Psychology (BA)

Study psychology to discover how personality, genetics, environmental factors, cultural differences and societal contexts influence the ways people think, feel and behave. Explore ways to study psychology from the social sciences lens in the classroom and during co-op during this BA program.  

Add a specialized research stream or concentration to your degree and gain experience in fields related to psychology and leave feeling equipped with versatile skills for countless career paths. Laurier also offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Program Details

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:  

  • Award-Winning Faculty: Learn from national teaching fellows and top-notch researchers with national and international awards. Spend one-on-one and small group time with them and become part of a research team.
  • Customize Your Degree: Explore your interests and apply into a psychology stream at the end of your second year. 
  • Pathways to Med School: We prepare you for a clinical career in Canada. Laurier students apply to med school with a competitive edge and gain preferential status with internationally accredited medical schools, including the American University of the Caribbean and St. George’s University

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!):

  • Co-op: You can apply to co-op at the end of first year and complete work terms over the course of your degree. 
  • Community Service Learning: Support your community and put your learning into action through required Community Service-Learning courses.
  • Study Abroad: Broaden your horizons and enrich your academic experience by studying abroad for an academic term.
  • Explore Your Interests: Pair your BA with a career-focused option, such as Legal Studies, Management, or Leadership. 

Program Streams

Apply for one of the four available streams at the end of your second year.

Psychology (BA)

Offers you broad exposure to the major sub-fields of psychology, and prepares you for employment or graduate studies outside of psychology such as social work, teacher’s college, law school or speech language pathology.

Research Specialization

Offers you training in research skills, along with considerable in-depth exposure to at least two of the sub-fields of psychology. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate thesis in your fourth year. This stream will prepare you for employment or graduate study in psychology or other programs. 

Community Psychology

Community Psychology focuses on research, evaluation and action to improve community conditions that may influence individual health and well-being. A minor or specialization in Community Psychology will allow you to gain experience in working with community-based organizations to enhance their program and evaluation capacity.

Learn more about Community Psychology.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology focuses on how people change and develop over time and courses in Applied Developmental Psychology extend theory and research regarding human development to real world contexts. A minor or specialization in Applied Developmental Psychology will allow you to become aware of the connections between psychological theory and practice and to acquire tangible skills that can transfer directly to future professional, work, or educational environments.

Learn more about Developmental Psychology.

Courses, Options and Pathways

Courses

Program Options

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term)
  • OUAC codes: UHP; UMW (Psychology BA with Management Option)

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • academic advisor
  • addictions counsellor
  • child life specialist
  • disability services worker
  • lawyer/paralegal
  • social policy researcher
  • victims advocate

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Your Co-op Experience

Co-op is a way to integrate what you are learning in the classroom with practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, earn money, develop your network, and graduate with work experience.

You can apply for admission to co-op in your first year and may be eligible for an admission interview early in your second year. As a student in this program, you will be eligible to complete paid work terms lasting 12 to 16 weeks.

Interested? Learn more about co-op.

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98%employment rate for co‑op students – 2023 / 2024

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Waterloo Campus

The Waterloo campus is tucked into about one city block, so you’re steps away from your classes, food and your new favourite study spot.

There are many ways to tour our Waterloo campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?