Program
Pathways
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology (Hons.B.A.)
- Length:
- 4 years
- Required Credential:
- Completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including a grade of at least C in SOCPSY 1Z03 and successful completion of one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03, or SOCIOL 1Z03 (or SOCIOL 1A06 A/B). Completion of SOCIOL 1Z03 and one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03 is required by the end of the first term in Level II.
- Program Type:
- Course Based
- Program Options:
- Full-time, Part-time
Hons.B.A.Honours Bachelor of Arts in Social Psychology
How do people come to be who they are? How do people think about, influence and relate to one another? How do individuals experience their social realities? These are the broad questions that social psychology strives to answer. Among the themes that social psychology students explore are self-presentation and impression management, identity, emotions, social interaction, conformity and obedience, deviance and labeling, and collective action and social movements.
Since Social Psychology concerns the study of human behaviour, there are job opportunities for social psychology majors in virtually every type of employment setting, including educational institutions, non-profit organizations, corporations, government, and hospitals. Careers can include teaching, research, counselling (not just career counselling, but also mental health, crisis counselling etc.), occupational therapy, community organizing, management, human resources, labour relations, conflict resolution, marketing, policy analysis, strategic planning, correctional services, voluntary services, etc.
The Social Psychology Program provides preparation for professional programs. Graduates may be eligible for some interdisciplinary MA programs. Students must research the graduate school requirements and ensure that they include requisite courses in their program.
Requirements
120 units total (Levels I to IV), of which 48 units may be Level I
30 units
from
- the Level I program completed prior to admission to the program.
(See Admission)
3 units
from
6 units
3 units
9 units
from
- SOCPSY 2C03 - Social Psychology of Popular Culture
- SOCPSY 3A03 - Mental Health
- SOCPSY 3B03 - Understanding Lived Experiences
- SOCPSY 3C03 - Regimes of Social Control
- SOCPSY 3E03 - Big Ideas/Great Thinkers in Social Psychology
- SOCPSY 3F03 - Who Am I? Self and Identity
- SOCPSY 3L03 - Advanced Research Methods
- SOCPSY 3RR3 - Imprisonment
- SOCPSY 3ZZ3 - Small Worlds: Children and Childhood
6 units
3 units
from
- SOCPSY 4B03 - Special Topics in Social Psychology
- SOCPSY 4E03 - Special Topics in Social Psychology
- SOCPSY 4F03 - Social Psychology of Crime and the Media
- SOCPSY 4D03 - Contemporary Social Issues
- SOCPSY 4G03 - Child Clinical Psychology
- SOCPSY 4MM3 - Public Social Psychology
3 units
- from the Level 4 Course List
9 units
- Psychology from the Psychology - Sociology Course List
9 units
- Sociology from the Psychology - Sociology Course List
6 units
from
- the Multidisciplinary Course List of which at least three units must be from Level III
30 units
- Electives
Enrolment in this program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection is based on academic achievement but requires, as a minimum, completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including a grade of at least C in SOCPSY 1Z03 and successful completion of one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03, or SOCIOL 1Z03 (or SOCIOL 1A06 A/B). Completion of SOCIOL 1Z03 and one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03 is required by the end of the first term in Level II. Completion of both requirements in Level I is strongly recommended. For continuation in the program, see the section on Minimum Requirements for Entering and Continuing in a Program Beyond Level I in the Faculty of Social Sciences Academic Regulations.
- Students must have completed both an introductory Psychology course (either PSYCH 1F03 and PSYCH 1X03) and an introductory Sociology course (SOCIOL 1Z03 (or SOCIOL 1A06 A/B)) by the end of the first term in Level II.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the prerequisites for any course they wish to take from the course lists.
- Students who wish to have a course not on the Multidisciplinary Course List count towards their multidisciplinary course requirement must first discuss it with an Academic Advisor and then obtain permission from the Social Psychology Program Director.
- Students considering a graduate program should consult a departmental advisor to plan a program of study that meets admission requirements for such programs. Additional courses may be required.
- This program does not normally provide the appropriate preparation for students to enter graduate studies in clinical psychology. Please refer to the Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (B.A.) program in this section of the calendar.
