list.	other site
52	Career Planning	Where do I find career planning and job search information for Psychology Majors?	other site
53	Career Planning	Where do I find information about applying to Graduate Studies in Psychology?	other site
54	Career Planning	I'm interested in further studies beyond the Bachelor's level degree in Psychology but not graduate studies in Psychology. Where should I begin my search for information?	other site
55	Study Skills	Where do I go for study skills training?	other site
56	Course Enrolment - Psych Course Availability	What Psychology courses are being offered in the coming year?	other site
57	Exchange Programs - International	I am a Psychology Major and I'm interested in taking courses abroad on an International Exchange program. What do I do?	other site

ANSWERS TO FAQ

1) Which courses satisfy the 'Advanced Psychology Course ' requirements for the Psych Major or Psych Minor?

Psychology courses at the second year level have large enrolments and grading is typically based on tests/exams containing multiple choice questions and possibly some short answer questions of the list and define type. Typically there is no term paper.

Advanced Psychology Courses are numbered Psych 304 through 380 (excluding 323R), 420, 439, 481, 482. These courses typically meet the following criteria:

in most cases, the prerequisite is beyond Psych 101.
the enrolment limit is 50-100 (not to exceed 126) to allow opportunities for more classroom dialogue and course requirements that allow for more written work than possible at the second year level e.g.,
- test/exams containing multiple choice questions as well as short answer and/or essay questions of the integrative nature,
- there may be a requirement of a written assignment and/or term paper.
students may be expected to read materials from primary source journal articles (e.g., for assignments or papers) in addition to a textbook.

A complete list of the courses that qualify as 'Advanced Psychology Courses' is provided below (including courses that are no longer offered). Comments are also provided at the end of the list regarding exceptions. Please read all of the course comments provided before making your selections.

Refer to the Psych UG Website and the Schedule of Classes for the availability of the Advanced Psychology courses.

Refer to the UG Calendar for the prerequisites and antirequisites for the courses.

Click here for the course outlines from previous terms.

Psych	Course Title as well as Comments About the Course
304	Thinking and Deciding (not offered on a regular basis)
306 (formerly 206)	Perceptual Processes
307	Human Neuropsychology
308	Psychology of Reading (not offered on a regular basis)
310	Origins of Personality (not offered on a regular basis)
311	How do Babies Communicate With the World? (not offered on a regular basis)
312	Learning Disabilities (available Online Only)
313	How do Babies See the World? (no longer offered)
314	Cognitive Development (formerly called 'Children's Thinking')
315	Psychology of Adolescence
317	The Emotionally Disturbed Child (The course title will be changed to ' Child Psychopathology' Fall 2009)
318	Psychosexual Organization
319	Behaviour Problems in the Classroom
320	Language Development
321	Psychological Origins of Knowledge of Numbers (new Winter 2011 - pending Senate approval)
322R	Personality Theory NOTES: Only those currently enrolled in the Psychology Major (or Psychology Minor) whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, will be permitted to count Psych 322R as an 'Advanced Psychology' course. Click here for details. You cannot take more than one of Psych 322R, 355 (no longer offered), 356 because these courses are antirequisites to each other.
330	Criminal Profiling
332	Human Motivation and Emotion NOTE: This course was offered as Psych 363 Winter 2006. You may only take one of Psych 363 Winter 2006 versus Psych 332.
334	Theories of Individual Counselling NOTE: Only those currently enrolled in the Psychology Major (or Psychology Minor) whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, will be permitted to count Psych 334 as an 'Advanced Psychology' course. Click here for details.
336	Introduction to Clinical Psychology
337	Psychology of Healing (no longer offered)
338	Organizational Behaviour NOTE: Only those currently enrolled in the Psychology Major (or Psychology Minor) whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, will be permitted to count Psych 338 as an 'Advanced Psychology' course. Click here for details.
339	Personnel Selection
340	Training and Development NOTE: Only those currently enrolled in the Psychology Major (or Psychology Minor) whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, will be permitted to count Psych 340 as an 'Advanced Psychology' course. Click here for details.
341	Psychology of Early Childhood Education (no longer offered)
350	Political Psychology
351	Health Psychology (not offered on a regular basis)
352	Culture and Psychology (not offered on a regular basis but will be offered Winter 2009)
353	Social Cognition
354 (formerly 254)	Interpersonal Relations NOTES: Psych 354 is "cross-listed" with Psych 221R. You can only take one of Psych 354 and Psych 221R. Psych 221R does not count as an 'Advanced Psychology' course.
355	Personality Theory NOTES: Psych 355 is no longer offered. You cannot take more than one of Psych 322R, 355, 356 because these courses are antirequisites to each other. Only those currently enrolled in the Psychology Major (or Psychology Minor) whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, will be permitted to count Psych 355 as an 'Advanced Psychology' course. Click here for details. Exception: Online Psychology Majors who took Psych 355 from UW, can count Psych 355 as an Advanced Psychology course regardless of the year the course was taken.
356	Personality Theory NOTE: You cannot take more than one of Psych 322R, 355 (no longer offered), 356 because these 3 courses are antirequisites to each other.
361	Advanced Topics in Physiological Psychology (no longer offered)
363	Special Topics
380	History of Psychology NOTE: Psych 380 was previously offered (last offering Fall 1998) as 'Psychology as a Scientific Endeavour'. That topic also qualifies as an Advanced Psychology course.
420	An Introduction to Methods in Computational Neuroscience (this course was taught as Psych 463 Winter 2009 and Winter 2010) Those not in Honours Psych will require permission of the instructor to enrol. Click here for details regarding Fall 2011 enrolment.
439	Negotiation in the Workplace: Theory and Practice NOTES: There will be a $50.00 material fee for the course.
440A/B	Theories of Group and Individual Counselling (no longer offered)
481	Directed Studies - Natural Science Advanced Psych See FAQ #5 for further details.
482	Directed Studies - Social Science Advanced Psych See FAQ #5 for further details.
Other possible exceptions	If you took a third or fourth year psychology course from UW that does not appear on the above list, please consult the Psychology UG Advisor for further information regarding the classification of the course towards your degree requirements. If you received a Psych 2XX or Psych 3XX upon admission to UW and that course had a prerequisite beyond the Intro Psych (Psych 101) level and the course requirements included some writing requirements (e.g., written assignments, essay questions on exams, etc.), please consult with the Psychology UG Advisor about the possibility of that course counting as an Advanced Psychology course. If you are hoping to take a course on a Letter of Permission that will count as an Advanced Psychology course, please look for courses at the host university that have prerequisites beyond the Intro Psych level (Psych 101) and that have course requirements that include writing requirements (e.g., written assignments, essay questions on exams, etc.). Please consult with the Psychology UG Advisor about your selections. Click here for the Letter of Permission Form.

2) What is involved in the Research Methods Courses in Psychology (i.e., Psych 291, 392-399, 483, 484)?

Training in the analytic skills of experimental design is a major component of the Honours Psychology curriculum and, to a less degree, of the General Psychology academic plan. Students are trained to address problems of human motivation, memory, social relations, communication, and many other human capacities and dispositions, by translating them into solvable empirical problems. This also entails critical evaluation of the bases of claims about human abilities and inclinations.

Psych 291 (Basic Research Methods):

Psych 291 is offered in the Fall term only and Psychology Majors take this course in the calendar year corresponding to admission to the Psych Major (e.g., those admitted to the Psych Winter 2012, Spring 2012, or Fall 2012 take Psych 291 Fall 2012).

In Psych 291 we introduce you to the fundamental concepts and procedures that researchers use to observe, quantify, summarize, and describe behaviour. The focus is on research design and interpretation of results.

Advanced Research Methods Courses:

The Advanced Research Methods Courses are:

PSYCH COURSE #	COURSE TITLE	CATEGORY OF RESEARCH COURSE IN THE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS	AVAILABILITY
392	Research in Human Cognitive Neuroscience	Natural Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Winter (not available every year)*
393	Research in Developmental Psychology	Social Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Fall only
394	Research in Perceptual and Cognitive Processes	Natural Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Winter*
395	Research in Social Psychology	Social Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Fall only
396	Research in Behavioural Neuroscience	Natural Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Winter (not available every year)
397	Research in Personality and Psychopathology	Social Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Fall only
398	Research in Memory	Natural Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Winter*
399	Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology	Social Science Advanced Research Methods Course	Fall only

*Typically one or two of Psych 392, 394, 398 is offered in the Spring term for those in the Coop stream of study.

These courses are taken by those in the Honours Psychology plans only. Take one course from the "Social Science" listing concurrently with Psych 391 (Fall only), and one course from the "Natural Science" listing the following school term (i.e., Winter for those in the Regular stream of study; Spring for those in the Coop stream). Click here for the requisites for enrolment in Psych 392-399.**

Current research methods and procedures employed in the particular domain of psychology will be covered in Psych 392-399. The course requirements may include research proposals, group and/or individual projects (e.g., 'hands on' lab experience and data collection), research reports, critiques of published and proposed research, journals of research ideas, individual and/or group presentations, class discussions, one or two midterms, and final exams. Please view course outlines from earlier in order to get a better idea of what is expected in these courses.

Enrolment in Psych 392-399 is limited to 20-25 students per course/section. The Psychology Department cannot guarantee that all students will get their first choices for these courses. Please see the Psych UG website for information regarding priority enrolment in these courses.

**NOTE COURSE SUBSTITUTES FOR THOSE IN THE HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY PLANS:

Those interested in fulfilling the Natural Science Research Methods course requirement (one of Psych 392, 394, 396, 398) or the Social Science Research Methods course requirement (one of Psych 393, 395, 397, 399) by taking a Directed Studies course, should refer to Psych 483 and Psych 484 in FAQ #5.
Those not doing an Honours Thesis (Psych 499A/B/C; see FAQ #4) may substitute one of Psych 465 (Applied Apprenticeship), Psych 466 (Education Apprenticeship - not offered after Fall 2006), or Psych 467 (Human Resources Apprenticeship) for one of the two Advanced Research Methods course requirements (Psych 392-399). See FAQ #6 for further details regarding Psych 465 and Psych 467.

3) What is involved in an Honours Seminar (Psych 420, 453-463)?

Honours Seminars offer students exceptionally good opportunities for study at the forefront of the field. The topics change each year. Examples of previous and/or current topics include:

Current Research and Theory on Self-Esteem
Mood Disorders: Theory and Research
Anxiety Disorders
Hypnosis
Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Close Relationships
Stereotypes and Prejudices
Human Aggression
Culture and Ethnic Conflict
Family Conflict
The Social Foundations of Thought and Language
Emergence of Peer Conversation
The Knowledge of Numbers
Learning Words
Education and Behaviour Problems
The Mind and the Law
Hot Topics in Cognition and Cognitive Neuropsych
Psychology of Economic Decisions

Justice in the Work Organizations
Culture and Organizational Psychology
Motivation and Feedback
Leadership Vision in Personal, Organizational, and Community Change
Vision and Space: From Simple Circuits to Behaviour
Classic Cases in Human Neuropsychology
An Introduction to Computational Neuroscience Methods
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory

In March or April each year, the Psychology Department posts the Fall/Winter/Spring Honours Seminar Listing for the coming year on the Psych UG website including descriptions, requisites (i.e., prerequisites, corequisites, antirequisites), and information regarding priority enrolment.

