Why Study Psychology?
Why do people do what they do? This is the fundamental question that the discipline of psychology attempts to answer. The specific topics that psychologists study can be as diverse as forgiveness, eyewitness testimony, and human sexuality. Given such diversity, it is not surprising that psychology has become a popular field of study for many undergraduates.
At a basic level, psychology students come to understand and appreciate the many factors that influence and motivate human behaviour. Psychology students develop a number of valuable skill-sets, including the ability to formulate evidence-based arguments, critically evaluate research findings, and identify important ethical issues. Such skills are highly valued by employers in both the public and private sector.
Arts Degree or Science Degree?
Psychology is unique in that it is considered both an arts discipline (covering such topics as social psychology and personality) and a science discipline (covering such topics as visual perception and the neurological processes involved in memory formation). Students in both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science programs at MacEwan are able to complete a major or minor in psychology. If you are interested in psychology you should look closely at each program to determine which degree will be best for you.
Of particular interest to BA students is the fact that we offer several courses in the area of clinical psychology and assessment. The Field Placement in Clinical Psychology provides an opportunity for students to gain relevant practical experience in a mental health setting.
Honours in Psychology
In the Bachelor of Arts program we also offer an Honours degree in psychology. It provides students with the opportunity for more intensive training in the discipline than can normally be achieved in the majors program. It is a rigorous program with high standards, and is suitable for students with a high level of academic achievement and potential. It culminates in a full-year course in which the student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts an empirical research project, resulting in an honours thesis and formal presentation of research findings.
The course list identifies approved courses that MacEwan may offer. Not all courses will be offered every year and some courses are restricted to particular programs. Contact an advisor in your program for information on course availability.
Research Participation
For students of PSYC 104 and PSYC 105, the opportunity to participate in a psychology research study is an exciting hands-on way to learn about psychological principles and methods of research. As part of your course work, you will be able to serve as a participant in both on-line and in-person research studies being conducted by faculty and upper-level students from the Department of Psychology.
- Download Research Participation Instructions
- Sign-up for an account on the MacEwan Psychology Research website at: http://grantmacewan.sona-systems.com
If you have any questions or need help, please contact:
Trudith Ohki, Research Participation Coordinator
Room 6-368, City Centre Campus • 9:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. weekdays
psychologyresearch@macewan.ca
Please include your full name and use your student@mymail.macewan.ca email address for any communications.
Field Placement in Clinical Psychology
Are you interested in knowing what a clinical psychologist does? Are you looking to gain some field experience in a clinical setting? If you have taken PSYC-212 and PSYC-339, then this opportunity may be of interest to you. The Department of Psychology offers a field placement course in both Fall and Winter terms. A complete course description and course prerequisites are listed under PSYC 439.
There are only 4 to 5 field placements available per term, and therefore interested and eligible students are asked to complete an application for the course. Applications and brochures are available from the Department of Psychology. The deadline to apply for the fall term is typically in April of the same year and for the winter term the deadline is in October.
For more information contact:
Dr. Lori Harper • psychologyplacement@macewan.ca
Fall 2012
PSYC 406 - Advanced Experimental Psychology
The Psychology of Hearing
TR 8 – 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Tara Vongpaisal
PSYC 449 - Topics in Social Psychology
Injustice, Inequality, and Collective Protest
TR 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Dr, Craig Blatz
Winter 2013
PSYC 405 - Special Topics in Psychology
Pseudoscience, Psychology, and Critical Thinking
TR 8 – 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Rodney Schmaltz
PSYC 437 - Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
Deception Detection
TR 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Dr. Kristine Peace
PSYC 467 - Special Topics in Perception
Neuroscience of Music
TR 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Dr. Nicole Anderson
Planning your Major or Minor in Psychology
Planning sheets list the specific course requirements for each major and minor in a particular academic year. These requirements can change. The courses you must take to graduate will be determined by the requirements in effect in the year you declare your major or minor.
- Major in arts psychology (2012/2013)
- Minor in arts psychology (2012/2013)
If you declared prior to March 17, 2012, please visit the Bachelor of Arts current student page for archived planning sheets. Use the planning sheets in conjunction with the BA program planner.
Which statistics courses satisfy the requirements for psychology majors?
Psychology majors must take either STAT 151, STAT 152 or STAT 141. STAT 151 and STAT 152 are preferred because they contain a lab component. All three courses cover the same topics in lectures.
STAT 151 requires Math 30 Pure as a prerequisite. STAT 152 and STAT 141 may be taken without Math 30 Pure if students pass the Statistics Gateway Exam. This exam is administered several times a year by MacEwan's Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Students can only take the Statistics Gateway Exam once. If they fail it, then must get Math 30 Pure through upgrading via the Preparation for University and College program.
Students who have already taken Sociology 210 or a different statistics course at another university should contact the Chair of Psychology to determine if the course will be accepted as an equivalent to STAT 151.
Planning your BA (Honours) in Psychology
You can apply to the Honours psychology program after you have completed a minimum of 45 credits (including at least six credits in senior-level psychology courses). Normally, students will apply to the Honours program at the end of their second year, and will be expected to have already completed a number of their 200-level course requirements. We recommend that students complete PSYC 212 prior to applying to the Honours program.
You must have declared psychology as your major prior to applying to the Honours program. You will also declare a minor at this time, but if you are selected for the Honours program, you will not complete a minor.
You must have completed at least 24 credits in the past 12 months and you must have a cumulative program GPA of 3.0 (all courses) and a minimum GPA of 3.3 calculated on your senior-level psychology courses (above the 100 level). You should be aware that these averages must be maintained each year in order to remain within the Honours program.
You should contact the Honours Advisor regarding the requirements of the Honours degree, and to discuss your eligibility for the program.
- Honours in psychology (2012/2013)
Use the honours planning sheet in conjunction with the BA Honours program planner.
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Department of Psychology
Room 6-329, City Centre Campus
10700 – 104 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2
Phone: 780-497-5305
Fax: 780-497-5308
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4:30 p.m.
Allison Mallon, Administrative Assistant
Room 6-329, City Centre Campus
780-497-5305 • mallona2@macewan.ca
Michelle Pollard, Instructional Assistant

Room 6-323E, City Centre Campus
780-497-5325 • pollardm@macewan.ca
Dr. Melike Schalomon, Chair
Room 6-323B, City Centre Campus
780-497-5331 • schalomonm@macewan.ca
Dr. Lori Harper, Clinical Field Placement Coordinator
Room 6-323C, City Centre Campus

780-497-5320 • PsychologyPlacement@macewan.ca
Trudi Ohki, Research Participation Coordinator
Room 6-368, City Centre Campus

780-497-4569 • ohkit@macewan.ca
Discipline Advisors
For general questions about our psychology program or the BA in psychology, please contact:
Dr. Melike Schalomon, Chair
Room 6-323B, City Centre Campus
780-497-5331 • schalomonm@macewan.ca
If you are already a MacEwan student and would like to know more about the psychology courses we offer, the psychology honours program, or would like to declare psychology as your major or minor, please contact one of our discipline advisors.
Dr. Tara Vongpaisal, Discipline Advisor (Arts)
Room 6-382, City Centre Campus
780-633-3309 • vongpaisalt@macewan.ca
Dr. Shannon Digweed, Discipline Advisor (Science)
Room 6-323B, City Centre Campus
780-633-3301 • digweeds2@macewan.ca
Dr. Kristine Peace, Honours Advisor
Room 6-329H, City Centre Campus
780-633-3651 • peacek@macewan.ca