- Students may take a maximum of 12 units of Level IV courses.
- Social Psychology at McMaster encompasses a broad area. The program is flexible in that students are able to select from a wide range of courses those that interest them most. However, for those students who wish to give their studies a tighter focus, there are several thematic areas to consider in making course selections.
- Students interested in a concentration in Psychology may complete the Minor in Psychology provided they do not have more than 6 units of Psychology courses above Level 1 overlapping with the Honours Social Psychology degree requirements.
- Students interested in a concentration in Sociology may complete the Minor in Sociology provided they do not have more than 6 units of Sociology courses above Level 1 overlapping with the Honours Social Psychology degree requirements.
- Students who take SOCPSY 3L03 are encouraged to take it before entry in SOCPSY 4ZZ6 A/B.
Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
All undergraduate students accepted for admission to McMaster University are automatically considered for a McMaster University entrance award. Additional entrance awards, in-course scholarships, bursaries and other forms of financial assistance is available to you at various stages of their undergraduate careers.
Each scholarship, bursary, Government Aid or Work Study Program a has its own unique application process and requirements. More information on financial aid visit the Student Financial Aid & Scholarship (SFAS) Office.
Academic Advising
The Academic Advising office is run through the Office of the Associate Dean. The primary goal of the Advising Office is to provide all Social Sciences undergraduate students with the information and guidance they need to succeed in their academic careers.
Advisors can help you make the right academic decisions by explaining policies and regulations as well as presenting different options and supports available in your studies.
An academic advisor can assist you with:
- Course requirements, dropping and adding courses
- Program selection, application and changes
- Studying abroad
- Transfer credits
- Petitions for missed term work, deferred examinations and special consideration
- Appeals procedures
- Referral to other campus services
Learn more about Academic Advising in the Social Sciences.
Psychology - Sociology Course List
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have successfully completed any prerequisite courses and are strongly encouraged to consult with an academic advisor in planning their course of studies.
- PSYCH 2AA3 - Child Development
- PSYCH 2AP3 - Abnormal Psychology: Fundamentals and Major Disorders
- PSYCH 2B03 - Personality
- PSYCH 2C03 - Social Psychology
- PSYCH 3AB3 - Adolescent Psychology
- PSYCH 3AC3 - Human Sexuality
- PSYCH 3AG3 - Aging
- PSYCH 3B03 - Special Populations
- PSYCH 3BA3 - Positive Psychology
- PSYCH 3CB3 - Attitudes and Persuasion
- PSYCH 3CC3 - Forensic Psychology
- PSYCH 3CD3
- PSYCH 3JJ3 - Socio-Emotional Development
- PSYCH 3MT3 - Psychometrics
- PSYCH 3WA3 - The Mind as a Work of Art
- SOCIOL 2BB3 - Sociology of Deviance
- SOCIOL 2C06 A/B
- SOCIOL 2CC3 - Constructing Deviance
- SOCIOL 2D06 A/B
- SOCIOL 2DD3 - Immigration and the Canadian Mosaic
- SOCIOL 2E06 A/B
- SOCIOL 2EE3 - Introduction to Indigenous-Settler Relations in Canada
- SOCIOL 2FF3 - The Sociology of ‘Race’ and Ethnicity
- SOCIOL 2HH3 - Sociology of Gender
- SOCIOL 2JJ3 - Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality
- SOCIOL 2PP3 - Sociology of Families
- SOCIOL 2Q06 A/B
- SOCIOL 2QQ3 - Dynamics and Transitions in Intimate Relationships and Families
- SOCIOL 2T03 - Sociology of Sport
- SOCIOL 2UU3 - Indigenous Ontologies and Ways of Knowing
- SOCIOL 2U06 A/B
- SOCIOL 3C03
- SOCIOL 3CC3 - Sociology of the Family and the Life Cycle
