The Department of Psychology offers opportunity for study leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. For information on the Bachelor of Arts, see Arts Psychology. For information on graduate degrees, see graduate Psychology.
Students who are entering second year and wish to pursue a Behavioural Neuroscience Major or Honours specialization, including students who have applied to enter the Faculty of Science and expect to have second-year standing upon admission, must apply using the online coordinated admissions process administered by the Faculty of Science. Students can check Workday to see if they are eligible to register as a second-year BSc student (and thus able to use the online coordinated admissions process) in June.
Students who are entering third year and wish to pursue a Behavioural Neuroscience specialization must apply online through the Department of Psychology’s website for admission in June.
Students registered in Behavioural Neuroscience specializations must take 6 credits of Faculty of Arts courses other than psychology. Science electives may not be psychology courses. All psychology courses numbered 60 to 89 in the last two digits have science credit. Students may not earn more than a combined 12 credits of Directed Studies in Psychology or Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC_V 340, 348, 388, 440, 448, and 488).
Co-operative Education Program in Behavioural Neuroscience
Co-operative Education is a process of education which integrates academic study with related and supervised work experience in co-operating employer organizations.
An optional Co-operative Education Program is available for students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specializations. The Program, which is intended to help prepare interested and qualified students for research careers in industry, university, or government settings, includes at least 16 months of work placement (i.e., at least four work terms) supervised by scientists in industrial, academic or governmental positions. Co-op advisors visit students at their place of work and provide advice on work term reports required of all students in the program. The four work terms are normally taken consecutively beginning in Summer Session after third year and ending in Summer Session after fourth year.
To be eligible, students must be in a Behavioural Neuroscience specialization, and they must have completed at least one academic term in this program. Admission is by application to the Science Co-op Office. Selection of students is based on academic performance and general suitability to the work environment, as determined by resumé and interview. The total enrolment is subject to the availability of appropriate work placements. The work placements are arranged by mutual agreement between students and employing organizations. Participating students register for PSYC_V 398, 399, 498, or 499, as appropriate, and pay the Cooperative Education program fee per course as well as Co-operative Education Program Fees.
Graduation in the Co-operative Education Program for Behavioural Neuroscience requires a student to complete PSYC_V 398, 399, 498, and 499, in addition to the normal academic requirements. Students may choose appropriate timing of their work terms, but some of the four work placements required should not be in the summer.
Detailed information on the program can be obtained from the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization advisors or from the Co-operative Education Program.
Specializations
Students interested in neuroscience should consider applying to the new Neuroscience specialization.
Major (3502): Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC)
| First Year1 | |
| Communication Requirement2 | 6 |
| BIOL_V 1113 or 1123 | 3 |
| BIOL_V 1213, 140 | 5 |
| CHEM_V 110 or 111 or 120 or 1214 | 4 |
| CHEM_V 123 or 1305 | 4 |
| MATH_V 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 1846)7 | 3 |
| MATH_V 101 or 103 or 105 (or 1216) | 3 |
| PHYS_V 106 or PHYS_V 107 or PHYS_V 117 or 1318 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 31 |
| Second Year | |
| CHEM_V 233, 235 | 4 |
| PSYC_V 101, 1021 | 6 |
| PSYC_V 270 | 3 |
| PSYC_V 277, 278 | 8 |
| Two from: BIOL_V 200,9 BIOL_V 201 (or BIOC_V 202), BIOL_V 204, BIOL_V 2056 | 6 |
| Electives4-7,10 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Third Year | |
| PSYC_V 300 or 301 | 3 |
| PSYC_V 370, 371 | 6 |
| 6 credits from one of the following three lists: | 6 |
| PSYC_V 302, 315, 319, 320, 322, 325, 412, 413, 414 | |
| PSYC_V 305, 307, 308, 321, 358, 403, 407, 408, 415, 418 | |
| PSYC_V 311, 314, 331, 350, 401, 402, 420 | |
| Electives10 | 14 |
| Total Credits | 29 |
| Fourth Year | |
| 12 credits from PSYC_V 348, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 388, 448, 460, 461, 462, 463, 466, 469, 472, 48810 | 12 |
| Electives9 | 18 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Credits for Degree | 120 |
| 1 PSYC_V 101 and 102 are recommended in first year if a student has credit for Biology 12 and Chemistry 12. | |
| 2 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement. | |
| 3 Students without Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL_V 111 as a prerequisite for BIOL_V 121. | |
| 4 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM_V 100. If a student takes either CHEM_V 100 or CHEM_V 120, they will have one additional elective credit. | |
| 5 If a student takes CHEM_V 130, they will have one additional elective credit. | |
| 6 Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH_V or more than 6 credits of second year BIOL should count these extra credits as electives and reduce the number of second year elective credits accordingly. | |
| 7 MATH_V 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by reducing the number of elective credits by 3. | |
| 8 Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS_V 100 before taking PHYS_V 106, 107, 117 or 131. | |
| 9 The preferred prerequisite for this course is BIOL_V 112, but students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization are allowed to register without it. | |
| 10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s: a) Foundational Requirement; b) Laboratory Science Requirement; c) Science Breadth Requirement; d) Science and Arts Requirements; e) Upper-level Requirement; f) General Degree Requirements. | |
| 11 No more than 6 credits of PSYC_V 348, 388, 448 or 488 can be used towards this 12-credit requirement. | |
Honours (3503): Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYC)
Admission to the Honours specialization requires at least a 76% average in second year and at least 80% in PSYC_V 277 and 278. Students failing to meet either of these criteria may petition for admittance into the program. All students enrolling in the Honours program must consult with the chair of the Psychology department’s Honours committee.
