The mission of the Psychology Department at the University of Northern British Columbia is: "To develop and disseminate knowledge in psychology, emphasizing areas of relevance to the north, especially the understanding of human health, human development, and social well-being."

Welcome from the Chair

I am so pleased to welcome all of you—students, faculty, and staff—to the Department of Psychology at UNBC. Whether this is your first year with us or you’re returning, we’re excited to have you as part of our community.

In this department, I want to highlight the importance of connection and collaboration. Our department thrives when we work together, and we are committed to creating a space where students and faculty can engage meaningfully, support one another, and grow. Psychology is fundamentally about people and relationships, and we aim to reflect that in everything we do.

Our faculty bring a wide range of teaching and research interests, which makes our department unique. Faculty and student researchers here are studying diverse areas like physiology and behaviour, positive psychology, intercultural communication, ecological and conservation psychology, embodied cognition, and conceptual and language processing.

We’re also fortunate to have access to the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre here on the Prince George campus, providing national survey data that supports innovative research and opens doors for student involvement in impactful projects.

If you’re interested in learning more about our faculty’s research, you can visit the “Faculty and Staff” link on our website. To explore the courses in our undergraduate and graduate programs, check out the “Courses” link. And if graduate studies are on your radar, the “Graduate Admissions” link will provide all the details. You’re also welcome to reach out to us directly if you have any questions.

For students, I encourage you to make the most of your time here—connect with your professors, dive into research, and build strong relationships with your peers. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment to help you thrive. We are here to guide, inspire, and support you as you navigate your academic and personal journeys. Together, let’s build a community where everyone can succeed. By building connections, we strengthen our sense of community. Through collaboration, we unlock opportunities for growth and innovation. Together, we can make your time in this department truly impactful and meaningful for you.

Thank you for being part of this incredible department. I’m looking forward to all that we’ll accomplish together.

Student forms

Our programs

BSc Psychology

Psychology is the study of behaviour, feelings and thinking. Psychologists study the biopsychosocial and developmental mechanisms and processes that regulate the behaviour of individuals. The goal of the Department of Psychology is to provide advanced knowledge in the substantive areas of Psychology. In addition, the Department provides excellent training that enhances the student's competitiveness for advanced graduate study in Psychology and related areas. The total for the B.Sc. in Psychology (Major or Honours) is 122 credit hours. Note that Honours applications are due on the last day of exams of each term. (A Minor in Psychology is also available; see "Programs - Undergraduate" in the menu to the left.)

MSc Psychology

The MSc in Psychology at UNBC provides breadth in the substantive and methodological areas of Psychology, with a focus on health and human psychology. The MSc provides advanced research and experiential training so that graduates gain skills beneficial to academic and related areas.

PhD Psychology

In addition to the Graduate training goals of the MSc program, the objective of the PhD program in Psychology is to develop scholars and researchers who can contribute to the larger body of scientific knowledge of psychology through research and have an advanced level of understanding of the psychological sciences including comprehensive knowledge of contemporary theory and evidence in Psychology and a high level of methodological expertise.
 

Changes to the Psychology program

The changes to the program took effect as of the 2019/2020 calendar year. As students follow the academic calendar of the year they were admitted, students currently in the program will continue to follow the requirements listed in their calendar year.  You will find the requirements for your calendar year by running a degree evaluation through your myUNBC student account. Need help? You will find information on how to run a degree evaluation with Advising.

Did you know?

The official version of the UNBC Academic Calendar is always the PDF copy. You can find your calendar year the Academic Calendar archives.

Transfer credit is tied to when the coursework is completed. The BC Transfer Guide is a great resource to see how coursework transferred previously and updates to the transfer agreements.

Considering taking a class external to UNBC? Be sure to speak with your Student Advisor and complete a letter of permission (LOP) request as the transfer credit you are expecting may have changed significantly. Visit Advising for more information on the LOP process.

Concerned about a requirement for your calendar year that is not being offered? Be sure to check in with your Student Advisor to discuss course progression as well as any substitutions and/or provisions that are in place for your calendar year. 

Have a question about your degree evaluation? If you happen to see a requirement that doesn’t seem to belong (e.g. a 300-level course populating the requirement spot for a 200-level course); not to worry! Just bring it to the attention of your Student Advisor at your next appointment or via email and we can adjust it.

Other questions? Have you heard something from another student that concerns you? Please feel free to reach out to your Student Advisor or the Program Chair as they will be able to provide you with the most up to date information.