- SOCIOL 3G03 - Sociology of Health Care
- SOCIOL 3GG3 - Special Topics in the Sociology of Deviance
- SOCIOL 3HH3 - Sociology of Health
- SOCIOL 3KK3 - Genocide: Sociological and Political Perspectives
- SOCIOL 3NN3 - Popular Culture and Inequality
- SOCIOL 3U03 - Sociology of Sexualities
- SOCIOL 3X03 - Sociology of Aging
- SOCIOL 3Z03 - Ethnic Relations
Multidisciplinary Course List
- ANTHROP 2EE3 - Sport and/as Religion
- ANTHROP 2F03 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Listening Across Difference
- ANTHROP 2MA3 - Media, Art and Anthropology
- ANTHROP 2R03 - Religion, Magic and Witchcraft
- ANTHROP 3AR3 - Culture and Religion
- ANTHROP 3FA3 - Forensic Anthropology
- ANTHROP 3F03 - Anthropology and the ‘Other’
- ANTHROP 3GG3
- ANTHROP 3HE3
- ANTHROP 3HI3 - Medical Anthropology
- ANTHROP 3P03 - Doing Ethnography: Theory and Research Methods
- ANTHROP 3Y03 - Indigenous Community Health and Wellbeing
- CMTYENGA 2A03 - Foundations of Community Engagement
- ENVSOCTY 2HI3 - Health and Place
- ENVSOCTY 2EI3 - Environment & Society: Challenges and Solutions
- ENVSOCTY 2TS3 - Society and Space
- ENVSOCTY 2UI3 - The Urban Experience
- ENVSOCTY 3LT3 - Transportation Geography
- ENVSOCTY 3TG3 - Geographies of Globalization
- ENVSOCTY 3UP3 - Urban Planning
- ENVSOCTY 3UR3 - Urban Social Geography
- GEOG 2EI3
- GEOG 2HI3
- GEOG 2TS3
- GEOG 2UI3
- GEOG 3HH3
- GEOG 3HH3
- GEOG 3LT3
- GEOG 3TG3
- GEOG 3TP3
- GEOG 3UP3
- GEOG 3UR3
- GLOBALZN 3A03 - Globalization, Social Justice, and Human Rights
- HLTHAGE 2C03 - Health Economics and its Application to Health Policy
- HLTHAGE 2G03
- HLTHAGE 2GG3 - Mental Health and Society
- HLTHAGE 2M03 - Aging in Modern (and Post-Modern) Families
- HLTHAGE 3D03 - Perspectives on Disability, Chronic Illness and Aging
- HLTHAGE 3M03 - Approaches to Mental Health and Resilience
- HLTHAGE 3N03
- HLTHAGE 3T03 - Health and Incarceration
- HISTORY 3JJ3 - Crime, Criminal Justice and Punishment in Modern History
- HISTORY 3UA3 - The History of the Future
- HISTORY 3WW3 - Women in Canada and the U.S. from 1920
- HISTORY 3XX3 - Human Rights in History
- INDIGST 2A03 - Indigenous Peoples’ Spirituality
- INDIGST 2B03 - History of Indigenous Peoples’ Sovereignty
- INDIGST 2C03 - Current Issues in Indigenous Studies: Selected Topics
- INDIGST 2D03 - Traditional Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
- INDIGST 2F03 - Residential Schools in Canada: History and Impact
- INDIGST 2G03 - Indigenous Perspectives on Peace and Conflict
- INDIGST 2H03 - Indigenous Celebrity
- INDIGST 2J03 - Indigenous Experiential Education
- INDIGST 2K03 - Indigenous Futurisms and Wonderworks
- INDIGST 2M03 - Indigenous Research Methods and Ethics
- INDIGST 2MM3 - Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Theory
- INDIGST 3C03 - Study of Iroquois First Nations in Contemporary Times
- INDIGST 3CC3 - Contemporary Indigenous Societies: Selected Topics
- INDIGST 3D03 - Contemporary Native Literature in Canada
- INDIGST 3E03 - Contemporary Native Literature in the United States
- INDIGST 3EE3 - Indigenous Representations in Film
- INDIGST 3G03 - Indigenous Creative Arts and Drama: Selected Topics
- INDIGST 3H03 - Indigenous Medicine I: Philosophy
- INDIGST 3J03 - Government and Politics of Indigenous People
- INDIGST 3K03
- INDIGST 3N03 - Indigenous Women: Land, Rights, and Politics
- INDIGST 3P03 - Haudenosaunee Health, Diet and Traditional Botany
- INDIGST 3Q03 - Histories of Indigenous Sport and Recreation
- INDIGST 3R03 - Ogweho:weh Experiential Land-Based Learning
- INDIGST 3S03 - Other-than-Human Worlds and Relations
- INDIGST 3T03
- KINESIOL 3V03 - Sport Psychology
- LABRST 2C03
- LABRST 2E03
- LABRST 2G03 - Labour and Globalization
- LABRST 2J03 - Work and Racism
- LABRST 2K03
- LABRST 2M03 - Pop Culture, Media and Work
- LABRST 3D03 - Work: Dangerous to your Health?
