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Psychology Undergraduate Studies

 

APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR (CURRENT UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO STUDENTS)


Spring 2012, Fall 2012, or Winter 2013 Admission:

Information About the Psychology Major


Please attend Psychology Academic Orientation for Prospective Majors
on one of the following two dates:

Thurs Feb 16, 2012 at 4-5:20 p.m. in AL 116

Wed March 21, 2012 at 4-5:20 p.m. in AL 113

Topics will include academic plans in Psychology, admission requirements for the Psychology Major, course requirements, plans following graduation, etc. The information provided will be much more detailed than we could provide during individual advising appointments. Further, the group will benefit from hearing the answers to questions asked.

The Psychology Department will continue to consider applications for the Psychology Major from current UW students until the first week of classes for any term. However, we would appreciate receiving as many applications as possible for Spring 2012 and Fall 2012 admission by Friday April 6, 2012. The data collected is needed for planning purposes and to create an email list of applicants to facilitate communication with the group.

Please review the Psychology Undergraduate Student Handbook e.g.,

  • Why Major in Psychology?
  • Psychology Majors and alumni at work
  • Academic plans in Psychology
  • Admission requirements for the Psychology Major (including Co-op)
  • Answers to FAQ regarding admission decisions
  • Math background required before taking Psych 292 (Basic Data Analysis)
  • etc.

Note Regarding Access to a Psychology Major:
As of March 2007, only those who are available to take courses on-campus at the uWaterloo during the daytime (e.g., Psych 291 Fall, Psych 292 Winter,etc.) will be considered for admission to the Psychology Major.Those who plan to take courses online, by distance education, and/or evening study only will not be admitted to the Psychology Major. Exceptions will not be granted for online/distance education/ evening studies students who also plan to take courses at other universities (e.g., on Letter of Permission or on Cross-Registration in the case of Wilfrid Laurier University). This decision is regrettable but necessary due to budget constraints.

Application Instructions for the Psychology Major - Current and Returning uWaterloo Students

For those of you in Arts first year,review the general advice provided by the Arts Undergraduate Office regarding choosing, and apply for, a Major. Then review the application information in this section which is specific for those who want a Psychology Major.

Applications for the Psychology Major for all Univ of Waterloo, St. Jeromes and Renison students are coordinated through the Psychology Undergraduate Office (PAS 4005/4006). Your request for the Psychology Major will not be processed until all of the appropriate documentation has been received. See points 1-4 below regarding the documentation required:

  1. Application to Major in Psychology Form

    Please read the admission information in the next section before submitting the application form.

    If submitting the Psychology Major Application after April 15, 2012, use the pdf version of the form    . See instructions b) and c) in the Plan Modification Form section below for submission instructions.

  2. Plan Modification (PM) Form

    There are 3 choices for submitting the Plan Modification (PM) Form if you to request a Psychology Major:

    a) If you are currently in Arts and Business Co-op or applying to switch from Arts and Business Regular to Co-op (or visa versa), please submit your PM Form to Susan Andrews in PAS 2439 by     March 16, 2012 for Fall 2012 admission (Instructions regarding the possibility of Winter 2013 admission to Arts and Bus Coop are pending). Susan will make a photocopy of the form and forward the original to the appropriate Major Department(s) as soon as possible.

    b) You can submit the PM Form to the Psychology Undergraduate Drop Box located on the third floor of the PAS building. To locate the drop box:
    - enter the PAS building from the loading dock area and take the elevator to the third floor. You'll see the drop box when you exit the elevator.
    -or enter the PAS building at the second floor from the side of the building closest to the ES building and the Arts Undergraduate Office area of the PAS building, go straight ahead past the Writing Clinic (PAS 2082) on your right and some classrooms on your left (PAS 2083-2086) to the elevator/stairs. Take the elevator or stairs up one floor and you'll see the drop box.

    c) If you are not on-campus currently, the two required forms (App to Major in Psych Form as well as the PM Form) should be completed and submitted as soon as possible to Heather Smith c/o of the Psychology Undergraduate Office.