Graduation requires an average of at least 80% in 12 credits of Psychology courses numbered 300 or above.
In addition to meeting the Honours specialization course requirements, and the Faculty of Science Honours requirements, Honours candidates must maintain a minimum overall 68% average in each academic session.
| First Year1 | |
| Communication Requirement2 | 6 |
| BIOL_V 1113 or 1123 | 3 |
| BIOL_V 1213, 140 | 5 |
| CHEM_V 110 or 111 or 120 or 1214 | 4 |
| CHEM_V 123 or 1305 | 4 |
| MATH_V 100 or 102 or 104 (or 120 or 180 or 1846)7 | 3 |
| MATH_V 101 or 103 or 105 (or 1216) | 3 |
| PHYS_V 106 or 107 or 117 or 1318 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 31 |
| Second Year | |
| CHEM_V 233, 235 | 4 |
| PSYC_V 101, 1021 | 6 |
| PSYC_V 270 | 3 |
| PSYC_V 277, 278 | 8 |
| Two from: BIOL_V 2009, BIOL_V 201 (or BIOC_V 202), BIOL_V 204, BIOL_V 2056 | 6 |
| Electives4-7,10 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Third Year | |
| PSYC_V 312 | 3 |
| PSYC_V 349 | 6 |
| PSYC_V 370, 371 | 6 |
| PSYC_V 300 or 301 | 3 |
| 6 credits from one of the following three lists: | 6 |
| PSYC_V 311, 314, 331, 350, 401, 402, 420 | |
| PSYC_V 302, 315, 319, 320, 322, 325, 412, 413, 414 | |
| PSYC_V 305, 307, 308, 321, 358, 403, 407, 408, 415, 418 | |
| Electives10 | 11 |
| Total Credits | 35 |
| Fourth Year | |
| PSYC_V 449 | 6 |
| 12 credits from PSYC_V 348, 361, 363, 364, 365, 367, 368, 388, 448, 460, 461, 462, 463, 466, 469, 472, 48811 | 12 |
| Electives10 | 18 |
| Total Credits | 36 |
| Minimum Credits for Degree | 132 |
| 1 PSYC_V 101 and 102 are recommended in first year if a student has credit for Biology 12 and Chemistry 12. | |
| 2 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement. | |
| 3 Students without Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL_V 111 as a prerequisite for BIOL_V 121. | |
| 4 Students who do not have B.C. High School Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM_V 100. If a student takes either CHEM_V 100 or CHEM_V 120, they will have one additional elective credit. | |
| 5 If a student takes CHEM_V 130, they will have one additional elective credit. | |
| 6 Students taking more than 6 credits of first year MATH_V or more than 6 credits of second year BIOL should count these extra credits as electives and reduce the number of elective credits accordingly. | |
| 7 MATH_V 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed reducing the number of elective credits by 3. | |
| 8 Students without Physics 12 must take PHYS_V 100 before taking 106, 107, 117 or 131. | |
| 9 The preferred prerequisite for this course is BIOL_V 112, but students in the Behavioural Neuroscience specialization are allowed to register without it. | |
| 10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s: a) Foundational Requirement; b) Laboratory Science Requirement; c) Science Breadth Requirement; d) Science and Arts Requirements; e) Upper-level Requirement; f) General Degree Requirements. | |
| 11 No more than 6 credits of PSYC_V 348, 388, 448 or 488 can be used towards this 12-credit requirement. | |
Faculty of Science Departmental Guidelines for the Minor
B.Sc., Science Minor in Behavioural Neuroscience
Students interested in neuroscience should consider applying to the new Neuroscience specialization.
For a Behavioural Neuroscience minor, students are required to take PSYC_V 100 or both of PSYC_V 101 and 102, and at least 18 credits of 300- or 400-level psychology courses numbered 60 to 87 in the last two digits.
B.Sc., Arts Minor in Psychology
For a PSYC Arts minor, students are required to take PSYC_V 100 or both of PSYC_V 101 and PSYC_V 102; 6 credits of 200-level psychology, preferably PSYC_V 207 and 208 in second year; and at least 18 credits of 300-/400-level psychology courses, excluding PSYC_V 340, 348, 388, 440, 448, or 488.