Psychology at Ontario Tech University
What is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour in humans and animals. Psychologists study the processes by which behaviour is acquired, maintained, and developed through adaptive interaction with the physical and social aspects of the environment. As a discipline, it covers a wide range of subjects including cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, social influence, treatment in forensic settings, development, and clinical psychology.
Studying psychology at the undergraduate level will introduce you to the fundamental principles of psychology, the various fields within psychology, and the methods used in psychological research.
Some specialized courses available to Ontario Tech undergraduates include: personality psychology, social affective neuroscience, thinking and decision making, and developmental psychopathology. Many third and fourth year students also enrol in directed laboratory research and the honours thesis, where they acquire first-hand experience in psychological research.
Why study Psychology at Ontario Tech University?
Improving the lives of humans and the planet through the ethical application of technology is a key component of our teaching and learning practices at Ontario Tech University. Studying psychology at Ontario Tech grants students with unique experiential learning opportunities at a striving new institution within a rapidly-developing region of the Greater Toronto Area. We consistently demonstrate that we can perform alongside the leading competitors in rankings, competitions, research, and more.
An education in psychology will provide students with the knowledge and skills directly relevant to a diverse array of careers. Students in psychology will not only gain a foundational education in psychological principles but also develop critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills, formalized training in research methods and statistics, and an appreciation for the ethical and judicial treatment of persons.
Some of the skills gained from studying psychology include:
- Knowledge of human behaviour and mental processes
- How to design research studies and analyze data using statistical tests
- Oral and written communication to prepare and present reports from research
- Resource and time management
- How to critically evaluate scientific journal articles
- Critical and inferential thinking to analyze and interpret information
Which of the Psychology programs at Ontario Tech is right for you?
As an academic discipline, psychology crosses the boundaries between the natural and social sciences; that’s why we offer both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree programs in Psychology. As you many know, OTU also runs a very successful BA degree program in Forensic Psychology. And so you may have some questions about the difference between the Psychology and the Forensic Psychology programs. We'll try to break it down for you as clearly as possible, to help you make the best decision for your own educational goals.
There are three key differences between the Psychology and Forensic Psychology programs at OTU:
1. The General Psychology program offers more varied course offerings that may be advantageous for students who hold a broader range of interests and career aspirations.
Both the General and Forensic Psychology programs at OTU include the necessary courses to give students the foundational knowledge to succeed. However, the General Psychology program offers more varied course offerings, including relevant courses from the Faculties of Science, Health Science, and Education. Thus, whereas students achieving a Forensic Psychology BA will be particularly well positioned for careers in forensic contexts (i.e. policing, corrections, substance abuse treatment), the General Psychology BA/BSc programs will have students well positioned for a broader array of educational and career aspirations, including social services, law, business, politics or medicine (and teacher's college, in the case of the BSc).
2. The General Psychology program offers both BA and BSc degrees; the Forensic Psychology program only offers a BA.
Students interested in social dynamics, personality, relationships, and culture will have the opportunity to achieve a BA degree that will prepare them for varied career paths in business, community development, advocacy, social work, security, human resources, marketing and communications. Students interested in the psychological, physiological and neural mechanisms underlying human behaviour will, in turn, have the opportunity to achieve a BSc degree, where their psychology courses will be complimented by relevant courses in Faculty of Science. The BSc degree program will prepare them for varied career paths in careers requiring math and natural sciences, including research and practice in medicine and health care.
3. The General Psychology programs (both BA and BSc) offer students the opportunity to achieve one of two specializations in either Developmental Psychological Science or Affective Science and Mental Health.
These specializations focus on important, cutting-edge subdisciplines of psychology, that help students achieve in-depth expertise in areas with direct relevance to many post-secondary and employment sectors. The specialization in Developmental Psychological Science provides in-depth knowledge into historical and contemporary trends regarding human development, from infancy and childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood and gerontology. The specialization in Affective Science and Mental Health provides targeted education into the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying emotion, and the manner in which these mechanisms contribute to mental health or mental illness.
Students interested in the Forensic Psychology (BA) degree program are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar for course descriptions and admission requirements. Be sure to select the correct year of study (year you started) from the dropdown menu in the top-right corner.