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Psychology Undergraduate Studies

 

REQUESTS TO CHANGE THE ACADEMIC/WORK TERM SEQUENCE - INFORMATION FOR PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS

(This information is also relevant for those who are appealing for admission to Honours Psych Co-op.)

By graduation, those in the Co-op stream of study will have had 8 full-time school terms. In addition, those in Honours Psych (Departmental) Co-op will have 4 work terms whereas those in Honours Psych and Arts and Bus Co-op will have 4, 5, or 6 work terms depending on 'the calendar year of entry' and 'school term of entry' to the Co-op system of study.

'Prescribed' school/work sequence:

Requests to deviate from the school/work sequence 'prescribed' for the students’ academic plan at the point of admission to Co-op must be submitted for approval on the ‘Request for Academic/Work Term Sequence Change’ form. Please indicate on the form when your work terms and school terms will be and the reason for your request.

Examples of school/work sequence changes that would necessitate the submission of this form include the following requests: 

  • two consecutive work terms,
  • two consecutive school terms,
  • an off term (e.g., due to personal reasons such as illness or travel plans),
  • participation in exchange programs which overlaps 2 uWaterloo school terms,
  • to forgo a work term (if applicable in the case of an Arts and Business Co-op student who are eligible for more than 4 work terms - only 4 work terms are required),
  • a change in course load (see requirements and restrictions below) that would result in a change to the normal target for graduation (earlier or later target),
  • etc.  

If more space is required in the 'student comments' section of the form, please attach a memo.

The Psychology Undergraduate Advisor will also require from you a term-by-term list of the remaining courses that you will be taking for the degree (do the best you can and include requirements for all of your academic plans). Please do not include any unnecessary unspecified electives in the course plan in order to justify your request. If your course plan includes requirements for an academic plan which you are not currently enrolled in (e.g., Joint Honours or a Minor, Option, or Specialization), please attach a Plan Modification Form to request. If your course plan includes prerequisites for admission to programs following the Bachelor's degree, please include an explanation with the course plan.

Before drafting the course plan information, please review carefully your remaining degree requirements and all of the information on this website.

Please submit the 'Request for Academic/Work Term Sequence Change’ form and the course plan to the Psychology Advisor by email (or attachment to email). The Psychology Advisor will comment on your request and forward it for approval by your other Honours Academic Plan advisors (if applicable) as well as to the Co-op Advisor for your Faculty in the CECS Department (Shirley Thomson for Arts and Diane McKelvie for Science).

 

Course Load Requirements and Restrictions for Co-op Students

Full-time enrolment status (1.5 units or more in a given term) with regards to tuition charges (including incidental charges) is a separate issue from the full course load requirement for Co-op students.

Co-op students must maintain a full course load (defined as at least 2.5 units per school term) and follow the school/work sequence to which they have been assigned or as prescribed for their program (link provided at the top of this page). Co-op students are permitted to reduce their course load to 2.0 units in a given school term without formal approval if they will be making up the fifth course, for example, by taking a course (e.g., an online course) during the previous or next work term or taking 6 courses (3.0 units) instead of 5 in the previous or next school term. If for any reason a Co-op student wishes to reduce his/her course load to 1.5 units in a given school term, permission will be required from all of his/her academic advisors. Co-op students must not take fewer than 1.5 units during school terms in order to qualify for participation in the search for Co-op positions for the work term following the school term in question. 

Normally, Co-op students may not take more than 1 course (.5 units) during a work term.

Warnings Regarding 'Fast Tracking'

It isn't unusual for students in the Co-op stream of study to take 1 course during their work term (e.g., by distance education). Further, some Co-op students choose occasionally to take 6 courses (i.e., 3.0 units) instead of 5 in a given term. Note however, that the majority of Psychology majors in the Co-op stream of study cannot 'fast track' to complete their degree requirements earlier than the normal target for graduation.

It isn't possible for those in Honours Psychology (Departmental) Co-op to 'fast track'. These students are admitted to Co-op at the 2B level only which is the Winter term and must complete thereafter (i.e., after the 2B Winter term) 4 school terms (3A through 4B) plus 4 'successful' work terms with 4 'satisfactory' work-term reports. See 'Work Terms' below for further details.

The same details as noted above for Honours Psych Co-op are true for those in Honours Psych and Arts and Business who are admitted to Arts and Business Co-op at the 2B level which is the Winter term.

Those admitted to Honours Psych and Arts and Business Co-op at the 2A term (which is the Fall term) are typically eligible for 5 work terms (must complete at least 4 'successful' work terms with 4 'satisfactory' work-term reports). A student could with approval of relevant parties forgo work term 5. For example,

A) complete the degree requirements 4 months earlier than usual by forgoing work term 5 (i.e., do the 4A and 4B school terms back-to-back).

B) complete the degree requirements 8 months earlier than usual by giving up work term 5 and eliminating the official 4B school term. This plan would require that you take at least 5 extra courses between the 1A and 4A school terms (e.g., a 6th course during school terms, distance education courses on work terms). This plan is not condusive to doing an Honours Thesis in Psychology (Psych 499A/B/C - optional course). See 'Course Selection' below for further details regarding prerequisites etc. for Psych 499.

Before considering option A or B, please read carefully all of the details on this website as well as consider the opportunities (on-campus, with employers, etc.) for networking and personal development that you will be potentially forgoing by deviating from the normal school/work sequence for your academic plan.

Course Selection

When you develop your course plan, note the following information:

  • Psych 291 is offered Fall term only.

  • Psych 292 is offered Winter term only.

  • Psych 391 is offered Fall term only.

  • the Social Science Research Methods Courses (i.e., Psych 393, 395, 397, 399) are typically offered Fall term only.