- LABRST 3E03 - Gender, Sexuality and Work
- LABRST 3K03 - On the Move: Workers in a Global World
- LABRST 3L03 - Labour Policy and Advocacy
- MUSIC 2MT3 - Introduction to the Practice of Music Therapy
- PEACEST 2A03
- PEACEST 2C03
- PEACJUST 2A03 - Conflict Transformation: Theory and Practice
- PEACJUST 2C03 - Peace, Justice, and Popular Culture
- PHILOS 1B03 - Philosophy, Law and Society
- PHILOS 2TT3 - Ethical Issues in Communication
- PHILOS 2D03 - Bioethics
- PHILOS 2F03 - Philosophical Psychology
- PHILOS 2G03 - Social and Political Issues
- POLSCI 2C03 - Force and Fear, Crime and Punishment
- POLSCI 2F03 - Politics, Power and Influence in Canada
- POLSCI 2MN3 - Reel Politics
- POLSCI 2PF3 - Politics of Funny
- POLSCI 3BB3 - Political Communication: Canada and the World
- POLSCI 3FG3 - Public Service Leadership
- POLSCI 3G03 - Ethnicity and Multiculturalism: Theory and Practice
- POLSCI 3K03 - Migration and Citizenship: Canadian, Comparative and Global Perspectives
- POLSCI 3KK3 - Genocide: Sociological and Political Perspectives
- POLSCI 3CL3 - Constitutional and Public Law in Canada
- POLSCI 3Q03 - The Causes of War
- POLSCI 3RF3 - The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- POLSCI 3V03 - Gender and Politics
- RELIGST 2H03
- RELIGST 2HR3
- RELIGST 2J03
- RELIGST 2K03
- RELIGST 2M03
- RELIGST 2N03
- RELIGST 2QQ3
- RELIGST 2RB3
- RELIGST 2RD3
- RELIGST 2SP3
- RELIGST 2TT3
- RELIGST 2UD3
- RELIGST 2WW3
- RELIGST 2WX3
- RELIGST 3AR3
- RELIGST 3AU3
- RELIGST 3C03
- RELIGST 3EE3
- RELIGST 3F03
- RELIGST 3FF3
- RELIGST 3LL3
- RELIGST 3UU3
- RELIGST 3YO3
- RELIGST 3ZZ3
- SCAR 2HR3 - Humour and Religion
- SCAR 2J03 - Introduction to Judaism
- SCAR 2K03 - Introduction to Buddhism
- SCAR 2M03 - Death and Dying: Comparative Views
- SCAR 2N03 - Death and Dying: The Western Experience
- SCAR 2QQ3 - Cults, Conspiracies and Close Encounters
- SCAR 2RD3 - Religion and Diversity
- SCAR 2SP3 - Sport and/as Religion
- SCAR 2TT3 - Religion and Popular Culture in Contemporary Japan
- SCAR 2UD3 - Utopias, Dystopias
- SCAR 2WW3 - Health, Healing and Religion: Western Perspectives
- SCAR 2WX3 - Health, Healing and Religion: Comparative Views
- SCAR 3AR3 - Culture and Religion
- SCAR 3C03 - Islam in the Modern World
- SCAR 3EE3 - Sacred Journeys
- SCAR 3FF3 - Gender and Religion
- SCAR 3F03 - Approaches to the Study of Religion
- SCAR 3RB3 - Ethnicity, Race, and the Bible
- SCAR 3UU3 - Buddhism in East Asia
- SCAR 3Y03 - Love
- SCAR 3ZZ3 - Judaism in the Modern World
- SOCSCI 2CC3 - Children and Family in Canada
- SOCSCI 2O03 - Canadian Children
- SOCSCI 2P03 - Canadian Adolescents
- SOCWORK 3B03 - Transnational Lives in a Globalizing World
- SOCWORK 3C03 - Social Aspects of Health and Illness
- SOCWORK 3I03 - Social Work and Indigenous Peoples
- SOCWORK 3H03
- SOCWORK 3L03 - Violence: Social Justice Perspectives and Responses