Enrolment in each of the Honours Seminars is limited to 20-25 students and enrolment is restricted to students in third and fourth year of Honours Psychology or Make-up Psychology who are currently taking Psych 391 or have already taken the course. The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict students from enrolling in more than one Honours Seminar per term as well as to give priority enrolment in seminars to fourth year students.

Readings will be from primary source journal articles rather than textbooks. Course requirements for the seminars may include weekly readings, individual and/or group presentations, class discussions, research proposals, one or two essays/literature reviews, weekly assignments, one or two midterms, and final exams. Please view course outlines from earlier terms in order to get a better idea of what is expected in these courses.

Honours students have the option of doing Psych 485 (Directed Studies - Seminar) instead of an Honours Seminar. See FAQ #5 and the course application form on the Psych UG Website for further details.

4) What is involved in an Honours Thesis (i.e., Psych 499A/B/C)?

An honours thesis is recommended for students 1) who are considering graduate or professional programs that may require a completed honours thesis for admission, or 2) who have a strong interest in, and commitment to, conducting original research. An Honours degree in psychology that includes a thesis is typically required for admission to graduate programs in psychology.

Psych 499 offers a student the opportunity to carry out a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and to present the findings in a scholarly paper. The topic of the thesis will be based on a combination of the student's and the faculty member's interests.

See the Psychology Honours Thesis Handbook for further details about the prerequisites, course requirements, etc.

5) What is involved in a Directed Studies course (Psych 480-486) and how do I apply to take one of these courses?

Directed studies courses provide students with opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty members in an area of interest to the student. Students often choose to study an area of psychology that is not available in the regular course offerings.

Students may not enrol in any of Psych 480-486 until their course applications have been approved by the Department.

See the course application forms for Psych 480-486 on the Psych UG website for further details about the course content and prerequisites.

6) What is involved in an Apprenticeship Course (i.e., Psych 264, 464, 465, 467) and how do I apply to take one of these courses?

The apprenticeship courses provide Honours Psychology Majors with valuable opportunities for networking, skill development, and assessing their educational and career choices. The courses are offered on a credit/no credit basis. Paid or unpaid co-op positions are not acceptable for credit in these courses. Apprenticeship courses will not satisfy Advanced Psychology course requirements.

Psych 264 (Research Apprenticeship)

Students are introduced to the research process by participating in an unpaid apprenticeship of no more than eight hours per week for 13 weeks in a faculty research program. It is the student's responsibility to find a research supervisor. It is expected that the students' workload will be equal or greater than that of most regular courses. For further details, see Psych 464 below.

Students may not enrol in Psych 264 until their course applications have been approved by the Department.

See the course application form on the Psych UG website for further details about the course including prerequisites for enrolment, etc. Applications for enrolment in Psych 264 will be accepted until the 8th day of classes for a specific term.

Psych 464 (Advanced Research Apprenticeship)

This course involves an unpaid apprenticeship of no more than eight hours per week for 13 weeks in a faculty research program. Students will be assigned duties that will enable them to advance their understanding of the research process. Those who are planning to apply for admission to graduate programs in psychology are strongly encouraged to enrol in one of Psych 264 or 464. Examples of duties include: participating in the design of an experiment and obtaining ethics approval; scheduling, testing, and debriefing research participants; data entry on the computer; and preliminary data analysis. It is the student's responsibility to find a research supervisor. It is expected that the students' workload will be equal or greater than that of most regular courses.

Students may not enrol in Psych 464 until their course applications have been approved by the Department.

See the course application form on the Psych UG website for further details about the course including prerequisites for enrolment, etc. Applications for enrolment in Psych 464 will be accepted until the 8th day of classes for a specific term.

Psych 465 (Applied Apprenticeship)

(offered Winter term only)

Psych 465 provides Honours Psychology students with an opportunity for an unpaid apprenticeship in an applied setting (other than human resources) in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

The apprenticeship component normally requires a commitment of 6 hours per week for 10 weeks. students are placed in settings that allow them to gain experience in an area relevant to their career goals as well as to contribute to the work being done in these settings.

In additional to the apprenticeship component, Psych 465/467 students also meet weekly for the seminar component with the Course Coordinator to discuss issues that arise from apprenticeship experiences and to talk about career issues. Students share information on work within the various sectors in which they are placed in individual and group presentations.

See the course application form on the Psych UG website for further details about the course including the application deadline, prerequisites for enrolment, examples of previous apprenticeship settings, etc.

Psych 467 (Human Resources Apprenticeship)

(offered Winter term only)

Psych 467 provides Honours Psychology students with an opportunity for an unpaid apprenticeship in a human resources setting in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

The apprenticeship component normally requires a commitment of 6 hours per week for 10 weeks. Students are placed in settings that allow them to gain experience in an area relevant to their career goals as well as to contribute to the work being done in these settings.

In addition to the apprenticeship hours, Psych 465/467 students also meet weekly for the seminar component with the Course Coordinator to discuss issues that arise from apprenticeship experiences and to talk about career issues. Students share information on work within the various sectors in which they are placed in individual and group presentations.

Psych 467 counts as an elective course in the HRM Specialization for Honours Psychology Majors.

7) Is there a limit on the number of psychology courses that I can take before graduation?

With regards to the overall degree, there is no ceiling on the number of psychology courses that you can take and it is not uncommon for Psychology Majors to exceed the minimum number of Psychology courses required for graduation (see the degree requirement checklists for details). However, we recommend that at least half of your courses for the degree be taken outside the field of psychology in order to enrich your undergraduate education. You should be open-minded when choosing courses and consider courses offered by all departments and faculties that may be relevant to your interests and future goals.

Please do not take more than 1 Psych course per term in Year One. Click here for further details.

Recommend no more than 3 Psych courses per term in Year Two. Think carefully about your personal circumstances, study skills, abilities, grades you are hoping to achieve, etc. when deciding whether or not you can handle more than 3 Psych courses per term in year 3 and 4.

If you are trying to boost your Psychology average for any of the following reasons:

to satisfy the Psychology average requirement for admission to the Psychology Major (click here for utoffs for admission)
to satisfy the Psychology average requirement to switch from General Psych to Honours Psych, or from Three Year General Psych to Four Year General Psych (also see FAQ 22-24)
to meet the minimum Psychology average requirement to remain in (or graduate from) your current Psychology academic plan

please be realistic about the number of courses including Psychology courses that you can handle in a given term. Students in these situations normally take no more than 3 Psych courses per term. See FAQ 21 for strategies for improving your grades. See FAQ 20 for further details regarding conditional standing.

If there are stressors (e.g,. physical and/or emotional issues, family issues, employment issues, etc.) that are affecting your performance in the current term (or you foresee will affect your performance in a future term), please be realistic about the number of courses including Psychology courses that you can handle. In scme cases, a term off school or a reduced course load is advisable. See FAQ 21 for further details.

NOTE:
All UW psychology courses taken will count in the calculation of the cumulative Psychology average.
Exception: If you have a cleared average, only the courses after that point on your record will be included in the average calculations for your current academic plan. A cleared average would typically only occur when a student is readmitted to the University following a 'Failed Required to Withdraw' academic decision or in some cases, following a change of academic plan which results in the student's registration changing from one Faculty to another. Note that each Faculty has 'residency requirements' that must be satisfied following a cleared average. Students who have cleared averages should refer to the Residency Requirements as well as consult with his/her academic advisor(s).

8) Can courses such as HLTH 348 (Social Psychology of Health Behaviour), HLTH 349 (Health Behaviour Change), RS 270 (Psychology of Religion), and MSci 211 (Organizational Behaviour) count as psychology electives towards a Psychology Major or the Psychology Minor?

No. Only Psychology labeled courses can fulfill Psychology course requirements.

9) I noticed that the admission cut offs for Psychology Majors are higher for transfer students than for UW students. I transferred to UW from another post-secondary institution(s) and I have already completed some courses at UW. When the Psychology Department considers my application for admission, will I be considered as a transfer student or a UW student?

If you have completed 5.0 units (i.e., 10 term courses) or more at UW, the admission decision will be based on your UW grades. If you have completed fewer than 5.0 units (i.e., 10 term courses) at UW, both your UW and previous records will be considered when the admission decision is made.

10) I will have completed a research methods course and/or a statistics course by the time I begin a Psychology Major. Can I be exempted from Psych 291 (Research Methods) or Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis)?

Please submit a detailed course outline for the course (i.e., a list of the topics covered, the title/author of the textbook, and the method of evaluation) that you took with your application for the Psychology Major. If you are exempted from Psych 291 and/or 292, you still must complete the minimum number of psychology courses that are required for the academic plan, for example, by taking psychology electives (i.e., any psychology courses of your choice) in lieu of not taking the exempted courses.

11) I'm doing Joint Honours Psychology and my second Major requires a research methods course and/or a statistics course. What do I do?

If your first Major is Psychology, please consult with the academic advisor of your second major regarding possible course exemptions in your second Major.

If Psychology is your second Major, the Psychology Advisor (PAS 4006) will determine at the time of admission whether or not you can be exempted from any of the following courses: Psych 291 (Research Methods), 292 (Basic Data Analysis), 391 (Advanced Data Analysis). The decision will depend on which Joint Honours academic plan is paired with Psychology. See the degree requirement check lists for examples.

12) Is it necessary to have a second Major, Minor, Option, or Specialization?
Can Psychology courses for the Psychology Major be used to satisfy Psychology course requirements in other academic plans (this refers to the 'double counting' rules)?

It is up to you to decide whether or not doing a Psychology Major plus a second academic plan (e.g,. Joint Honours, Minor, Option, Specialization) fits your interests and educational goals for the Bachelor's degree and beyond.

If your grades are currently too low for satisfactory standing in the desired Psychology Major or too low for pursuing future educational goals, it might not be in your best interest to pursue a second academic plan. See FAQ 21 for further details regarding boosting grades.

A common question is, will those with multiple academic plans have an advantage over those who do not when seeking employment? Remember that employers are interested in much more than just the degree earned and the academic plans listed. They will collect and evaluate information about you obtained from the resume and during the interview such as:

match between your knowledge, skills, and abilities and those required to perform the prospective job,
your awareness of any strengths and weaknesses that you have,
your personality traits and attitudes,
examples of your behaviours in particular work related (volunteer or paid) situations in the past (using past behaviours as predictors of future behaviours),
your appearance and body language,
etc.

For further details, see the Career Development eManual developed by the UW Centre for Career Action.

For distinctive marketable skills for Psychology Majors, click here.

To add or drop an academic plan to your record, submit a Plan Modification Form for approval.

For a list of academic advisors:

If considering studies beyond the Bachelor's degree (see Prepare for Further Studies), review prerequisites for admission before choosing your remaining courses for the degree.

Refer to Career Information on the Psychology UG Website for suggestions regarding choosing electives that are appropriate for various career goals.

