Hello,

I'd just like an input with BA Psychology and Honours Psychology...

I've been to McMaster's Undergrad Calendar. There's a big difference with the courses each take, not to mention that BA Psych is only 3 years while Honours is 4.

I'm currently in high school still, grade 11 but was wondering about the difference between the two. I've searched other universities but I'm just curious about McMaster's. It seems that Honours is harder (it's obvious I know -__-) I'm really more concerned about employment, I've heard that Honours is more research based and the bachelor is more for application... like actually dealing with people? Also in terms of employment are Honours grads that much more better off? It seems the BA psych isn't quite in par with its Honours counterpart, especially being 3 years... you can't continue to get a masters with that right? :/ Also, how many in general get accepted to Honours?

Thanks for any and all input. I'm just trying to think ahead about my future.

There shouldn't be that big of a difference between BA and Honours BA, except that the latter is four years and has more courses as a result.

I hope you are not confusing the two streams...there is a science psych program and a socsci psych program, which are actually fairly different.

As for employment, I don't think you could say one degree is better than the other. Nowadays, degrees are fairly equal; it's more so the experiences you get and the courses you choose that make you stand out.

If you are thinking about getting a masters, however, an honours would give you the opportunity to conduct research in the form of a senior thesis, which would definitely be advantageous. However, I know that the psych program also provides various research opportunities through courses other than the thesis. It is really helpful to have research experience before entering a grad program though.

Acceptance into honours is pretty normal for honours programs I think...sorry I don't have numbers, but as long as you can achieve the GPA requirement you should be good...

Hi, and welcome to MacInsiders!

Some info: You can do Psych either through Social Sciences (a BA) or through Science (a BSc). Both have a non Honours stream, and an Honours stream. In both cases the non Honours stream is 3 years, and the honours stream is 4 years.

The BSc obviously focuses a bit more on the science components of psych, and is more geared towards research. I don't know that much about how the BA compares to the BSc, you might need to talk to someone doing the BA.

I also believe that the requirements for actually practising as a psychologist require you to get a Masters now, which you will need an Honours degree for. So if you're only doing the non-honours, your career options are a bit more limited in the sense that you no longer can attempt any of the careers that require a masters. But between an Honours BA and a non-honours BA, there isn't much difference. I would recommend trying to do the honours, but that's just me.

The Honours program is more science and research based while the 3 year is more with the human interaction as you said. However, if you are interested in less science and researched based psychology, the faculty of Social Sciences is starting a new Honours BA Social Psychology degree offered next year. You take a mix of psychology, sociology and other courses offered in SocSci:

http://www.socsci.mcmaster.c a/documents/Social_Psych.pdf so it's kind of like an honours program dealing more with the 3 year psych material.

At the moment I was going to go for simply just the 3 year BA and do a minor in computer science, because I can't decide between psychology and computers. Now I may just go with an Honours program.

Thanks A.Marlowe and nh999 for answering my questions, especially for clarifying about the Masters, I was aware that a BA is a bit limiting, I just had to make sure for myself by asking here. Also, thanks jamescw1234 for pointing out about Honours BA Social Psychology, I did not know about that. I'll look into it.