StudyCanada guide · reviewed October 2026
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Psychology: Gateway to Your Future
Recent studies in Canada and the US have shown psychology to be the most popular university major. Employers in many fields hire psychology graduates for their understanding of human behaviour; their experience in doing thorough, objective research, analyzing findings and presenting results clearly; and perhaps most importantly, their knowledge that psychology graduates have learned how to learn.
There are over 50 areas of specialization in psychology,
such as:
-
Counselling Psychology – how people solve problems and cope with stress
- Developmental Psychology – how humans develop throughout life
- Forensic Psychology – understanding and responding to criminal behaviour
- Human Factors Psychology – how humans interact with non-human systems, like computers
- Industrial / Organizational Psychology – how humans interact at work
- Rehabilitation Psychology – how humans cope with disability and loss
- Sports Psychology – how psychology influences sports behaviours and outcomes
- Developmental Psychology – how humans develop throughout life
Employment potential for psychology graduates is almost endless. Psychology majors can be found in health care, social services, education, labour relations, immigration, law enforcement and justice, the military, business administration, sales and marketing, public relations, human resources, government research, technical writing, community recreation, elite sports, computer sciences and engineering.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology can also prepare you for advanced study in many fields. Schools of law, medicine, physiotherapy, chiropractic, social work, education, business, engineering and computer science all welcome psychology majors. Obtaining a master’s degree in psychology allows you to refer to yourself as "a psychologist" and work in counselling or teach at a college. It is also a necessary stepping stone to a PhD, which provides doctoral psychologists with full recognition as health care professionals, university professors and top-flight researchers.
Most Canadian universities, from the Pacific coast to the prairies, from Ontario to Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology. Many post-secondary institutions also offer associate arts degrees in psychology, or introductory psychology courses tailored to the needs of international students, which can lead to university degree programs.
Are you curious about why humans do what we do, and how we can do it better? Do you look forward to life-long learning? Are you eager for opportunities to work with people across the life span and the full spectrum of life’s activities? Studying psychology in Canada may be the gateway to your future.
| School | Program |
|
Adler School of Professional Psychology |
- Doctorate and Master's Degree Programs |
| Carleton University | - Department of Psychology |
| Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning |
Post-Secondary - Child and Youth Worker Advanced Diploma, three years School of Social & Community Services - Developmental Services Worker Diploma, two years School of Social & Community Services - Social Service Worker Diploma, two years School of Social & Community Services Postgraduate - Developmental Services Worker - Accelerated Ontario Graduate Diploma, three consecutive semesters School of Social & Community Services - Early Childhood Education - Advanced Studies in Special Needs Ontario Graduate Certificate, one year School of Health Sciences |
| North Island College International | - Universities Studies One or two years of fully transferable courses to UBC and Uvic at more affordable tuition and small class sizes |
| University of Lethbridge | - Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) - Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) |
| University of Waterloo | - Psychology, Faculty of Arts Types of Psychology degrees available through the Faculty of Arts: - Three Year General Psychology - Four Year General Psychology - Honours Psychology* - Honours (also Joint Honours) Psychology and Arts & Business* - Joint Honours Psychology* *This program is available through both the regular and co-op systems of study - Psychology, Faculty of Science Types of Psychology degrees available through the Faculty of Science: - Honours Psychology* - Joint Honours Psychology* *This program is available through both the regular and co-op systems of study - Psychology Minor Students enrolled in Honours or Four-Year General Majors in the Faculty of Arts, or in Honours Majors in other Faculties, may pursue a Minor designation in Psychology. - Graduate programs in Psychology - Masters of Applied Science - One-year MASc Program in Developmental Communication Science - Two-year MASc Program in Health Psychology - Two-year MASc Program in Industrial / Organizational Psychology - Masters Program - PhD Program |
| Vancouver Island University |
- Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Sciences |