Who Can Pursue Joint Honours, Minors, Options, and Specializations

Students in Three Year General Psychology are allowed to pursue Options but not Minors, Specializations, or a second Major.

For those who choose to do Four Year General Psych instead of Three Year General Psychology, the addition year (i.e., 4th year) should be an opportunity to purse an Option or Minor in another area of study and/or to obtain prerequisites for further study. A second Major is not allowed.

Those in Honours Psych may pursue a second area of interest by doing a second Honours Major (i.e., Joint Honours), a Minor, an Option, or the Human Resources Management Specialization.

Choices of Joint Honours, Minors, Options, and Specializations

For Joint Honours plans to be paired with Joint Honours Psychology, click here for further details.

See the Undergraduate Calendar for information regarding the numerous interdisciplinary academic plans that are available at uWaterloo e.g.,

a) Applied Language Studies Option*
b) Cognitive Science Option
c) Human Resources Management Studies Minor, Option, Specialization*
d) Legal Studies and Criminology Option
e) Math Minor
f) Peace and Conflict Studies Minor or Option*
g) Sexuality, Marriage, and the Family Minor or Option*
h) Social Development Studies Minor*
i) Speech Communication Minor or Option
j) Women's Studies Minor or Option *
k) etc.

*As an aside, check out available Diploma and/or Certificate programs also.

Details regarding all of the above examples (except for the Math Minor) are in the Faculty of Arts section of the Undergraduate Calendar.

There are also numerous 'Minor' plans available in single disciplines at UW (e.g., Biology, Computer Science, Economics, English, Fine Arts, French, Music, Sociology, etc.). See the Undergraduate Calendar for details.

Do not be discouraged from putting together your own theme packages of courses based on your interests and future plans. For example, students who are hoping to attend medical school or Communication Sciences and Disorders programs (also called 'Speech Language Pathology and Audiology' or 'Speech and Hearing Science') at the graduate level after graduation require several prerequisites for admission to these programs. Students can use their elective choices to satisfy the prerequisites. Although your degree will not specifically reflect the theme package that you put together, your transcript and resume will convey your interests and background to prospective admissions officers or employers. You should be open-minded when choosing your unspecified electives and consider courses offered by all departments

Course Planning for Multiple Academic Plans

When you enrol in a second area of study (e.g,. Joint Honours, Minor, Option, Specialization), map/overlay those requirements on to the appropriate degree requirement check list for the Psych Major so you can determine whether or not extra courses will be required for the degree. For example:

Biology Minor: Requires 5.0 units in Biology (see the UG Calendar for specifics). If you were enrolled in the Faculty of Arts Fall 2008 or later, note that 1 of the 10 Biology courses can be used to satisfy the 'Transdisciplinary Studies' requirement in the Arts Breadth requirements. Place the remaining Biology courses in the 'unspecified electives' section on the degree requirement check list.
Sociology Minor: Requires 5.0 units in Sociology (see the UG Calendar for specifics). Two of those 10 courses can count towards the 'Social Science' requirement in the Arts Breadth requirements (or the 'Group B' requirement in the Arts Group requirements for those in the Faculty of Arts prior to Fall 2008). Place the remaining 8 Sociology courses in the 'unspecified electives' section on the degree requirement check list.
Speech Communication Option: This is an interdisciplinary program that requires 4.0 units (see the UG Calendar for specifics). Several of the courses for the SpCom Option can overlay on to the Arts Breadth requirements (or the Faculty of Arts Group requirements for those in the Faculty of Arts prior to Fall 2008). Place the remaining course requirements for SPCom in the 'unspecified electives' section on the degree requirement check list.

WARNING - Rules Regarding the 'Double Counting' of Courses Between Academic Plans:

Majors, Minors, Options, Specializations, and the Arts and Business Complement are all academic plans which have course and average requirements.

The term 'double counting' refers to the use of an individual course to satisfy course requirements in two academic plans (e.g., Psych 292 counts for Honours Psych as well as Arts and Business). Typically no more than 2 or 3 courses can be double counted between any two academic plans. For those whose last school term is Fall 2009 or later, the Psychology Department allows 3 Psychology courses to be 'double counted' between the Psychology course requirements for the the Psychology Major and the Psychology course requirements in another academic plan. Some academic units have rules that are more strict. When a pair of academic units have different policies, the default is to the one more strict. Therefore, it is very important that you review the 'double counting' restrictions with the academic advisor for each of your academic plans so that you don't overlook important details when assessing your remaining degree requirements and setting a target for graduation.

Exception regarding Specializations: The 'double counting' rules do not apply to Specialization. Note however, that the 'triple counting' rules (see next paragraph) do apply to Specializations.

The University does not allow students to count an individual course towards the course requirements in 3 (or more) academic plans. That is, 'triple counting' is never allowed even when one of the 3 academic plans is a Specialization. For example, Psych 338 cannot be used to satisfy requirements in all of the Honours Psych Major, the HRM Specialization, and the Speech Communication Minor. In such a case, the student would count Psych 338 for the HRM and SpCom plans and he/she would take a different Psychology course for the Psych Major. Thus, that student would be taking more than the usual 9.0 Psych labelled units.

All Psych courses taken will count in the Psych average.

NOTE: The number of overall courses required for the degree (e.g., 20.0 units Honours BA Psychology) is dictated by the Faculty level requirements not the requirements at the academic plan level. Nothing (not even double counting of courses beween academic plans or the overlap of courses between the Major and the Faculty of Arts Group/Breadth requirements) can reduce the overall number of courses required for the degree.

13) I am a current UW Psychology Major taking online courses only. How can I obtain an Honours BA in Psychology?

Effective March 2007, the Psychology Department will no longer be admitting students who will be completing degrees by online/distance education studies to the Psychology Major. This decision is regrettable but necessary due to budget constraints. Click here for further details re 'Access to Programs, Plans, and Courses'.

Online students who are intersted in completing an Honours degree in Psychology will require on-campus studies in order to complete the Honours degree. Please discuss your plans with the Psychology Undergraduate Advisor. Please also refer to the admission requirements, the course requirements for Honours Psychology (including the Residency Requirements), the Supplementary Course Sequence Information, and FAQ #14 for further details.

14) I am a current Psychology Major studying taking online coures only and I plan to apply for admission to Honours Psychology and then to graduate studies in Psychology. In what ways will I be disadvantaged if I don't transfer to on-campus studies before the start of the fourth year?

Note: Effective March 2007, the Psychology Department will no longer be admitting students who will be completing degrees online/distance education studies to the Psychology Major. This decision is regrettable but necessary due to budget constraints. Click here for further details re 'Access to Programs, Plans, and Courses'.

For those online/distance education students who were admitted to General Psychology prior to March 2007:

More often than not, students who begin their studies online are mature students who have families and/or jobs (see FAQ # 21). For these students, making the switch to on-campus study may cause a major disruption in their lives (e.g., commuting or moving to Waterloo, loss of earnings). In addition to these stressors, students must quickly adapt to the on-campus study environment. Students are advised to seek advice regarding the transition to on-campus studies from Mature Students Services (PAS 2439; Ext. 32429).

Please refer to the course requirements for Honours Psychology. If you take Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis) online (last offering for that course will be Spring 2008), you will take Psych 291 (Basic Research Methods) and Psych 391 (Advanced Data Analysis) concurrently in the Fall term on-campus. Note that the prerequisite for Psych 499 (Honours Thesis) are Psych 291, 292, 391, plus one of the Advanced Research Methods Courses (i.e., Psych 392-399, 483, 484). Further, that the prerequisites for the Advanced Research Methods Courses include both Psych 291 and 292. If you are hoping to only be on-campus for three terms (F,W,S) and you are planning to do an Honours Thesis (takes at least 2 terms to complete; see FAQ # 4) starting in the Winter term, it will be necessary for you to get special permission to take Psych 291, 391, and one of Advanced Research Methods Courses concurrently in the Fall term. Further, you are strongly advised to read the Psych 291 textbook and to review the material from the basic statistics course (Psych 292) before the Fall term begins. You should be prepared to spend extra time during the Fall term to master the material in Psych 391 and the Advanced Research Methods Course.

You should arrange for a thesis advisor at least four to eight months before enrolling in Psych 499A. If you are planning to only be on-campus for three terms (F,W,S) and to begin your honours thesis after the first of the three terms, your search for a thesis advisor will be challenging because you will not know any faculty members well.

September is the typical month for admission to graduate programs in psychology. The application process for graduate studies (which includes applying for admission, applying for scholarships, writing the Graduate Record Exam) begins a full year in advance of the term that you wish to begin graduate studies (i.e., Sept. 2011 for Fall 2012 admission). If you are hoping to only be on-campus for a few terms (e.g., F,W,S) in order to complete the requirements for Honours Psychology, you will be disadvantaged when you apply for admission to graduate

You will require letters of recommendation for the scholarship applications in September or October as well as for graduate school applications in December and January. Your search for referees will be challenging because you will have had fewer opportunities than other students for networking and to expand your research skills outside the classroom (FAQ 35 further details).
You will be writing the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) before you have completed all of the second and third year required psychology courses. Therefore, extra effort will be required in order to do well on the Graduate Record Exam.

Please refer to Graduate Studies in Psychology on the Psych UG website for further details. Begin by reading the 'overview' at the top of that page.

Some of the difficulties can be minimized if you are able to transfer to on-campus studies by the end of the second year rather than the end of the third year.

15) How do I obtain the 'classroom experience' necessary for applying to a faculty of education?

When you apply for admission to Faculties of Education, admissions officers will evaluate your potential for success in the program as well as assess your level of interest in a career in the education field as demonstrated by, for example, the extent of your 'classroom experience' (very important), course choices, extracurricular activities, etc. They typically will require letters of recommendation (also referred to as reference letters) from individuals who are familiar with your background. Think carefully regarding who you will approach for reference letters (e.g., past or future contacts that you will make) and the types of letters needed for your particular goals (e.g., academic references, references for volunteer or paid positions related to the field of teaching, character references, etc.). See FAQ 35 for further details about reference letters.

Students can obtain classroom experience through volunteer or paid work with children or teens. Schools, daycare centres, preschools, summer camps or programs for children, and places of worship are a few examples of appropriate settings. Experiences where you prepare and teach a lesson or tutor children (e.g., in reading, math, English, French, or the use of computers) are valuable. Other valuable experiences might include coaching for organized sports, teaching English as a second language to children or adults, or tutoring adults in reading and writing.

Click here for further advice regarding volunteering.

16) I am in Honours Psychology. How do I obtain the research and/or applied experience necessary for applying to graduate school in Psychology?

Obtaining Letters of Recommendation

When you apply for admission to graduate studies, typically 3 letters of recommendation (also referred to as reference letters) will be required for each application for admission as well as for each scholarship application. The reference letters provide very important information to those evaluating your potential for success in the program you applied to. Think carefully regarding who you will approach for reference letters (e.g., past or future contacts that you will make) and the types of letters needed for your particular goals (e.g., academic references, references for volunteer or paid positions related to a particular field, character references, etc.). See FAQ 35 for further details regarding reference letters.

