Affective Science and Mental Health specialization (BSc)
What is the Affective Science and Mental Health specialization (BSc)?
Students will receive targeted education pertaining to the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying emotion, and the manner in which these mechanisms contribute to mental health or mental illness.
How do I apply?
Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic degree. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications. Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U), and two of Biology (SBI4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Chemistry (SCH4U) or Physics (SPH4U). To learn more about the admissions process and apply, visit our Undergraduate Admissions website.
Experiential Learning: Internships, Practicums, and Community Engagement
To learn more about the Affective Science and Mental Health specialization (BSc) program’s experiential learning opportunities (e.g., the practicum, the internship, and community engagement projects), check out the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities’ Experiential Learning Office.
What courses will I take?
Year 1 (30 credit hours)
BIOL 1010U – Biology I: Molecular and Cellular Systems
BIOL 1020U – Biology II: Diversity of Life and Principles of Ecology
CHEM 1010U – Chemistry I
CHEM 1020U – Chemistry II
PHY 1030U – Introductory Physics
PHY 1040U – Physics for Biosciences
MATH 1015U – Mathematics for Bioscience
PSYC 1000U – Introductory Psychology
SOCI 1000U – Introductory Sociology
One general elective***
Year 2 (30 credit hours)
Two general electives***
PSYC 2010U – Developmental Psychology
PSYC 2020U – Social Psychology
PSYC 2030U – Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 2050U – Brain and Behaviour
PSYC 2060U – Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 2900U – Research Methods in Psychology
PSYC 2910U – Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC 3060U – Personality Psychology
Year 3 (30 credit hours)
PSYC 3910U – Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
Four Psychology electives*
Two Science electives**
Three general electives***
Year 4 (30 credit hours)
One of:
PSYC 4110U – Honours Thesis in Psychology I or
Psychology elective*
One of:
PSYC 4120U – Honours Thesis in Psychology II or
Psychology elective*
One of:
SSCI 4098U – Practicum or
SSCI 4103U – Internship or
Psychology elective*
Three Psychology electives*
Four general electives***
Psychology electives*
Any non-required course with a PSYC 3XXX or 4XXX designation can count towards students' necessary Psychology electives.
Science electives**
Any non-required course run within the Faculty of Science that does not have a PSYC designation can count towards students' necessary Science electives.
General electives***
General Electives: Any non-required course in any faculty can count towards students' necessary general electives.
To achieve the Affective Science and Mental Health specialization (BSc), student will be required to complete five courses from the following list, three of which must come from List A.
List A:
PSYC 3065U – Emotion
PSYC 3090U – Social Affective Neuroscience
PSYC 3085U – Drugs and Behaviour
PSYC 3330U – Developmental Psychopathology
PSYC 3620U – Motivation and Emotion
List B:
FPSY 3055U – Treatment in Forensic Settings
FPSY 4820U – Selected Topics in Antisociality
HLSC 1811U – Social Determinants of Health
HLSC 3463U – Human Genetics in Society
HLSC 4821U – Exploring the Mind Body Connection: Wellness Promotion Strategies for Life
BIOL 3060U – Fundamentals of Neuroscience
BIOL 4820U – Neuropharmacology