- SOCWORK 3O03 - Social Work and Sexualities
- SOCWORK 3S03 - Social Work, Disability and Dis/Ableism
- SOCWORK 3T03 - Poverty and Homelessness
- THTRFLM 3PC3 - Performance and Community Engagement
Level 4 Course List
- ANTHROP 4D03 - Practicing Anthropology: Ethics, Theory, Engagement
- ENVSOCTY 4HD3 - Disability, Society and Environment
- ENVSOCTY 4HH3 - Environment and Health
- ENVSOCTY 4UD3 - Special Topics in Urban Planning
- GEOG 4HC3
- GEOG 4HD3
- GEOG 4HH3
- GEOG 4UD3
- GEOG 4UH3
- HLTHAGE 4B03 - Death and Dying in Later Life
- HLTHAGE 4H03 - History and Culture of Aging
- HLTHAGE 4I03 - Aging and Health
- HLTHAGE 4L03 - Social Policy and Aging
- HLTHAGE 4O03 - Soundscapes of Wellbeing in Popular Music
- HLTHAGE 4P03 - Leisure and Recreation in Later Life
- HLTHAGE 4R03 - Beyond the Social: Determinants of Indigenous Peoples Health
- HLTHAGE 4Q03 - Representations of Mental Illness
- HLTHAGE 4T03 - Gender, Sex and Health
- INDIGST 4B03 - Indigenous Literary Governance and Resistance
- LABRST 4F03 - Work and the Environment
- LABRST 4H03 - Working Precariously: Labour Strategies, Labour Renewal
- RELIGST 4SR3
- SOCPSY 4IS3 - Independent Research
- SOCPSY 4IS6 A/B - Independent Research
- SOCSCI 4ID3 - Addressing Social Problems Through Business, Engineering and the Social Sciences
- SOCWORK 4B03
- SOCWORK 4C03 - Critical Perspectives on Race, Racialization, Racism and Colonialism in Canadian Society
- SOCWORK 4I03
- SOCWORK 4J03 - Social Change: Social Movements and Advocacy
- SOCWORK 4Y03 - Critical Issues in Mental Health & Addiction: Mad & Critical Disability Studies Perspectives for SW
- SOCIOL 4A03 - Ethnic/Racial Tensions
- SOCIOL 4DD3 - Social Movements and Social Change
- SOCIOL 4E03 - Self and Identity
- SOCIOL 4EE3 - Selected Topics in the Sociology of Culture
- SOCIOL 4GG3 - Special Topics in the Sociology of Deviance
- SOCIOL 4R03 - Individual and Society
- SOCIOL 4RR3 - Indigenous Peoples and Canada
- SOCIOL 4SR3 - Topics in the Sociology of Religion
- SOCIOL 4UU3 - Global Family and Sexual Politics
- SOCIOL 4U03 - Special Topics in the Sociology of Women
- SOCIOL 4W03 - Social Problems
- SOCIOL 4XX3 - Sociology of At-Risk Youth
- For more information:
-
Honours Social Psychology Program
Kenneth Taylor Hall, Room 212
(905) 525-9140 ext. 22241
socpsy@mcmaster.ca
- Length:
- 4 years
- Required Credential:
- Completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including a grade of at least C in SOCPSY 1Z03 and successful completion of one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03, or SOCIOL 1Z03 (or SOCIOL 1A06 A/B). Completion of SOCIOL 1Z03 and one of PSYCH 1F03, PSYCH 1X03 is required by the end of the first term in Level II.
- Program Type:
- Course Based
- Program Options:
- Full-time, Part-time
- Typical Entry:
- September