Obtaining Research/Lab Experience

If you are planning to apply to a graduate program that is research oriented (many graduate programs in Psychology are), research experience inside and outside the classroom while you are doing your undergraduate degree will be important. Click here for details regarding ways to obtain research experience.

Obtaining Experience Working With People

Some graduate programs seek applicants who have had experiences in community settings related to the helping professions, for example, group homes, the Alzheimer's Society, the Canadian Mental Health Association, agencies that provide home support for the elderly or physically or mentally challenged, telephone crisis/help lines, etc. See Volunteer/Community Opportunities on the Psych website for further details.

17) How do clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and social workers differ in their approaches to helping people with their problems?

Several helping professions work together closely to administer assessment and treatment services to clients. Common to the work of clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers are applications of various interviewing and assessment skills along with 'talk therapy' interventions. No particular one of these disciplines seems to own any specific treatment philosophy or therapeutic technique, but there are certain distinct features which separate their job functions.

Clinical Psychologist

Many clinical psychologists have a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Psychology. Although in some jurisdictions individuals with a Master's degree and extensive supervised practice may be registered as a clinical psychologist. Graduate training in clinical psychology differs somewhat from one institution to another in its emphasis and focus. However, common to all accredited clinical psychology programs is an extended period of involvement in a hospital or other service agency; during that time student interns receive continuous supervision of their work with patients. In addition to this internship experience, students in PhD programs are generally well trained in research technologies (experimental psychopathology, evaluation research, and other areas important to advancing our understanding of services and patients) and are expected to complete a dissertation on a research topic that is relevant to clinical psychology. A few programs offering a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) instead of a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Psychology emphasize professional training (i.e., supervised patient contact) and require an experimentally less rigorous research project than that expected in a PhD dissertation.

Although the specific curriculum in clinical psychology differs from university to university, usually some attempt is made to train students in intellectual assessment (I.Q. tests), personality and/or behavioural assessment, and psychotherapy. In addition to these practical courses, the student is exposed to the scholarly literature in personality and psychopathology, as well as statistics and research design. Generally, clinical students are also expected to have a subsidiary interest area, such as cognitive neuroscience, developmental, or social psychology. Because of the multiple demands on the student's time and energy, it is unusual for a person to graduate with a PhD in clinical psychology in less than five years beyond the honours degree in psychology.

Although the demands of training in clinical psychology are multiple and time-consuming, there are correspondent benefits upon graduation. The diverse possibilities for employment include academic jobs in universities and medical schools where there is an expectation for research productivity. In addition, there are many opportunities for employment in hospitals, reform institutions, and other centers, in which the primary duties typically are service delivery (i.e., patient contact), but that occasionally permit and sometimes encourage research with clinical populations. A person can engage in practice as a clinical psychologist only after passing an internationally normed written examination and an oral exam review of their fitness to practice.

Click here for advice from the Canadian Psychological Association regarding the training and licensing requirements to practice Psychology in Canada, advice to those who plan to do graduate studies in Psychology outside Canada and then return to Canada to practice, as well as advice regarding choice of graduate program (see accreditation).

Please check the websites for the Canadian Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association for job outlooks for those with Master's and PhD degrees in the various sub-disciplines of Psychology, etc.

Counselling Psychologist

Many counselling psychologists have a PhD in Psychology. Similar to clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists are also trained for research roles. However, counselling psychologists differ from clinical psychologists in that Counselling Psychologists typically provide services to a less severely disordered clientele. They may, for example, be most often employed in university counselling services, secondary schools, and other agencies that assist with vocational guidance and life adjustment issues. Other specialists give focus to child development issues, school problems, occupational therapy, clinical neuropsychology (typically offering assessment or rehabilitation for brain injuries), chronic physical disabilities, and other areas as well. Similar registration as noted above for clinical psychologists will be required.

When you are searching for graduate schools that offer counselling psychology programs, check the listings for Psychology Departments (e.g., counselling psychology, school psychology) as well as Education Departments.

See above under 'Clinical Psychology' the licensing requirements to practice Psychology in Canada.

Psychotherapist

The 'Therapy Toronto' (Ontario) website describes the field of Psychotherapy (e.g., how this field differs from Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry), the passage of the 'Psychotherapy Act 2007' which requires the profession of Psychotherapy to be regulated and licensed, as well as details regarding the new 'College of Psychotherapy and Registered Mental Health Therapists' which is expected to be fully operational in the near future.

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are first trained in medical school and then do a residency in psychiatry where they receive training in dealing with mental disorders. Psychiatrists are sanctioned to prescribe medications and other physical treatments as part of their therapeutic intervention with patients. Psychiatrists rarely have specific training in research.

The University of Waterloo does not have a medical school. Click here for the locations of these programs and admission requirements.

Canadian Psychiatric Association

Ontario Psychiatric Association

See Psychology Career Centre (an American website) for a comparison of a psychiatrist versus a psychologist.

Social Worker

Quote from the 2010 2011 Renison University College School of Social Work Practicum Manual:

...Social work is both the art and the science of providing services designed to assist individuals, families, groups and communities enhance their well-being. Principles of human rights and social justice frame the context for this growing and challenging profession dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and society...

Social workers and social services workers are the professionals who are most heavily identified with Family and Children's Services. However, they are also employed in numerous other settings such as hospitals, community and mental health facilities, correctional facilities, the military, etc.

Those interested in a career in the field of social work pursue appropriate training at the college or university level. For example, some people take the Social Service Worker program at a community college while others pursue a Bachelor's and/or a Master's degree in Social Work. The duties one can perform on the job will depend on the individual's level and type of training. For example:

Those with a Master's of Social Work degree (this program is not offered at UW) are trained to provide individuals (children, adolescents, adults, the elderly), families, and/or groups who are experiencing difficulties (e.g,. economic, emotional, physical, social, safety, etc.) with counselling/therapy/mediation and to connect with appropriate resources and support services. They are also involved in community development services/programs and advocate for community and government policy changes which will improve the well-being and quality of life for their client base. The Master's of Social Work programs typically do not emphasis research training; however, students will develop a critical and thoughtful approach to claims made about people and about psychological research.

Those with a Social Services Worker diploma from a community college are trained for front-line roles. They interview potential clients, assist with identifying the sources of stress/difficulty, and prepare in-take reports. They provide practical assistant for their clients such as connecting them with necessary resources and support services, providing life skills workshops, making referrals for crisis intervention, etc.

To call or represent oneself as a social worker or a social services worker in Ontario, you must be in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. Click on 'Membership Information' on that website for further details.

Click here for further details about studies in the field of Social Work.

18) Am I required to be registered in the Faculty of Science if I am planning a career in medicine?

No. However, it will be necessary for you to choose your unspecified electives carefully in order to fulfill the medical school prerequisites. Research this information early in your undergraduate studies. The website for the Ontario University Application Centre contains a chart that summarizes the prerequisites for medical schools in Ontario.

Some Honours Psychology BA Majors who are interested in applying to medical school will choose to enrol in the Joint Honours Psychology and Science academic plan.

19) How do I Choose Courses Relevant to My Future Goals?

Please refer to Psychology Course/Enrolment Information on the Psych UG website for details.

20) My grade report states that I am on conditional standing. What does this mean?

The minimum average requirements for satisfactory standing in the Psychology academic plans is listed in the UG calendar.

Conditional standing may be granted for one academic term to students whose overall and/or Psychology average (usually the Psychology Major average) falls below the minimum requirement for satisfactory standing in a particular academic plan. Note however, that conditional standing is not automatically granted and that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Further, that the Psychology Department reserves the right to limit the number of students on conditonal standing.

If you are placed on conditional standing, normally you will have one school term to raise the average(s) which is too low. Ask yourself what happened to cause your grades to be less than satisfactory and then develop a plan for improving your grades. See FAQ #21 for suggestions. Do not jeopardize your long-term goals by being unrealistic about what you can handle.

For those whose home Faculty is Arts:

If your academic standing is 'at risk of being required to withdraw', you must meet one of the following criteria by the end of the next school term in order to avoid a 'failed required to withdraw standing':

satisfy the requirements to continue in a Psych Major
(e.g., for Three Year General Psych, 60% overall and 65% in Psychology is required)
satisfy the requirements for admission to a new Major (see the UG calendar for the average requirements).
Depending on the academic standing at the time, an appeal to continue your studies might also be necessary.
satisfy the requirements for admission to Three Year Liberal Studies or Four Year Liberal Studies [see the UG calendar for the average requirements (e.g., note the 65% Arts average requirement) and the minimum number of courses required in the Faculty of Arts].
Depending on the academic standing at the time, an appeal to continue your studies might also be necessary.

Click here for further details regarding academic standing.

Click here for further details regarding re-admission following the 'failed required to withdraw' standing.

For those whose home Faculty is Science:

click here for details.

21) What can I do to improve my future grades?

Things to consider when developing your study plan:

FAQ 21, Item A: Balancing School Work and Other Responsibilities

Do you take too many courses per term considering your responsibilities outside of your academic studies (e.g., looking after children, paid work, volunteer work, participation in student group activities)?

Do you allow your social life to interfere with your studies?

Are there stressors (e.g,. physical and/or emotional issues, family issues, employment issues, etc.) that affect your performance? If so, see FAQ 21 item D for further details.

See 'Study Skills' below for advice regarding time management.

See FAQ #27a for advice regarding balancing school and work.

Are you in the Co-op stream of study? If so, do you find the responsibilities of the search for co-op positions each school term onerous? Would you do better academically if you switched from the Co-op stream of study to the Regular stream of study?

FAQ 21, Item B: Course Selection, Course Load, and Study Term

Are you enrolled in multiple academic plans (e.g., Joint Honours, Minor, Option, Specialization)? Is that a good idea if your Psychology grades are lower than necessary for satisfactory academic standing or lower than you desire and/or necessary for your future educational goals? For example, when you are allocating study to each course in a given term, could you give a larger proportion of your overall study time to the Psychology course(s) than the other courses in the term, if those other courses were 'unspecified electives' instead of 'required courses' for other academic plans?

Are there subject areas where your grades have been poor and should be avoided in the future?

Are your math skills weak? Are worried about passing Math 103 or a 4U Math course before taking Psych ? If so see FAQ 33. Are you worried about passing Psych 292? If so see FAQ 32.

Should you enrol on a part-time basis in your usual 'off terms' (e.g., an online course) to give yourself another chance to raise your Psych average before the next full-time school term?

Please be realistic about how many courses you can handle in any term given your personal situation and the final grades that you require to improve your academic standing.

Could you do better if you only took 2 to 4 courses per term instead of 5 (5 meaning 2.5 units) thereby giving yourself more overall study time? Not everyone can handle a full course load. If you take a reduced course load, don't make the mistake of increasing your hours of employment or volunteer work in the same term or you probably won't increase your overall study time as planned or increase your grades. If the term has already begun when you decide to reduce your course load, see FAQ #26 before dropping the course on Quest. Additional notes for those in the Co-op stream of study: Co-op students must maintain a full course load (defined as at least 2.5 units per school term) and follow the school/work sequence to which they have been assigned or as prescribed for their program. Click here for further details regarding course load requirements and restrictions for Co-op students.

