Academic Program Advisor: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca
The Specialist (Co-op) Program in Psychology is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that combines academic studies with paid work terms in the public, private, and/or non-profit sectors. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop the academic and professional skills required to pursue employment in these areas, or to continue on to graduate training in an academic field related to Psychology upon graduation.
In addition to their academic course requirements, students must successfully complete the additive Arts & Science Co-op Work Term and Course requirements.
Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. Admission will require:
(a.) completion of any Grade 12 U/M high school math course or equivalent (or successful completion of the UTSC Online Mathematics Preparedness Course or equivalent), and
(b.) completion of Grade 12 U/M high school biology or equivalent (or BIOA11H3 or equivalent), and
(c.) completion of a minimum of 4.0 credits, including 1.0 credit in Psychology, and
(d.) a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75, and
(e.) either (1) a final grade of 75% or higher in both PSYA01H3 and PSYA02H3, or (2) a final grade of 64% or higher in both PSYA01H3 and PSYA02H3, and a final grade of 72% or higher in [PSYB07H3 or equivalent] and PSYB70H3.
Current Co-op Students:
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt in their first year of study must request a Co-op Subject POSt on ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and must meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted above.
Students who have completed 10.0 credits or more, are not eligible to apply to the program.
Students currently enrolled in the Specialist Co-op Program in Mental Health Studies who have completed 10.0 credits or more, are not eligible to transfer to the Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology or vice-versa.
Prospective Co-op Students:
Prospective Co-op students (i.e., those not yet admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt) must submit a program request on ACORN, and meet the minimum qualifications noted above. Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in that student's application not being considered.
Academic Program Requirements
The program requires students to complete a total of 12.5 credits, including at least 4.0 credits at the C- or D-level, of which at 1.0 credit must be at the D-level:
1. Introduction to Psychology (1.0 credit)
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology
2. Laboratory Methods (1.5 credits)
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science
PSYC70H3 Advanced Research Methods Laboratory
and 0.5 credit from among the following:
PSYC71H3 Social Psychology Laboratory
PSYC72H3 Developmental Psychology Laboratory
PSYC74H3 Human Movement Laboratory
PSYC75H3 Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
PSYC76H3 Brain Imaging Laboratory
3. Statistical Methods (1.0 credit)
PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology
[PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology or PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology]
4. PSYC02H3 Scientific Communication in Psychology (0.5 credit)
5. PSYC85H3 History of Psychology (0.5 credit)
6. Breadth in Psychology at the B-level and C-level (5.0 credits)
Students are required to take 3.0 credits at the B-level or C-level from one of the two content groups listed below and 2.0 credits from the other group:
(a) Social and Developmental (courses listed in the 10- and 20-series)
(b) Perception, Cognition and Physiology (courses listed in the 50- and 60-series)
7. Seminars in Psychology at the D-level (1.0 credit)
All PSY D-level courses are considered "seminars", with the exception of PSYD98Y3. Students must take 0.5 credit from each grouping below:
(a) Social and Developmental (courses listed in the 10- and 20-series)
(b) Perception, Cognition and Physiology (courses listed in the 50- and 60-series)
8. Additional credits in Psychology at the B-level or higher (2.0 credits)
Of the 2.0 credits, at least 1.0 credit must be at the C-level. Supervised study [PSYC90H3 or PSYC93H3] or thesis [PSYD98Y3] courses may be used to fulfill a maximum of 0.5 credit.
Co-op Program Requirements
Students must satisfactorily complete Co-op work term(s) as follows: three 4-month work terms, one 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or one 12-month work term.
To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology and have completed at least 7.0 credits, achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and complete COPB50H3 and COPB51H3. It is recommended that PSYB07H3, PSYB70H3, and 1.0 additional PSY B-level credits be completed before the first work term, and PSYC02H3, [PSYC08H3 or PSYC09H3], and PSYC70H3 be completed before the second work term.
Students must be available for work terms in each of the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and must complete at least one of their required work terms in either a Fall or Winter semester. This requires that students take courses during at least one Summer semester.
Co-op Course Requirements
In addition to their academic program requirements, Co-op students complete the following Co-op specific courses as part of their degree:
- Co-op Preparation courses: COPB50H3 and COPB51H3 (completed in first year)
- Work Term Search courses: COPB52H3 (semester prior to first work term), COPC98H3 (semester prior to second work term), and COPC99H3 (semester prior to third work term)
- Co-op Work Term courses: COPC40H3 (each semester a student is on work term)
These courses are designed to prepare students for their job search and work term experience, and to maximize the benefits of their Co-op work terms. They must be completed in sequence, and fall into three categories: Co-op Preparation courses (COPB50H3 & COPB51H3) are completed in first year, and cover a variety of topics intended to assist students in developing the skills and tools required to secure a work term; Work Term Search Courses (COPB52H3, COPC98H3, & COPC99H3) are completed in the semester prior to each work term, and support students while competing for work terms that are appropriate to their program of study, as well as preparing students for the transition into and how to succeed the workplace; Co-op Work Term courses (COPC40H3) are completed during each semester that a student is on work term, and support students’ success while on work term, as well as connecting their academics and the workplace experience.
Co-op courses are taken in addition to a full course load. They are recorded on transcripts as credit/no credit (CR/NCR) and are considered to be additive credit to the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is assessed as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.
For information on fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.
