Psychology Honours

Declaration Requirements

Students who wish to pursue this honours program are first declared to the major program and, once certain course work and grade requirements are met, then the student may apply for declaration to the honours program.

To apply to the honours program, students must complete the application form located on the SFU Psychology website.

Application deadline: June 1.

Note that applicants who meet the minimum declared requirements are not assured of program declaration. Declaration decisions are based on the student’s academic record, potential, and suitability for the program as assessed by a review of the application.

To be declared to this program, students must have the following

• Declared into the psychology major
• Completion of 75 units with a minimum CGPA of 3.33
• Completion of 15 SFU psychology units with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Completion of PSYC 300 and PSYC 301* with a minimum grade of B
• Approval and signature of a psychology faculty member willing to supervise the honours project
• Submit a brief outline of their planned project
• Tri-Council Ethics Certificate or the Animal Care Services training (depending on the nature of the project)

*If the applicant does not have PSYC 301 completed before the application deadline, the following additional requirements must be met

• The applicant must have a letter from their supervisor acknowledging that the student will be completing PSYC 301 in the fall term, that if the student fails to achieve a minimum grade of B, he or she will be withdrawn from the honours program, and indicating agreement to supervise the student under these conditions
• Have a UDGPA of at least 3.67
• Enroll in PSYC 301 in the fall term concurrent with PSYC 490

Note that students are not guaranteed declaration to the honours program. If denied, the student can appeal through the Psychology Undergraduate Steering Committee. Appealing students would submit the following two documents to the undergraduate advisor within the two weeks of receiving the rejection letter

• a letter of appeal
• a letter of support from your supervisor

Continuation Requirements

To maintain enrollment in the honours program, the student must meet the following requirements

• Maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA for all courses taken each term
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA for all Psychology courses taken each term
• Complete PSYC 301 with a minimum grade of B
• Satisfactory attendance at the graduate research seminar in the appropriate graduate area while enrolled in PSYC 490/499
• Continuing permission of the primary honours supervisor

Students who do not meet the requirements may be withdrawn from the program, but may apply for declaration to the program the following year.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete all of

and one course from the following group A courses

and one course from the following group B courses

and a minimum of one additional course from either group A or group B (see above).

* with a final course grade of C (2.0) or better

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 60 upper division units, of which 50 upper division Psychology units with a minimum psychology cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and psychology upper division CGPA of 3.0 (calculated on Simon Fraser University PSYC courses only). These units must include

* required for program declaration

** together comprise the honours project and are completed only after completion of 90 units, with at least 20 units in upper division psychology courses

No more than nine Research Engagement or Directed Studies units may be applied to this program. No more than nine PSYC Field School units may be applied to this program.

Research Engagement Course

Enrollment enables an individual to work with psychological research in consultation with the supervising instructor.

The minimum requirement is completion of the Tri-council ethics certificate, PSYC 201, 60 units, an upper division GPA of at least 2.5, and departmental permission. Research Engagement students complete an application form from the SFU Psychology website with the intended instructor. This course can be repeated for additional credit with the same or different instructor.

Directed Studies Courses

Enrollment enables an individual or small group to work with a faculty member on a reading or research project of mutual interest.

The minimum requirement is an upper division GPA of at least 3.00, at least 60 units and department permission. Directed studies students complete an application form from the SFU Psychology website with the intended instructor. Each Directed Studies course must be with a different instructor.

Letters of Permission

See Courses at Other Institutions/Letters of Permission for information. The department does not normally approve letters of permission for enrolled Simon Fraser University students to complete PSYC 201, 210 and 301 at a different institution. Such permission may be granted for other courses. Enquire of the psychology undergraduate advisor.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours Degree Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) honours programs, students complete at least 120 units, which includes

• at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
• satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
• students complete at least 60 upper division units, which must include at least 48 units in upper division courses in a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program; no more than 15 upper division units that have been transferred from another institution can be used toward this requirement
• at least 60 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
• students complete lower division requirements for at least one Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences honours program
• students are required to achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0, and an honours program CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 3.0

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

• At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
• At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.