See FAQ 7 for suggestions regarding the Psychology course load.

Repeating passed courses is not always the best choice and not always allowed. See FAQ #30 and FAQ #31 for further details.

FAQ 21, Item C: Study Skills and Special Services

Do you need help with your study habits (e.g., (e.g., effective strategies for note taking and preparing for exams including multiple choice questions, time management, help with procrastination, retention and recall)? If so, please refer to the following information:

Study Skills Guide provided by Counselling Services.
Study Skills Workshops provided by Counselling Services.

Do you have problems doing multiple choice questions on tests and exams? If so, see FAQ 34 for tips for doing better on multiple choice questions. If you do better in courses where the grading basis is more heavily weighted on written work, choose more of those types of courses each term where possible. In Psychology courses, more written work is typically required in courses at the third and fourth year level than at the first and second year level. Peruse course outlines to learn more about what is expected in the various courses (click here for Psychology course outlines). Note there might be variability in courses requirements between instructors.

Do you require academic support services because you have a disability? If so, click here for information regarding the services provided by the Office for Persons with Disabilities.

Would a private tutor be helpful for any particular Psychology course (e.g., Psych 391)? We don't have a list of tutors but you could prepare an advertisement seeking a tutor and ask the Psychology Advisor to circulate the message to Psychology graduate students for you (as well as senior Psychology undergraduate students if you want).

for Psych 292 tutors, see the message from the instructor in FAQ 32.

FAQ 21, Item D: Extenuating Circumstances

If extenuating circumstances arise:

a) Contact appropriate professionals ( e.g,. primary academic advisor, medical doctor, counsellor at Counselling Services, etc.) for assistance/advice.

b) Decide whether or not a reduced course load (i.e,. fewer courses than you normally take per term), or a withdrawal from the current term, or a break from school for 1 or more terms would be in your best interest. See FAQ #26 before making decisions about dropping courses.

c) Would extensions on course work be appropriate? Have you spoken to your current instructor(s) about the possibility of extensions (e.g,. for an assignment, midterm test, or final exam)? Documentation regarding the circumstances will be required by the instructor. The key here is to talk to the instructor before the material is due. If extensions are required in more than one course in a given term, you should also discuss your situation with your primary academic advisor.

d) Did you fail a course(s)? If so, are there grounds for petitioning to drop the course (e.g., illness, death in the family, etc.)? See 'Relief From Drop Deadline Penalty 1 or 2' in FAQ #26 for further details.

e) Did you pass a course but you are unhappy with the mark? Note that UW policy is that completed work stands. That is, we do not allow students to do "extra" work for a course in order to boost the final mark. However, if your performance in the course(s) was affected by documentable extenuating circumstances, you have three choices if you are in the Faculty of Arts (rules in other Faculties may vary):

petition to the Examinations and Standings Committee* to drop the course. If the course to be dropped is a required course, take into consideration when the course is offered again before submitting the petition. See 'Relief From Drop Deadline Penalty 1 or 2' in FAQ #26 for further details
petition to the Examinations and Standings Committee* to change the grading basis for all courses in a given term (you typically can't be selective from the list of courses in the given term ) from the traditional numerical grading basis to the CR/NCR (credit versus no credit) grading basis. CR/NCR grades have no affect on average calculations. Before submitting a petition for CR/NCR grades:
- read carefully the information regarding the CR/NCR grade policies in the Faculty of Arts,
- read carefully the residency requirements for the degree specified by the Faculty of Arts and Psychology Department,
- and make an appointment with Heather Smith (Psych UG Advisor; PAS 4006) to discuss your circumstances and request. Bring your written petition to the appointment with you.
take further courses to boost the average (if you want to repeat courses, see FAQ 30 and 31 before doing so.)

*NOTE: Petitions to alter records retroactively must be done prior to a degree being conferred.

f) Is your academic standing ' Required to Withdraw'?

i) Details regarding readmission following a 'Required to Withdraw' standing:

click here for the Faculty of Arts.
Note that the academic advisor in these cases will be in the Arts Undergraduate Office (PAS 2439) rather than the Psychology Undergraduate Office. The Faculty of Arts Advisor will discuss with you options (e.g., a different Major, Three Year or Four Year Liberal Studies), conditions, and timing for resuming your studies.
click here for the Faculty of Science.

ii) A 'Required to Withdraw from Faculty' standing means no further readmission priviledges for that particular Faculty.

iii) Exceptions to a) or b): If you are petitioning for grade changes to your record (see details above), you can include in the petition a request for a reversal of the failed academic standing.

FAQ 21, Item E: Delay target for graduation

Are there course/grade requirements for your goals? Do some number crunching to evaluate scenarios (e.g., how many Psych courses and what grades would you need in order to raise your cumulative Psych average to 75%). Are the goals achievable? Are you willing to delay the target for graduation in order to meet those goals? It doesn't matter if you take longer than your peers to complete the degree.

Could you achieve higher grades if you proceeded with your studies a bit more slowly (e.g., take only 2 to 4 courses per term instead of 5)? Not everyone can handle a full course load. In addition to taking courses in the Fall and Winter terms, you have the option of taking courses in the Spring term depending on the courses that you need, prerequisites, and course availability. Check out both on-campus and online offerings. If the term has already begun when you decide to reduce your course load, see FAQ #26 before dropping the course on Quest.

Can you afford to take extra courses for the degree if necessary in order to achieve your goals? For example, if you are in Four Year General Psych and you are able to boost your Psych average to 75% by the end of fourth year rather than third year, could you afford to continue your studies for a fifth year (F/W or F/W/S), that is beyond 20.0 units, in order to complete the core courses for Honours Psych (i.e., the ones you were not eligible to take prior to admission to Honours Psych)? Would doing a fifth year to earn Honours Psychology be a better choice for you than applying to a Post-Graduate program at College?

What are your goals for after graduation (if unsure, click here for some suggestions for Psych Majors)? Are those goals realistic? Would a General degree in Psychology (BA only) or another Major, or a General degree in Liberal Studies be sufficient for those goals? See the Undergraduate Calendar for details regarding the various academic plans which are available at uWaterloo (click here for academic plans in the Faculty of Arts). Is it necessary to have a second Major, Option, or Specialization? See FAQ 12 for details.

FAQ 21, Item F: Choice of Major

Are you doing well in Psychology courses? Are you doing better in another subject area that could be a potential Major? Will a Psychology Major (or Minor) give you the necessary background and/or prerequisites for pursuing your future educational and career goals?

If you are having difficulty answering those question and/or you would like to explore your options, suggest that you make an appointment to see appropriate academic advisor(s) and/or a career counsellor at UW Counselling Services. Before doing so, have a look at the following websites:

22) I'm in General Psychology and my cumulative Psych average is currently 75% or better. How do I switch to Honours Psychology and how do I plan my remaining courses?

Email the Psychology Advisor requesting admission to Honours Psychology. Include your full name, ID number, your current academic plan, and your request for admission to Honours Psychology. Put your last name and "General Psych requesting Hon Psych" in the subject line of the message (e.g., Jones - General Psych requesting Hon Psych).

You won't be able to enrol in courses that are restricted to Honours Psych Majors until your record on Quest has been updated to reflect admission to Honours Psychology. Note that courses such as Psych 392-399 and Psych 453-463 have limited enrolment (typically no more than 25 students each) and that your enrolment in any of those courses will be subject to space availability per usual. If the course you are wanting to enrol in is full, contact the Psychology Advisor during the appropriate enrolment windows regarding the status of the waiting list.

For advice regarding course enrolment planning, please refer to the following:

On the degree requirment check list, fill in the courses that you have successfully completed so far (in pen) and the courses that you are planning to take next term (in pencil) so that you can see what you have left to do.

Suggest drafting a term-by-term course plan for completing your remaining requirements taking into consideration course availability and prerequisites.

23)My Psych average is currently less than 75% and I'm enrolled in General Psychology. I want to be in Honours Psychology in the future. How do I plan my courses?

FAQ 23 Item A: In General Psych for the Coming Year and Hoping to be in Honours psych the Following Year

See FAQ #21 for strategies for improving your grades even if you are optimistic that you can raise the Psych average to 75% in the near future.

Print the degree requirement check lists for both General Psych and Honours Psych and fill in on both lists the courses that:

you have successfully completed so far (in pen)
you are currently taking (in pencil) (if applicable)
you are planning to take next term (in pencil) (if applicable)

so that you can see what you have left to do for each academic plan and you can make comparisons and revisions to the course plan as necessary. You should do this routinely each term.

Suggest drafting a term-by-term course plan for completing your remaining requirements taking into consideration course availability and when prerequisites for enrolment will be completed. For example, the prerequisites for enrolment in Psych 391, 392-399, 420, 453-463, 485, 499A/B/C) include "enrolment in Honours Psychology". Click here for additional course sequence information for those courses.

FAQ 23 ITEM B) Conditional Standing for Honours Psychology

If your cumulative Psychology average is 74.5-74.9%, consult with the Psychology Advisor about the possibility of admission to Honours Psychology on conditional standing.

The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict the number of students admitted on conditional standing to Honours Psychology. Those admitted on conditional standing typically must raise their average to 75% within one academic term.

If admitted to Honours Psychology on conditional standing, see the following for advice regarding course enrolment planning:

On the degree requirment check list, fill in the courses that:

you have successfully completed so far (in pen)
you are currently taking (in pencil) (if applicable)
you are planning to take next term (in pencil) (if applicable)

so that you can see what you have left to do and can make revisions to your course plan as necessary. You should do this routinely each term.

Suggest drafting a term-by-term course plan for completing your remaining requirements taking into consideration course availability and prerequisites.

See FAQ #21 for strategies for improving your grades even if you are optimistic that you can raise the Psych average to 75% in the near future.

FAQ 23 ITEM C: 'Course Overides' for General Psych Students to take Psych 391

If the following conditions have been met, consult with the Psychology Advisor about the possibility of a 'course override' to enrol in Psych 391 and a Social Science Research Methods course (i.e., one of Psych 393, 395, 397, 399) in the Fall term:

successfully completed Psych 291 and 292
Psych 292 grade of at least 70%
cumulative Psychology average is in the 74.0-74.4 % range
all of your individual Psychology grades for the last 2 terms (including at least 5 to 6 Psych courses) are above 75%.

Requests will be considered on an individual basis and will also be subject to space availability. The Psychology Department reserves the right to restrict the number of students who are granted 'course overrides' for enrolment in 'Honours only' courses.

If the request for an 'override' for Psych 391/39X enrolment is granted:

See FAQ #21 for strategies for improving your grades even if you are optimistic that you can raise the Psych average to 75% in the near future.
See the following for advice regarding course enrolment planning:
- Supplementary Course Sequence Information for Honours Psychology Student
- the degree requirement check list
A decision regarding admission to Honours Psychology and enrolment in further 'Honours only' courses for subsequent terms (e.g., Honours Seminars, Natural Science Research Methods Course, Psych 492) will not be made until after the grades are available for Psych 391 and the Social Science Research Methods course.

