Registration Advice for Second-Year Psyc Majors

Required coursesYou need at least a C- in all courses required for the Psyc majorBy the end of this year, you should have already completed Psyc

1013/1023, Psyc 2013/2023, and Statistics (usually Math 1213/1223), all with at least a C-If you didn’t get the C- in any of these, you will need to retake

themIntro Psyc is available on-line; Math 1223 and Psyc 2013/2023 will

be offered here this summer (enrolment permitting)Can transfer in from other institutions (though it is hard to find an

equivalent to Psyc 2013/2023 – St. Mary’s and U. of Calgary work)Once you retake a course, the more recent grade replaces the

original grade in all GPA calculationsNote you will have to take an extra course at some point (on-line,

summer course, or overload) to make up the course you’re behind

Breadth RequirementsBy the end of this year, ideally you should have already taken at

least one course from each of the following three groups, and received at least a C- Psyc 2113 (Abnormal) OR 2123 (Personality) Psyc 2133 (Physiological) OR 2143 (Cognition) OR 2173 (Sensory

Processes) Psyc 2103 (Social) OR 2153 (Developmental)

If you haven’t taken a course from any one of these groups yet, take it next year

If you didn’t get the C-, you can either retake the same course, or else take a different course from the same group (if you at least passed the first course)

If you retake the same course, your GPA improves more, but you are behind a course

If you take a different course from the same group, the first course counts as a Science elective (and does count towards your GPA), but you’re not behind a course

Other Psychology coursesStraight BA/B.Sc. Psyc major requires 18 hrs

additional Psyc courses, at least 12 hrs of which are at the 3000/4000 level, beyond the Psychology Core (Intro, Stats, RDA, Breadth)

Note you may already have some of these completed (e.g., if you took more courses than were required for Breadth this year)

Take whichever Psyc courses interest you, will help you in your career, and fit in your schedule

Other courses: Minors (Arts)Continue to take courses towards your minor

BA, 24 hrs (i.e., eight 3-hr or one-term courses; no more than 6 hrs at 1000-level)

Can be in any Arts subjectCan be a multidisciplinary minor; see here for a list:

http://arts.acadiau.ca/multidisciplinary-minors.html E.g., Environmental Studies; Legal Studies; Women and

Gender StudiesCan be in a Science or Professional Studies subject, but

only with permission of Dean of Arts, Dr. Robert Perrins, robert.perrins@acadiau.ca

You can still switch minors, but it’s getting late to get all the courses in, so make up your mind for sure for next year

Minors: ScienceMinors in Science are normally 15 hrs (i.e., five one-term

courses); no limit on 1000-level coursesCan be in any subject, or in the same multidisciplinary subjects

as Arts (but requires 18 hrs)May be reduced to 12 hrs if taking Honours, Neuroscience

Option, etc., with heavier requirementsNote: Minors in Kinesiology or Community Development,

require permission of Director of School (Dr. Rene Murphy; rene.murphy@acadiau.ca ); must have at least a 2.75 GPA. Will then sign you into courses you need .

Business, most courses restricted to their majors; talk to Dr. Ian Hutchinson (ian.hutchinson@acadiau.ca ) if want to pursue

Still pretty easy to switch if you’re not happy with your current minor

Note you don’t have to formally declare your minor; it’s just whatever you’ve taken the most courses in, next to your major

Other courses: ArtsIf you are an Arts major, try to complete your Arts

Core if you haven’t already done soRemember, 6 hrs English; 6 hrs language other than

English; 6 hrs Humanities; 6 hrs Social Sciences. 6 hrs Science is covered by your major

Beyond Psyc, your minor, and Arts Core requirements, can also continue to take general electives, in Arts or Sciences (or Professional Studies, but only to a maximum of 24 hrs)

Browse the listings; take whatever interests you, will help prepare you for your career, and fits your schedule

Other courses: SciencesIf you haven’t already done so, take 6 hrs in English OR a

second language OR a course with a large writing component (e.g., History, Philosophy, Comparative Religion, WGST)