  • typically 3 or 4 of the Natural Science Research Methods courses (i.e., Psych 392, 394, 396, 398) will be offered in the Winter term but only 1 or 2 in the Spring term (e.g., Psych 394 or 398).

  • Honours Thesis (optional course):
    For those planning to do an Honours Thesis (Psych 499A/B/C), you must complete Psych 391 and one of the Third Year Research Methods Courses (i.e., one of Psych 392-399, 483, 484) before enrolling in Psych 499A. An Honours degree in Psychology including an Honours Thesis is typically required for admission to graduate school in psychology.

    Details regarding Psych 499 including the prerequisites for enrolment and the application form for enrolment

None of the above courses are available by Distance Education.

Psychology course offering information for the coming year

Taking courses at other universities

Work Terms

  • according to the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), all work terms and work report requirements must be completed before the 4B school term. A reminder about the 4B classification rule is indicated on both the Request for Academic/Work Term Sequence Form and in the Co-op Student Manual. Note the following:

    • For those in Honours BA Psych Co-op or Honours Psych and Arts Bus Co-op:
      If at the start of the school term you have successfully completed 14.5-16.75 units, Quest will classify you as a 4A level student.  If at the start of the term you have successfully completed 17.0 or more units, Quest will classify you as a  4B level student. No work terms will be allowed after the 4B school term    If you wish to discuss these rules further, please speak to Linda Davis (Co-op Assistant Director for the Faculty of Arts, CECS Dept) and Samantha Murray (Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Arts). 

    • For those in Honours BSc Psych Co-op:
      You are doing at least 21.0 units instead of 20.0 units for the degree. If at the start of the school term you have successfully completed 15.5-17.75 units, Quest will classify you as a 4A level student.  If at the start of the term you have successfully completed 18.0 or more units, Quest will classify you as a  4B level student. No work terms will be allowed after the 4B school term.  If you wish to discuss these rules further, please speak to Richard Roach (Co-op Assistant Director for the Faculty of Arts, CECS Dept) and Gwen Graper (Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Science). 

  • you must end your school/work sequence with a school term.

    Notes to those who are reading this website because they are drafting an appeal for admission to Honours Psych Co-op:

    • An appeal to do a 'double work term' (e.g., work term 3 and 4 between the 4A and 4B school terms) in order to end the school/work sequence on a school term is typically not sufficient grounds for acceptance to Co-op.

    • Those who plan to justify their request for late admission to Honours Psych Co-op by requesting one or more additional full-time school terms [e.g.,5A or 5A/5B school terms) must demonstrate the necessity for the additional school term(s) via the course plan and the corresponding explanation submitted with the appeal (i.e., reasons other than an opportunity to take some extra/interesting unspecified electives). If your course plan includes requirements for an academic plan which you are not currently enrolled in (e.g., Joint Honours or a Minor, Option, or Specialization), please attach a Plan Modification Form to the appeal requesting admission to the appropriate academic plan(s). If your course plan includes prerequisites for admission to programs following the Bachelor's degree, please include this information in the explanation for the course plan.

  • you might have difficulties finding a co-op position for double work terms (e.g., if your co-op employer does not offer you an eighth month position, you will be required to find your own co-op position for the second of the two back-to-back work terms and no co-op fees will be waived).

  • no more than two Spring work terms are allowed.

  • a minimum of 4 work terms* are required for the degree and all must be classified by CECS as 'successfully completed'.

    NOTE:
    Those in Departmental Co-op have a maximum of 4 work terms*.
    Those in Arts and Business Co-op will have 6, 5, or 4 work terms depending on 'the calendar year of entry' and 'school term of entry' to the Co-op system of study.

    *Clarification May 20, 2009 - Honours Psychology and Arts and Business Co-op students who switch to Honours Psychology (Departmental) Co-op will have a maximum of 4 work terms before graduation regardless of whether or not they previously qualified for 5 or 6 work terms (which depends on the year/point of entry to Arts and Business Co-op) while in the Arts and Business Co-op plan.

  • some employers seek Co-op students (particularly senior students) who will be available for 2 work terms with their organization. Normally students are committed to returning for a second consecutive work term to the same employer if requested to do so by the employer (note this could be 2 two regularly scheduled work terms, or 2 back-to-back work terms referred to as a 'double work term'). Thus, the employer has the advantage of hiring a student who has already received some training in their organization and therefore, the employer can give the student progressively greater responsibility. Note however, that employers are not obligated to hire students back for a second work term.

    When searching for your final work term position, it is important that the interviewers are aware that you will not be available for another work term. This is particularly important for those who are eligible for 5 work terms (i.e., Arts and Bus Co-op who started Co-op in 2A Fall) but are only planning to do 4 work terms. We want to avoid misunderstandings with potential employers.

  • comments regarding course load restrictions during work terms are noted above.

  • requests to switch from the Co-op stream of study to the Regular stream of study after the fourth work term will not be granted.

  • Co-op fees are not refunded to students who do not obtain co-op positions or to those who find their own co-op positions. Further, those in Arts and Business Co-op who are eligible for more than 4 work terms but choose to only do 4 work terms, will still be required to pay Co-op fees through to the 4B school term.

  • Work-Term Report Requirements:

Professional Development Course Requirements

The following students are required to complete the Professional Development Courses:

  • Honours Psych Co-op (BA) - admitted to Co-op Winter 2008 or later
  • Honours Psych Co-op (BSc) - admitted to Co-op Winter 2009 or later
  • Honours Psych and Arts and Business Co-op (BA) - admitted to Co-op Fall 2006 and later

In addition to your remaining academic course requirements, please consider the timing for completing your Professional Development Course Requirements when developing your plan for the school/work sequence change.

Last updated April 27, 2012