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Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.

Steps to Apply

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Steps to Apply

Undergraduate AdmissionsGraduate Admissions

Psychology (BA)

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Study psychology to discover how personality, genetics, environmental factors, cultural differences and societal contexts influence the ways people think, feel and behave. Work one-on-one with faculty researchers or engage directly with the community to gain practical experience in psychology. Add a Forensic Psychology specialization and explore how psychology can help us better understand crime, criminals, victims and the law.

Looking ahead to a career in education? Apply to the Psychology with Teaching Option program.

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you’ll have access to in the Psychology program:

Check out the Psychology Experience and Career Guide.

 

2022 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

 

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

 

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2022

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time or part time      Duration: four years     Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term) or May (spring term)    
OUAC codes: UVD (Psychology); UVE (Psychology with Teaching Option)

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Details

Why Psychology at Brantford?

With our small class sizes and close-knit environment, you’ll get a unique educational experience at the Brantford campus. With lots of opportunities for field placements, you’ll receive practical experience in community settings like daycare centres, educational institutions, community centres and human-service agencies.

We also offer opportunities to get involved in current research projects with our faculty members, such as Associate Professor Danielle Law, who developed the Child and Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) Lab. Through CARE, students have the opportunity to participate in research projects, attend conferences, learn about different theories and research methods, and/or give talks and presentations to children, youth and the community.

Students can pursue their interests through Directed Studies research projects, like recent graduate Rebekah Woodburn. Under the supervision of Associate Professor Judy Eaton, Rebekah investigated what strategies undergraduate students used to deal with stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

You’ll graduate from our program with a solid grounding in psychological theory and experience working in the field. Your BA in Psychology, combined with the other benefits of a social science degree (critical thinking skills, communication skills, project management and analytical skills), will give you the qualifications that employers are looking for.

Forensic Psychology Specialization

We offer a direct-entry Forensic Psychology Specialization, which brings together the fields of psychology and criminology. It explores how psychology can help us better understand crime, criminals, victims and the law, asking questions such as: What are the best ways to assess, treat and manage criminal and antisocial behaviour? What makes a person fit to stand trial? How accurate is eyewitness testimony? How do juries make their decisions?

Our professors are engaged in research with real-life applications. Associate Professor Jennifer Lavoie has been working on improving police interactions with people in mental health crises. Check out her most recent virtual reality (VR) project to train police officers in mental health crisis support.

The Forensic Psychology Specialization is open to all Psychology students on our Brantford campus to add another dimension to their credentials. It includes the same courses as a traditional BA in Psychology, with additional specialized courses in forensic psychology and criminology. You'll get all the advantages of a psychology degree, but with an added focus on forensic psychology.

You’ll take introductory and advanced courses on forensic psychology from the Psychology department and forensic-related courses from Laurier’s Criminology department such as:

  • Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
  • Psychology of Crime
  • Offender Rehabilitation
  • Addiction and Crime
  • Forensic Psychology

Physical Forensics Minor

If you're interested in learning more about the biological science of DNA analysis, trace evidence, and toxicology, consider adding a minor in Physical Forensics to your Forensic Psychology Specialization.

Your Path to Medical School

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Get one step closer to your medical school dreams at Laurier!

Our pathway agreement with American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) means you’re automatically granted an admissions interview to the AUC School of Medicine if you meet all academic requirements. Upon graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to write exams to practice medicine in Canada, the UK or the United States.

Program Options and Courses

Teaching Option

Are you interested in a direct pathway to a Bachelor of Education?  

Laurier’s Psychology with Teaching Option consists of 4.0 credits: five core half-credit courses offered through the Faculty of Education, plus three elective half-credit courses from an approved list. The option is designed to provide students with a foundational course of study focusing on teaching.  

Students admitted into the Teaching Option pathway who successfully complete the option’s requirements have a chance at a guaranteed spot in Laurier’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program.  

Criteria for guaranteed admission to the BEd program of choice include:  

  • Meet all requirements of associated undergraduate program.  
  • Achieve a 10.5 GPA on the ten final full credits completed at Laurier.  
  • Complete all requirements of the Teaching Option.  
  • Satisfy all application requirements of the BEd program. 

Other Options and Specializations

You can also take the Forensic Specialization to study the role of psychology in the criminal justice system, including how it relates to crime, victims and the law.

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Sample First-Year Courses

  • Introduction to Psychology I
  • Introduction to Psychology II
  • Foundations for Community Engagement and Service

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Film and the Image
  • Human Rights and Human Diversity
  • Introduction to the Criminal Justice System

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Psychology of Exceptional Children, Youth and Adults
  • Introduction to Clinical Psychology
  • Positive Psychology

Similar Programs

Community Service-Learning

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Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with what you are learning in your classes. Placements are approximately 10 weeks and take place on a weekly basis from the second week of classes to the final week, typically for two hours per week.

CSL placements consist of volunteering at a local community service, such as a soup kitchen or a children's treatment centre. It’s a great way to apply classroom knowledge and gain practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, develop your network, and graduate with experience.

Interested? Learn more about Community Service-Learning.

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.

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"Courses combine learning in the classroom with real-world experience through a Community Service-Learning placement. Having the chance to experience in real life what I was learning in the classroom, for three different courses, was one of the highlights of my Laurier experience."

Sarah Martiniello, Psychology graduate

"While studying at the Brantford campus, I got to know all of my professors personally. I really enjoyed how approachable and friendly my professors were. I completed a research project and felt so supported to pursue my interests."

Emily Struthers, Psychology graduate

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
  • child/youth worker
  • clinical psychologist
  • disability services worker
  • lawyer/paralegal
  • program coordinator/manager
  • social policy researcher

A degree in Psychology already gives you lots of career options. The Forensic Psychology Specialization will expand your options to include forensic- and law-related jobs, such as:

  • child protection worker
  • corrections officer
  • mental health worker
  • forensic psychologist (with additional graduate training)

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.

Brantford Campus

The Brantford campus is woven into the downtown core of the City of Brantford and is home to more than 3,000 students. Close to great walking and biking trails, you get the best of both worlds.

There are many ways to tour our Brantford 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.

"I enjoyed the broad range of classes which allowed me to develop my interests in subjects I would not have normally enjoyed. And the Forensic Psychology stream consistently engaged and challenged me in the best possible way."

Colin Newstead, Psychology graduate

Interested in More Info?

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

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