Further advice regarding the Plan Modification Form:

a) If you are requesting more than one academic plan (e.g., Major, Minor, Option, Specialization), the Psychology Advisor will ensure that a photocopy of the form is circulated to the appropriate academic advisors on your behalf.

b) If you are requesting admission to the Faculty of Arts from another Faculty, the Psychology Advisor will keep a photocopy of the PM Form and forward the original copy of the PM Form to the Arts Undergraduate Office (PAS 2439) for an admission decision. If you are admitted to the Faculty of Arts, the Psychology Advisor will be notified and your request for admission to the Psych Major will be reviewed at that time.

c) Regarding requests for admission to Honours Psychology 'Departmental' Coop, please do not indicate a request for admission Coop on the PM Form (this includes those currently in Honours Life Science Coop in the Faculty of Science). See below for further details.

  1. Application for Readmission (ARF) Form

    If you are UW student but have not been enrolled in courses for the previous 3 or more consecutive academic terms, please submit an Application for Readmission (AFR) Form to the Registrar's Office instead of the Plan Modification (PM) Form to the Psychology Department. In that case, when you submit the Application for the Psychology Major Form to the Psychology Department, attach a note indicating that the ARF Form was submitted to the Registrar's Office. The deadlines for submitting the ARF Form are on the top of that form. Ideally the ARF Form should be submitted prior to the significant enrolment windows indicated below.

  2. Those who have completed, or are currently registered in, a research methods and/or statistics course will be required to submit a detailed course outline for the course (i.e., a list of the topics covered, method of evaluation, and the title/author of the textbook) as soon as possible to the Psychology UG Office (PAS 4006). For those who will be in third or fourth year Fall 2012 and are hoping for admission to Honours Psychology, recommend that this step by done by Thurs March 1, 2012 if at all possible because feedback from the Psychology advisor might affect your course selections for 'pre-enrolment' for Fall 2012 (e.g., whether or not Psych 291 and 391 can be taken concurrently Fall 2012). When you submit the course outline(s), please attach a note indicating your ID number, where you submitted your Plan Modification Form if to a location other than the Psychology Drop Box or the Psychology Undergraduate Office, and whether or not you have completed/submitted the Application for the Psych Major.

Admission Decisions for the Psychology Major

Admission requirements for the Psychology Major, etc.

Timing of Admission Decisions

Applications for the Psych Major that are submitted during the Winter 2012 term will not be reviewed until after Winter grades are available in May 2012. Applicants will be notified of their admission decisions by e-mail by Heather Smith in May 2012 (probably between May 25-31).

If you are requesting a change of Faculty (e.g., Science to Arts, Math to Arts, or AHS to Science, etc.), the admission decision for the Psychology Major will not be made until after an admission decision to the requested Faculty has been processed.

We will continue to review applications throughout the year, for example, for students who are taking courses in the Spring term or the Fall term to improve their academic standing, late applicants, transfer students, etc.

If you apply during Spring 2012 for Fall 2012 admission to the Psych Major and are enrolled in Psych courses Spring 2012, the admission decision will be made early September 2012 after the Spring 2012 grades are available. Note that enrolment in Psych 291 Fall 2012 will be blocked until admission to the Psych Major is processed.

If you are applying for admission to the Psych Major for Winter 2013 rather than Fall 2012, the admission decision will be made early January 2013 after the Fall 2012 grades are available.

Those admitted to the Psych Major Winter 2013 rather than Spring 2012 or Fall 2012 will delay taking Psych 291 (offered Fall only) and Psych 292 (offered Winter only) from the 2012/2013 year to the 2013/2014 year.

Notification of Admission Decisions

The e-mail address that will be used to communicate the admission decision to you will be the one you submit on the Application for the Psychology Major.

NOTE: Official UW e-mail address only please on the application forms. Psych Majors and applicants to the Psych Major will only be contacted at their UW e-mail address. Students are responsible for e-mail that is sent to the UW account, and to read and familiarize themselves with UW’s Official Student E-mail Address policy (e.g., procedures and warnings regarding forwarding mail to other accounts).