On the degree requirment check list, fill in the courses that:

you have successfully completed so far (in pen)
you are currently taking (in pencil) (if applicable)
you are planning to take next term (in pencil) (if applicable)

so that you can see what you have left to do and can make revisions to your course plan as necessary. You should do this routinely each term.

Suggest drafting a term-by-term course plan for completing your remaining requirements taking into consideration course availability and prerequisites.

Sidebar for those who are appealling for enrolment in Psych 391 and are hoping to apply to graduate school in Psychology:

If you are planning to apply for admission to graduate school for Fall 2012, hopefully you won't be required to send your official transcript from UW until the Fall 2011 grades are available. Your averages for the last two full years of study on the transcript (up to and including the grades for Fall 2011) including at least 10.0 units will probably need to be in the 80-100% range in order to be considered for admission to graduate school. If it looks unlikely that you will achieve that goal, ask yourself if graduate school is a realistic goal. If you think the answer is yes, rethink your target for admission to graduate school, when you will be taking the necessary courses to complete the Honours Psych degree, and how many courses you will do per term. An extra year or two study at the undergraduate level (i.e., the Bachelor's degree level) may be necessary in order to achieve your long term goals. Click here for further details on this topic.

24) I'm in Three Year General Psychology. How and when can I switch to Four Year Psychology?

FAQ 24 ITEM A: If Your Cumulative Psychology Average is 70% or Better

Email the Psychology Advisor requesting admission to Four Year General Psychology. Include your full name, ID number, your current academic plan, and your request for admission to Four Year General Psychology. Put your last name and "G3 Psych requesting G4 Psych " in the subject line of the message (e.g., Jones - G3 Psych requesting G4 Psych).

Print the degree requirement check list for Four Year General Psych and fill in the courses that:

you have successfully completed so far (in pen)
you are currently taking (in pencil) (if applicable)
you are planning to take next term (in pencil) (if applicable)

so that you can see what you have left to do and can make revisions to the course plan as necessary. You should do this routinely each term.

FAQ 24 ITEM B: If Your Cumulative Psychology Average is Less Than 70%

See FAQ #21 for strategies for improving your grades even if you are optimistic that you can raise the Psych average to 70% in the near future.

Choose courses which are relevant for both the Three Year General Psych degree and the Four Year General Psych degree.

Print the degree requirement check lists for both of those academic plans and fill in the courses that:

you have successfully completed so far (in pen)
you are currently taking (in pencil) (if applicable)
you are planning to take next term (in pencil) (if applicable)

so that you can see what you have left to do for each academic plan and can make comparisons and revisions to the course plan as necessary. You should do this routinely each term.

If you raise your cumulative Psych average to 70%, see FAQ 24 Item A for instructions.

25) I 'm eligible to receive a Three Year General BA in Psychology. I have not requested to have that degree conferred because I want to pursue a Four Year General degree in Psychology. The problem however, is that my cumulative Psych average is less than 70%. What are my options?

Your options include, for example:

graduate with the Three Year General degree. Minor designations are not available with Three Year degrees. Some Options are available with Three Year degrees (e.g., the Human Resources Management Option). Thereafter,

consider applying to studies elsewhere in another discipline (e.g., at the college level or at the Bachelors level at another university) or seeking employment.
alternatively, pursue a second degree at UW in a Major other Psychology (if admissible) before pursuing studies elsewhere or seeking employment. Note however, that 'residency requirements' will be applied to the second degree. In the Faculty of Arts this would mean taking at least 1.5 additional years of study (7.5 units) in order to earn a second degree at the Three Year General level or 2 additional years of study (10.0 units) in order to earn a second degree at the Four Year General or Honours level. For many people this is not a practical choice because of time and financial factors. Before considering a second degree, suggest that you make an appointment with a career advisor at Counselling Services to discuss your plans and future goals.

don't graduate with the Psych degree, apply to switch to a Four Year General or Honours Major in another discipline with a Psychology Minor designation. If admitted, complete the necessary requirements. If the new Major has a requirement for a research methods and/or a statistics course, request exemption from the course(s) in lieu of successful completion of Psych 291/292.
continue to take Psychology courses in an attempt to raise the Psych average to 70% for admission to Four Year General Psych. See FAQ #21 for strategies for improving your marks. Determine whether or not it is realistic to boost your Psych average to 70%. If for example, you need several Psychology grades in the 80-95% range to boost the Psych average to 70% and you doubt that you can achieve such grades, consider option 1, 2, or 4. If you are successful at raising the Psych average to 70%, request admission to Four Year General Psych and complete the necessary requirements. Considering doing a Minor or Option in a second area of study. Suggest that you make an appointment with a career advisor at Counselling Services to discuss your plans and future goals.
switch from Three Year General Psych to Four Year Liberal Studies. If this is your plan, just pursue the Liberal Studies degree. Do not request to graduate with a Three Year General Psych degree and then a Four Year Liberal Studies degree because' residency requirements' would be applied to the second degree meaning that you would be required to do a full 2 years of study (10.0 units) after the first degree was conferred in order to earn the second degree. That would not be a practical decision. Note that those enrolled in Four Year Liberal Studies (or Three Year Liberal Studies) may not pursue a Minor designation. However, Options in a secondary area of concentration are allowed (e.g., Human Resources Management Option).

Note: It would not be practical to accept a Liberal Studies degree (Three Year or Four Year) and then apply for (re)admission to pursue a second degree with a Psychology Major because 'residency requirements' would be applied for the second degree. Click here for further details.

26) How do I drop a course and how does the drop affect my academic record?

NOTE: UW policy is that completed work stands. That is, we do not allow students to do extra work for a course in order to boost the final mark.

Should you consult with someone before dropping a course?

If you are dropping any of Psych 291, 292, 391, 392-399, 453-463, 465, 467 please consult with Heather Smith (Psychology Academic Advisor) regarding your decision. Consider carefully course availability, degree requirements, sequencing of prerequisites, etc. when making decisions.
If you are having difficulty understanding the course material, preparing for assignments, etc. please speak to the instructor and/or the teaching assistant for the course. He/she might be able to provide you with advice/tips that will clear up the problems.
If your academic performance is poor as result of poor study habits, see the study skills information provided by Counselling Services.
If your academic performance has been affected by extenuating circumstances, see FAQ 21 Item D for further details.

If proceeding to drop a course(s), note the following deadlines and procedures.

Course Drop/Add Deadlines:

Drop/Delete Period:

Students in all Faculties may freely add courses during the first two weeks of classes, and freely drop courses (course will be completely removed from the transcript) during the first three weeks of classes.

Course drop exception - For summer or block course sessions, the free drop/withdrawal period covers the first three days of the session.

If you are dropping all courses for a given term (including online courses) prior to the end of the third week of classes, you must submit an 'Undergraduate Notice of Withdrawal' form to the Registrar's Office.

The affect (if any) of course drops or withdrawals on tuition:

click here for dropped courses

click here for withdrawal

Course Drop Deadline Penalty 1:

Students who drop classes from the start of the 4th week of classes to the end of the 10th week* of classes will receive a WD mark(check the specific deadline date for Penalty Period 1 on "Important Dates" on Quest . WD means 'withdrawn without academic penalty'. WD does not affect the average calculations.

*NOTE - this drop deadline was changed from the end of the 8th week to the end of the 10th week of classes effective Fall 2010.

If you are dropping all courses for a given term (including online courses) during the 'Course Drop Deadline Penalty 1' window, you must submit an 'Undergraduate Notice of Withdrawal' form to the Registrar's Office. WD grades will be record as indicated above.

The affect (if any) of course drops or withdrawals on tuition:

click here for dropped courses

click here for withdrawals

Comments from the Psychology UG Advisor about WD Grades:

It is unlikely that a few WD grades on your record will hinder opportunities for studies beyond the Bachelor's degree.

However, if you have several WD grades in consecutive terms during the last 2 years of study, a reviewer of your transcript might draw conclusions about you that you don’t want them to. For example, they might wonder whether or not
a) there are unresolved issues that might hinder your future performance,
b) you have learned from past mistakes,
c) you understand your limitations.
To avoid false impressions, be realistic about what you can cope with (see FAQ 21) and plan accordingly. Also, provide explanations about your record if you think it is necessary and there is an opportunity to do so.

Course Drop Deadline Penalty 2:

Students who drop courses from the beginning of the 11th week* of classes until the end of the lecture schedule for the term will receive a WF mark (check the specific deadline date for Penalty Period 2 on "Important Dates" on Quest). WF means 'withdrawal failure'. WF counts as 32% in the average calculations.

*NOTE - the beginning of this drop deadline window was changed from the beginning of the 9th week of classes to the beginning of the 11th week of classes effective Fall 2010.

If you are dropping all courses for a given term (including online courses) during the 'Course Drop Deadline Penalty 2' window, you must submit an 'Undergraduate Notice of Withdrawal' form to the Registrar's Office. WF grades will be record as indicated above.

The affect (if any) of course drops or withdrawals on tuition:

click here for dropped courses

click here for withdrawals

Comments from the Psychology UG Advisor About Course Drops During the Penalty 2 Period:

If you are dropping a course(s) so that you can dedicate more time to your other courses (e.g., to improve your grades and cumulative averages), please do so early enough in the term that your decision will have a positive effect.

If you think you are going to fail a course, before dropping the course, consider whether you prefer a grade of 32% (WF) in your average calculations or a higher mark. For example, if you complete the course and earn a final mark in the 45-49% range (still a failing grade), the final grade will have less negative impact on your average calculations than would a final grade of 32%.

Requests for Retroactive Course Drops in Order to Avoid WD grades (withdrawn without academic penalty), or any Failing Grades including 0-49%, WF grades (withdrawn failure = 32%), NMR grades (No Mark Recorded = 32%):

WD and WF grades are explained above in 'Drop Penalty 1' and 'Drop Penalty 2'.

Students who want to retroactively drop courses in order to avoid failing grades or WD grades on their records must submit a petition in writing to the Examinations and Standings Committee. ' Petition for Exception to Academic Regulations' Forms are available on the web.

The affect (if any) of course drops or withdrawals on tuition:

click here for dropped courses

click here for withdrawals

Comments from the Psychology UG Advisor Regarding Requests for Retroactive Course Drops:

Not doing well in a course or not liking a course are not sufficient grounds for a retroactive course drop.

Students who are asking to retroactively drop courses typically must demonstrate that their reasons for dropping a course(s) after the third week of classes is due to extenuating circumstances, for example, illness, emotional problems, bereavement, or excessive employment demands (see FAQ #21).

Documentation to support the request should be submitted with the appeal, for example, a medical certificate, a certificate from a counsellor at Counselling Services, a death notice from the newspaper or the undertaker, or a job certificate that states the number of hours that you are/were working.

If in addition to the request for a retroactive course drop you are also requesting a tuition refund, suitable information and documentation will be required to support the request (e.g., to accurately establish the timeframe of your participation, or lack thereof, in the course).