Beyond that, be sure you’ve taken 6 more hrs in Arts, and then 6 more hrs in Arts OR Professional Studies (can be anything)

Should probably take some additional Science electives (can be anything)Total of 72 hrs in Science by time you graduate (including all

Psyc courses)You also have some additional open electives (can be

anything)Can switch from Arts to Science, or vice versa, at any time by

e-mailing Heather (heather.turner@acadiau.ca )

Do I want to do Honours?If you are planning to go on to graduate school in

Psychology, you will almost certainly require an Honours degree, so plan to try to take it

If you are planning to go on to graduate school in many other areas (e.g., social work, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, audiology), an honours degree is not essential, but it is helpful

Med school and law school don’t seem to care much, so it is optional for those, IF you’re positive that’s what you want to do. Our students report that it’s still helpful, so consider it

Does Honours affect my course choices?If you are planning on doing your Honours, make sure

you’re in the range to be qualifiedBy the end of the Fall term of your third year, you’ll need at

least a B- in all courses for your major; at least a 3.33 GPA overall

Take Psyc 3243 (Advanced Research Methods) for sure, and get at least a B-

Strongly recommend you take Psyc 3023 (Honours Sem)Take at least one third-year lab course (Advanced Social,

Advanced Developmental, maybe Health, Perception, Cognitive Neuroscience, or BIOL 3063 (Introductory Neuroscience))

Can take Psyc 4183 (History and Systems), but can also be left until fourth year if you prefer

More on HonoursIf, after Fall next year, you still want to, you can

apply to the Honours program (usually in early January)

You’ll name a few potential supervisors, so think about who you might want to work with. You can approach them in advance, but they likely won’t be able to commit

If you’re accepted, you’ll work with a supervisor throughout your fourth year on a thesis project

It is VERY helpful to be here over the summer, if you possibly can

Watch for the Honours information night in the fall, and Honours Sem will provide lots more information

Do I want to take one of the Options?The Neuroscience Option focuses on the study of the brain

and nervous system. Great preparation for graduate study in neuroscience, or further work in health sciences

The Applied Option focuses on applying psychological principles to manage human behaviour. Great preparation for further work in clinical, counselling, I/O, applied social, health, sport psyc, forensic, etc.

Remember, they are just Options; you don’t have to take either of them

If you do want to take one, and haven’t already done so, register for it through Heather (heather.turner@acadiau.ca ); send her your name, student ID, and which Option you want

If you change your mind, just let Heather know; it’s not permanent until you apply to graduate

Do the Options affect my course choices?Yes, most of the courses that count towards the Neuroscience

and Applied Options are at the 3000/4000 level. Choose most of your upper-year Psyc courses from the appropriate list

You may already have completed a fewYou must include at least one 3000-level lab-based course;

best to do in third year if you can. If the one you want is not offered next year, check with me for likely availability the following year

You can definitely take additional Psyc courses that don’t count towards the Option, if you can fit everything in your schedule

You can combine Honours and one of the Options, if you can fit it all in

Whenever you’re getting academic advising, be sure to tell the person advising you which Option you are pursuing

Double majorsIf you wish, can do a double major combination in most

subjects, with Psyc as either your first or second majorMost programs have slightly reduced requirements

when doing a double major, especially for the second major

A few combinations are not possible (e.g., Business is problematic), but most are fine

Get advising from both unitsOur most common double majors are with Biology and

Sociology, but Nutrition is new and interestingA bit late to start, but might still be possible, depending

on what you’ve already taken for your minor / electives

Additional advising info? Advising week will be March 10-14. There will be times

scheduled each day to come talk to a faculty member if you wish. Stop by Heather’s office (HOR 326) first to get a PACE sheet.

It is OPTIONAL to come during advising week; you will all be checked off as advised, and should be free to register whether or not you come to advising week

Actual registration begins March 18; most of you will be able to register March 19

Classes do fill up, so plan ahead and register as soon as you can Stay tuned to e-mail for additional info; e.g., we are pilot-testing

an on-line form to allow you to request a PACE printout, and electronic wait lists for courses

QUESTIONS???