Concerned That You Will Not be Admitted to Your Preferred Academic Plan

If you are concerned that you will not be admitted to your preferred academic plan (e.g,. admissible to General Psych but want Honours Psych) or that you will be refused admission to the Psychology Major, please see the following information:

Applications for Admission to Honours Psychology 'Departmental' Co-op

Those enrolled in second year of the Honours Psychology plan (Regular stream of study) Fall 2012 will have an opportunity in November 2012 to apply for admission to Departmental Coop. See below for details.

Cancelling the Application for the Psychology Major

If at any time you want to cancel your application for the Psychology Major, please contact Heather Smith as soon as possible.

Degree Requirement Checklists for the Psychology Major and Psychology Minor

Monitor your progress towards the completion of the degree requirements each term.

Spring 2012 Enrolment

Pre-enrolment: Oct 24-30, 2011

Enrolment appointments: Feb 6-11, 2012

Open enrolment:

  • On-Campus Courses: Feb 13 - May 14, 2012
  • On-Line Courses: Feb 13 - May 7, 2012

If you are hoping to raise your Psychology average in the Spring term by taking a Psych course(s) on-campus or online, go the advice from the Psychology Advisor.

If you are unable to enrol in a Psychology course Spring 2012 because the enrolment has reached the course limit and/or there is no space for the target group that you belong to, go to the waiting list instructions.

Fall 2012 Class Enrolment

Those admitted to the Psychology Major Spring 2012 or Fall 2012 are expected to take:

  • Psych 291 Fall 2012

  • Math 103 Fall 2012 if necessary - the course time is expected to be 12:30-1:20 pm Mon/Wed/Fri with a tutorial at 4:30-5:20 pm Tues.
    (math background required for taking Psych 292    )

  • Psych 292 Winter 2013
    (exception - Arts and Business Coop take Psych 292 Winter 2014 not Winter 2013).

  • by the end of the term in which you take Psych 292 you will also need several of the Discipline Core Requirements (Psych 207, 211, 253, 257, 261). Please check the specific degree requirement check list for your academic plan for details.

Deviations from the above course plan must be approved by Heather Smith (see Contacts below). See the degree requirement check lists for further information regarding course planning.

For those who will be in a Co-op plan Fall 2012 (e.g., Honours Psych and Arts & Bus Coop; Joint Honours X Coop and Psych), please review the Psychology course offerings for Spring 2013 before finalizing your Fall 2012 choices.

See additional comments below regarding pre-enrolment, enrolment appointments, and open enrolment.

Pre-enrolment for Fall 2012 Courses (Feb 27-March 4, 2012)

Enrolment in Psych 291 (Basic Research Methods) is for Psychology Majors only. During Pre-Enrolment Week, applicants to the Psychology Major will be permitted to preenrol for Psych 291. Eligibility for enrolment in Psych 291 will be determined when the applications for the Major are reviewed. Those refused admission to the Psychology Major will be dropped from the Psych 291 roster.

If you missed the 'Pre-Enrolment" window for Fall 2012 courses, you'll have another opportunity in June during the "Enrolment Appointment" window to enrol for Fall courses. Admission decisions for the Psych Major will be known before the Enrolment Appointments.

Enrolment Appointments for Fall 2012 courses:

  • Current UW students: June 4-9, 2012
  • First time users of Quest: July 9-22, 2012

Check Quest for the actual date/time of your enrolment appointment near the end of May.

For those submitting applications for the Psychology Major June 4 or later, suggest that you attach Course Override Forms to the application documents if you require enrolment in any of Math 103 (math background required for taking Psych 292), Psych 291, Psych 391-399* for Fall 2012. Enrolment will be subject to space availability per usual.

*Note that Psych Psych 291, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399 are offered Fall only.