The course instructor and your academic advisor must comment on your request and sign the Petition Form before it is submitted to the Examinations and Standings Committee for approval. The Examinations and Standings Committee in the Faculty of Arts meets only once per week (typically on Tuesdays) and items for the agenda (i.e., your petition package) must be received at the Registrar's Office by 4 p.m. the Friday before the meeting. Never assume that your appeal will be granted. Students are typically notified of the Committee's decision by email within 48 hours after the meeting.

Repeating Courses

See FAQ 29, 30, and 31 for information regarding repeating courses.

27a) How many courses can I handle successfully if I am working?

The answer will depend on several factors including:

how many hours you are working
other responsibilities that you have (e.g., caring for children, volunteer work, involvement with student groups)
your grades and study habits (click here for tips regarding study skills)
your physical and emotional well-being at the time
how much time you spend commuting to school and work, etc.

Most students find it very difficult to handle 5 courses (2.5 units) per term if they are working more than 10-15 hours per week. Most students who are working 35 or more hours per week find that they can only handle one or two courses per term. The key is not to spread your time so thin that you cannot cope with the unexpected (e.g., get the flu the week before a midterm or learn that the material that you need for an essay must be obtained from another university).

Be realistic about the number of courses that you can handle and if necessary, reduce your course load before the drop deadline (see FAQ #26); otherwise, your grades for the whole term could suffer.

Counsellors are available at Counselling Services to assist students who are experiencing personal difficulties. Counselling Services also offers many helpful workshops for students including study skills, time management, and exam preparation.

If you are hoping to improve your grades, see FAQ 21 for further tips.

27b) Is it possible to 'fast-track' through the Honours Psych program by studying on a full-time basis 3 terms a year?

Students in the Regular Stream of Study (i.e., not Coop):

For those in the regular stream of study, 'fast-tracking' typically refers to taking 4 or 5 courses (i.e., 2.0 to 2.5 units) per term for 3 terms a year on an ongoing basis (i.e., no terms off) with the hope of completing the degree faster than usual. Few people do more than 3 consecutive terms on a full-time basis because to do so is typically not a healthy approach to one's studies, often results in grades lower than desired (which could potentially sabbotage one's long term goals), and leaves less time for volunteer work and/or paid employment that might be important background* for one's career goals.

*Examples: See FAQ 16 for tips on relevant experience for graduate studies in psychology, click here for tips for Bachelor's/Master's of Social Work programs, see FAQ 15 for tips for Bachelor's/Master's programs in Education.

Click here for the degree requirement check lists (including course sequence information) for Psychology Majors.

If you are hoping to fast track through the Honours Psych program, note when you are developing your course plan that the Psychology courses in the chart below must be taken in sequence over a two year span (note prerequisites) - a two and half year span if doing an Honours Thesis in Psychology (Psych 499A/B/C) - and are only offered on-campus (i.e., no online sections) in the terms specified:

FALL	PSYCH 291
WINTER	PSYCH 292
FALL	PSYCH 391 1 Advanced Social Science (SS) Research Methods course from PSYCH 393, 395, 397, 399, 484 (see note below)* 1 Honours Seminar from PSYCH 453-463, 485 to be taken here or later
WINTER	1 Advanced Natural Science (NS) Research Methods course from PSYCH 392, 394, 396, 398, 483 (see note below)* Exception - 1 or 2 of these will be offered the next term (Spring). However, don't delay taking the NS Research Course to the Spring term because choices are limited in the Spring term and those in the Coop stream of study have priority enrolment in the Spring term. If doing an Honours Thesis (optional), the course is PSYCH 499A/B/C (worth 1.5 units) and must be taken over 2 or 3 terms. You can enrol in PSYCH 499A or PSYCH 499A/B here (not earlier because you don't have the prerequisites) or later. *NOTE: Those not doing an Honours Thesis (PSYCH 499A/B/C) can replace one of the two Advanced Research Methods Courses (i.e., the NS or SS topic) with one of PSYCH 465 (Applied Apprenticeship) or PSYCH 467 (Human Resources Apprenticeship). PSYCH 465 and 467 are only offered in the Winter term and can't be taken before Psych 391.
SPRING OR FALL (recommend Spring if hoping for admission to graduate school in the Fall)	If you enrolled in PSYCH 499A (or 499A/B) the previous term, Psych 499C (or 499B/C) will be here.

For those hoping to take courses on Cross-Registration (WLU only) or on Letter of Permission at another university, click here for details. Note in particular the warnings regarding the 'Residency Requirements' for the degree.

If your plan is to apply to graduate school in Psychology: Psych 391 is normally taken in year 3 instead of year 4. If enrolled in Psych 391 (e.g., Fall 2011) only one year before the target for graduate school admission (e.g., Fall 2012), there could be disadvantages. Click here for further details.

Students in the Co-op Stream of Study:

The majority of Psychology majors in the Co-op stream of study cannot 'fast track' to complete their degree requirements earlier than the normal target for graduation. See the 'Warnings Regarding Fast Tracking' on the website for 'Requests to Change the Academic/Work Term Sequence (for Psychology Majors)'.

28) If I take more than the minimum number of psychology courses required for my Major, do they all count in my cumulative psychology average?

Yes. All UW psychology courses taken will count in the calculation of the cumulative Psychology average.
Exception: If you have a cleared average, only the courses after that point on your record will be included in the average calculations for your current academic plan. A cleared average would typically only occur when a student is readmitted to the University following a 'Failed Required to Withdraw' academic decision or in some cases, following a change of academic plan which results in the student's registration changing from one Faculty to another. Note that each Faculty has 'residency requirements' that must be satisfied following a cleared average. Students who have cleared averages should refer to the Residency Requirements as well as consult with his/her academic advisor(s).

29) I have a course on my record with a WD mark (withdrawn without academic penalty). Can I enrol in the same course during a later school term?

Yes.

Both course attempts will be on the record. WD marks have no affect on your average calculations. Only the second attempt will be included in the average calculations.

30) Can I repeat a passed or failed course?

Each Faculty has rules on these issues.

Consult the 2011 2012 Undergraduate Calendar for details:

students in the Faculty of Arts click here.
students in the Faculty of Science click here.

Highlights regarding the rules for students in the Faculty of Arts (similar rules in the Faculty of Science):

can repeat a failed course once

Note that failing grades include 0-49%, NCR (no credit granted), NMR (no mark recorded = 32%), DNW (did not write = 32%), and WF (withdrew/failure = 32%), but not WD (withdrawn without academic penalty).

Psych Majors - if you fail Psych 291 or Psych 292 twice, see comments below.
can repeat a passed course once under exceptional circumstances and only if they have permission to do so from all of the following prior to registration in the course: his/her academic advisor, the academic advisor of the department offering the course, and the Examinations and Standings Committee.

For further information about repeating a Psychology course that you have already passed, see FAQ #31.

Further,

both course attempts will be on your record and both marks will be in your average calculations.
only one passed attempt can count towards the progression of your degree requirements.
if you want to petition to drop a failed course attempt from your record, see FAQ 26 for details.

Psych 291 and Psych 292:
If you have two failed attempts of either Psych 291 or Psych 292 on your record, you won't be able to continue in the Psychology Major because a third attempt of a failed course is not allowed and permission would not be granted in this case for you to take a substitute course [e.g., an equivalent course in another discipline at UW, or an equivalent course elsewhere on Cross-Registration (WLU only), Letter of Permission, or Exchange Program]. If you find yourself in this situation, consider whether or not there are grounds for petitioning to drop one of the two failed attempts from your record (see FAQ 26 for details). If the Examinations and Standings Committee converted the grade for one or both of the failed attempts of the course to a WD grade (withdrawn without academic penalty), you would be permitted to enrol in that course again as long as you are in satisfactory standing in a Psychology Major (General or Honours).

31) Can I obtain Departmental permission to repeat a Psychology course that I have already passed?

31A) ALL STUDENTS

Before enrolling in a passed course a second time, please consult with the Psychology Advisor (PAS 4006).

Note:

Typically we do not allow students to repeat Psychology courses which were previously passed (i.e., grade of 50% or better), or to take any exisiting 'cross-listed' course to a passed Psychology course (e.g., can't take Psych 323R after passing Psych 257).
When you repeat a course, both course attempts will be on the record and both marks will be in the average calculations. Only one passed attempt can count towards the progression of the degree requirements.

If you want to raise your Psychology average, please do so by taking a Psychology course(s) that you have not already passed.

If you want to prove to a reader of your transcript that you can do better in a particular domain of Psychology (e.g., you did poorly in Psych 253 and you hope to apply to graduate school in Social Psychology in the future), take another course in the same domain of Psychology. For example:

following Psych 207, take one or more of Psych 304, 306, 308.
following Psych 211, take one or more of Psych 311, 312, 314, 315, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321.
following Psych 253, take one or more of Psych 352, 353, 354.
following Psych 257, take one or more of Psych 317, 332, 334, 336, 356.
following Psych 261, take one or more of Psych 306 or 307.

31B) ADDITIONAL NOTES FOR PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS AND PROSPECTIVE PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS

Read section 31A before 31B.

You will not be allowed to repeat Psychology courses which were previously passed (i.e., a grade of 50% or better), or to take any existing 'cross-listed' course to a passed Psychology course (e.g., can't take Psych 323R after passing Psych 257) for the purpose of boosting your Psychology average so that you can:

gain admission to the Psych Major,
upgrade from one Psychology academic plan to another (e.g., from General Psych to Honours Psych),
or meet the minimum average requirements for the Psych Major for graduation.

Exception to the above rule - Those whose cumulative Psychology averages are high enough to continue in Honours Psychology but have a final grade of 50-59% in Psych 292, should consider repeating Psych 292 before proceeding to Psych 391. Permission to repeat Psych 292 would be granted in these cases and a private tutor for the second attempt of Psych 292 as well as Psych 391 might be advisable depending on the reasons for the poor performance in the first attempt of Psych 292. See FAQ 21 item C as well as FAQ 32 for further details.

32) I satisfied the math prerequisite for enrolment in Psych 292 (Basic Data Analaysis) but I'm worried about taking Psych 292 because my math skills are weak. What should I do?

[General advice in FAQ 32 could also be generalized to those who are worried about taking Psych 391 for Honours Psych after earning a grade of 50-59% in Psych 292 or an equivalent course (i.e, an equivalent course in the case of transfer students or some Joint Honours plan.]

Assuming that you have satisfied the math background for taking Psych 292:

Some students will earn grades in Psych 292 that are lower than they are used to getting in other courses. Some will report loss of confidence and feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the course material because they find data analysis and interpretation difficult and time consuming to master.

Give yourself the best conditions for doing well in Psych 292. Suggestions:

Buy the textbook early and familiarize yourself with the relevant chapters before the course begins. The more exposure that you have with the material the more comfortable you will be with it in the long run.
Good study habits are important for mastering the course material and building your confidence. Download the Study Skills Guide provided by Counselling Services. Note that Counselling Services offers study skills workshops as well as Individual appointments with a study skills advisor if necessary.