If you are unable to enrol in other Psychology course Fall 2012 because the enrolment has reached the course limit and/or there is no space for the target group that you belong to, go to the waiting list instructions

Open Enrolment for Fall 2012 Courses:

  • On-Campus Courses: Mon July 23, 2012 to Friday Sept 21, 2012
  • On-Line Courses: Mon July 23, 2012 to Friday Sept. 14, 2012

For those submitting applications for the Psych Major June 4 or later, suggest that you attach Course Override Forms to the application documents if you require enrolment in any of Math 103 (math background required for taking Psych 292), Psych 291, Psych 391-399* for Fall 2011. Enrolment will be subject to space availability per usual.

*Note that Psych 291, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399 are offered Fall only.

If you are unable to enrol in other Psychology course Fall 2012 because the enrolment has reached the course limit and/or there is no space for the target group that you belong to, go to the waiting list instructions.

Winter 2013 Class Enrolment


Pre-Enrolment: June 18-24, 2012

Class Enrolment Appointments: Oct 8-13, 2012

  • Check Quest for the actual date/time of your enrolment appointment near the end of May.

Open Enrolment:

  • On-Campus Courses: Oct 15, 2012 to Jan 18, 2013
  • On-Line Courses: Oct 15, 2010 to Jan 11, 2013

For those admitted to the Psych Major Fall 2012 (take Psych 291 then), enrol in Psych 292 Winter 2013 if in the Regular stream of study. If you are a Co-op student on work term Winter 2013 (e.g,. Honours Psych and Arts & Bus Co-op) you will be taking Psych 292 Winter 2014 instead of Winter 2013.

Those admitted to the Psych Major Winter 2013 rather than Spring 2012 or Fall 2012 will delay taking Psych 291 Fall 2013 instead of Fall 2012 (291 offered Fall only) and Psych 292 Winter 2014 instead of Winter 2013 (292 offered Winter only).

If you are unable to enrol in a Psychology course Winter 2013 because the enrolment has reached the course limit and/or there is no space for the target group that you belong to, go to the waiting list instructions

Psychology Course Offerings for Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013

Availability of Psychology courses

Applications for Admission to the Co-op Stream of Study

HONOURS PSYCH 'DEPARTMENTAL' CO-OP

Admission to Honours Psychology Co-op (BA or BSc) is at the 2B Winter level only.

Those admitted to Honours Psychology (Regular stream) Fall 2012 will have an opportunity in Nov 2012 to apply for admission to Honours Psych Co-op for Winter 2013.

Admission decisions for Honours Psych Co-op for Winter 2013 will be made after the Fall 2012 grades are available.

If accepted to Co-op, the first of four work terms will be Spring 2013. The search for a Co-op position for Spring 2013 and the interviews for positions will take place during the Winter 2013 school term.

Application procedures and admission criteria for Honours Psych Co-op.
If you are currently in Year One of Honours Life Science Co-op and seeking admission to Honours BSc Psych Co-op, also read FAQ I.

HONOURS PSYCH AND ARTS AND BUSINESS CO-OP

Admission to Arts and Business Co-op must be no later than the 2B Winter term.

If you are currently in Arts and Business Co-op or applying to switch from Arts and Business Regular to Co-op (or visa versa), please submit a Plan Modification Form to Susan Andrews in PAS 2439 by March 16, 2012 for Fall 2012 admission (Instructions regarding the possibility of Winter 2013 admission to Arts and Bus Coop are pending). Susan will make a photocopy of the form and forward the original to the appropriate Major Department(s) as soon as possible.

Career Planning and Studies Beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Develop distinctive skills, find employment, prepare for studies beyond the Bachelor's degree, etc.

Further Assistance

If you have any questions regarding the completion and submission of the application documents please contact:

Theresa Bauer
Psychology Undergraduate Program Assistant
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 36535
E-mail: tbauer@uwaterloo.ca

If you have questions that require the assistance of a Psychology Advisor, please contact one of the following people:

University of Waterloo and Renison University College Students:
Heather Smith
PAS 4006
Phone: 519-888-4566 ext 32819
E-mail hsmith@uwaterloo.ca
Booking an appointment

St. Jeromes University Students:
John Rempel
SJU Room 2018
Phone 519-884-8111 Ext 28212
E-mail:jrempel@uwaterloo.ca

 

Last updated April 26, 2012