Counselling Services is at Needles Hall room 2080. Ph 519-888-4567 ext. 32655.
We normally recommend that students spend at least 10-15 hours per week per course (e.g., lectures, assignments, readings, preparation for tests and exams, etc.) in order to be successful. However, in the case of a statistics course such as Psych 292, some individuals will find it necessary to spend 15 or more hours per week in order to master the course material.
Don't procastinate. Each unit of Psych 292 will build on the next. This is not a course where you can cram through a bunch of material at the last minute and do well.
Attend the tutorials regularly. Tutorial sections typically have only 30-40 students so there will be lots of opportunity to ask questions. Individuals benefits from hearing responses to their questions as well as to questions by others.
If you have questions that are not answered in the tutorials, contact the instructor or a teaching assistant.
If study questions are provided (don't just rely on the instructor; check the textbook), work through as many of these as possible to reinforce your understanding of the material.
Consider carefully whether or not you can handle a full course load (2.5 units) the term you are taking Psych 292. See FAQ #21 and FAQ #27a for further details.
If you are struggling, you could hire a tutor. Don’t let yourself get too far behind before making such arrangements.
- We don't have a list of tutors in the Psychology Department but you could prepare an advertisement seeking a tutor and ask the Psychology Advisor to circulate the message to Psychology graduate students for you (as well as senior Psychology Undergraduate students if you want).
- Private individuals who are offering tutor services for math and statistics courses post notices on the bulletin boards at the entrances to the Math and Computer (MC) Building. The quality of these services are not screened by the Math Faculty.
- See comments from Dr. Koehler below regarding tutors for Psych 292.

Additional advice will depend on the course instructor. Derek Koehler reports (Sept 2010) the following regarding his Psych 292 class:

in addition to textbook problems, I post old unit tests and answer keys on UW-ACE, so by now there are approximately 4-5 practice tests in the inventory that can be taken before every actual test. I also post one practice final exam on UW-ACE.
each year I contact students who took Psych 292 the previous year and did well, and ask about their willingness to act as tutors (on a volunteer basis or for pay, at their discretion) and post a list of available tutors at the beginning of the term.

33) I am concerned about taking Math 103 or a 4U Math course because the last formal math course that I took was in grade 9 or 10. What advice can you provide?

(This information is also good for those who took grade 11 math or grade 12 general math in Ontario and are concerned about taking Math 103.)

Click here for the math prerequisite for enrolment in Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis).

If you are required to take Math 103 (the alternate choice is a high school 4U Math course e.g., Math of Data Management ) and your math skills are weak, suggest that you speak to the course instructor and/or an academic advisor in the Math Undergraduate Office at UW, about your best option(s) for preparing for Math 103 (or 4U Math), for example:

take the course with no preparation but be prepared to spend extra time to master the course material and hire a tutor if necessary
do a grade 11 Math course formally or review that material on your own before taking Math 103 (or 4U Math).
judge your preparation for taking Math 103 (or 4U Math) by taking a pre-university math course (e.g., Math 051) from the University of Waterloo.

Keep the following details in mind when deciding whether to take Math 103 versus a 4U Math course:

Math 103 counts as an elective towards your degree and the final grade will count in your cumulative overall average.
4U Math (as well as Math 051) will not count as an elective towards your degree and the final grade will not count in your cumulative overall average (some people will find this option desirable).
Would you have more time to spend on a 4U Math course during the Spring term than on Math 103 during the Fall term? Consider carefully whether or not you can handle a full course load (2.5 units) the term you are taking Math 103. See FAQ #21 and FAQ #27a for further details.

Regardless of the amount of preparation that you do, give yourself the best conditions for doing well in the Math 103 (or 4U Math). Suggestions:

Buy the textbook early and familiarize yourself with the relevant chapters before the course begins. The more exposure that you have with the material the more comfortable you will be with it in the long run.
Good study habits are important for mastering the course material and building your confidence. Download the Study Skills Guide provided by Counselling Services. Note that Counselling Services offers study skills workshops as well as Individual appointments with a study skills advisor if necessary.

Counselling Services is at Needles Hall room 2080. Ph 519-888-4567 ext. 32655.
We normally recommend that students spend at least 10-15 hours per week per course (e.g., lectures, assignments, readings, preparation for tests and exams, etc.) in order to be successful. However, in the case of a math course, some individuals will find it necessary to spend 15 or more hours per week in order to master the course material.
Keep up with the course material. Procrastination will compound your difficulties particularly if you are doing a 4U Math course that requires a waiting period between the marking of a course section before you are sent the next course section.
Attend the tutorials regularly if tutorials are available (the on-campus section of Math 103 in the Fall term has tutorials).
If you have questions that are not answered in the tutorials, contact the instructor or a teaching assistant (check office hours for availability).
If study questions are provided (don't just rely on the instructor; check the textbook), work through as many of these as possible to reinforce your understanding of the material.
if you are struggling:

A) You could hire a tutor. Don’t let yourself get too far behind before making such arrangements.
- I (Heather Smith) spoke to the Coordinator for the Tutorial Centre in the Math Faculty. He said that the responsibility of that office is to provide tutoring for students in the Math Faculty (e.g,. Math 127, 134, 137, 234, 237, 239), but that if time permits that tutors will also assist those in the Faculty of Arts who are taking Math 103. (updated Dec 1, 2010)
- Private individuals who are offering tutor services for math and statistics courses post notices on the bulletin boards at the entrances to the Math and Computer (MC) Building. The quality of these services are not screened by the Math Faculty.
B) Consider other methods for improving your grades. See FAQ 21 for suggestions.

34) I'm not doing well on the multiple choice questions for midterm tests and final exams. What should I do to improve?

Tips on Taking Multiple-Choice Tests (samples) from:

University of Guelph
University of North British Columbia
University of Toronto
University of Victoria
University of Waterloo
University of Western Ontario
- site one
- site two
Social Psychology Network

35) I require letters of recommendation (also referred to as reference letters) for applications for further study and/or employment. How do I obtain such letters?

When you apply for admission to studies beyond the Bachelor's degree and/or apply for employment, letters of recommendation (also referred to as reference letters) are often required (e.g., for graduate programs in Psychology, 3 such letters are typically required for each application for admission as well as for each appliacation for scholarships). The reference letters provide very important information to those evaluating your potential for success in the program and/or position you applied to. Think carefully regarding who you will approach for reference letters (e.g., past or future contacts that you will make) and the types of letters needed for your particular goals (e.g., academic references, references for volunteer or paid positions related to a particular field, character references, etc.).

For those requiring reference letters confirming classroom experience, also see FAQ 15 for details.

For those requiring reference letters confirming experience working with people, also see FAQ 16.

For those seeking reference letters from the Psychology Department regarding academic achievement and/or research experience, read on.

Contact faculty members (also referred to as advocates or referees in this context) who are the most familar with your skills and abilities, particularly those relating to your future goals, and ask if they would be willing to write you a reference letter.

It is difficult for a faculty member to be an advocate regarding your skills, abilities, and future potential if he/she does not know you well. For example, the instructor for a large course where the grading for the course was based only on multiple choice tests/exams would not be your best choice for a referee even if you did very well in the course. He/she will probably only be able to speak to your final grade in relation to that of the rest of the students in the class. Suggest that you approach faculty members for courses where, for example, you earned high grades (recommend over 80%) and had one or more of the following experiences in the course which were monitored and/or evaluated:

written work (e.g., essay questions on tests/exams, a major term paper, research proposal, etc.)
oral presentations
in-class or on-line class discussions (be an active participant)
data collection and analysis (e.g,. Honours Thesis)

The more contact a faculty member has with you the more he/she can say about you in a reference letter. Don't leave networking with faculty members until your final year.
Ways to network with faculty members include:

be an active participant in the class discussions for the Advanced Research Methods Courses (Psych 392-399) and Honours Seminars (Psych 453-463). These courses are for those in Honours Psychology only.
enrol in a course where you will receive one-on-one supervision from a faculty member e.g,. a Directed Studies course (Psych 480-486) or an Honours Thesis (Psych 499A/B/C). These courses are for Honours Psychology only.
get involved in the faculty member's research lab. See 'Research Experience' on the Psych UG web site for further details.
seek advice from faculty members regarding your educational and career goals e.g.,
- the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs - currently Colin Ellard
- faculty members who attended the school(s) you are interested in applying to in the future. See the Faculty listing in the UG Calendar for details
- faculty members who have interests that relate to your future plans and/or whose labs you worked or volunteered. Click here for websites for individuals.
read articles that faculty members have written and discuss the material with him/her
attend departmental colloquia and divisional seminars where students can engage in discussions with faculty members about the material presented. Postings appear on the right sidebar of the Psychology Department Home Page.

Information Faculty Members Need to Write Letters of Recommendation

Please give the faculty member(s) sufficient notice that letters of recommendation are needed, and include the following information with your request:

addressed and stamped envelopes or the full addresses for all recipients of the reference letter.
the deadline for the recipient to receive the reference letter.
a statement regarding your educational and career goals.
a photocopy of your current unofficial transcript.

(Sidebar: For those applying to graduate school in Psychology, please read the advice regarding 'Academic Standing' in "Overview of the Steps Required for Applying to Graduate Studies in Psychology'.)
a list of courses that you have successfully completed that are particularly relevant to your plans/goals.
if the reference letter is for future study, the website listing the minimum criteria for admission to the particular program would be helpful.
information regarding your extracurricular activities that are relevant to your plans/goals, for example, paid or volunteer positions where you have:
- developed research, leadership, problem solving, or interpersonal skills,
- demonstrated empathy for people and/or social responsibility
a list of awards/scholarships received.
any other background that you think is relevant for the letter needed.

Students Taking Online Courses Only

Your search for faculty members to write recommendation letter will be more challenging than on-campus students because you will have had fewer opportunities for networking. If you are having difficulty obtaining a reference letter, please consult with the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs in Psychology (currently Colin Ellard).

36) (Home Faculty Arts) Can I take more than 2.5 units in one term?

Part-time enrolment status is .25 to 1.25 units per term.

Full-time enrolment status is 1.5 units or more per term. Note that full-time students are billed 'incidental fees' in addition to 'tuition fees' (Click here for information regarding both of those fees).

The normal course load for those enrolled on a full-time basis in the Faculty of Arts is a maximum of 2.5 to 2.75 units per term. If your cumulative overall average is at least 75% currently and you need to take 3.0 or 3.25 units in a given term (e.g., 6 courses plus one Science lab), please contact Heather Smith. Put your last name and 'unit load' and the 'term' in the subject line of the message (e.g., BROWN - unit load Fall XXXX). State in the message your full name, ID number, how many units you want to take in a specific term, and why it is necessary to take 'an overload'. You won't be able to enrol for the extra course until the request for the increased load has been approved and coded by the Registrar's Office.

DO NOT submit such requests if your overall average is less than 75%. Direct those requests to the Examinations and Standings Committee.

DO NOT request 3.0 units in a given term as a method of 'shopping' for courses. That tactic is unfair to other students because it artificially inflates enrolment numbers, shuts out legitimate requests, and causes waiting lists (where available) unnecessarily.

If you have paid employment during full-time school terms, see FAQ 27a for further details.