what can i do with my degree?

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is an incredibly versatile degree. There are many different paths you can take following your graduation. Below, we have highlighted some of these paths.

Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is the psychological specialty that provides continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals, couples, families, and groups; consultation to agencies and communities; training, education and supervision; and research-based practice. It is a specialty in breadth — one that addresses a wide range of mental and behavioral health problems — and marked by comprehensiveness and integration of knowledge and skill from a broad array of disciplines within and outside of psychology proper. The scope of clinical psychology encompasses all ages, multiple diversities, and varied systems. Find out more information about clinical psychology here.

The requirements to become a clinical psychologist in Canada vary from province to province, but in general, a Ph.D. in clinical psychology is considered to be the basic education requirement. To find out more about becoming a clinical psychologist in Canada, click here.

Requirements for entry into clinical psychology graduate programs vary from institution to institution, but entry is generally considered very competitive. You can find essential information about the University of Ottawa’s clinical psychology program here. Find the list of the Canadian Psychological Association’s accredited clinical psychology (and related) doctoral programs here.

Experimental Psychology

Experimental psychologists use empirical research methods to explore and better understand behavior. They are interested in exploring theoretical questions, often by creating a hypothesis and then setting out to prove or disprove it through experimentation. They study a wide range of behavioral topics among humans and animals, including sensation, perception, attention, memory, cognition and emotion. These psychologists work in a variety of settings, including universities, research centers, government agencies and private businesses. Find out more information about experimental psychology here.

Experimental psychology graduate programs are heavily research-based. They do not allow you to provide psychological services to clients, but rather to do psychological research at post-secondary institutions, or at other psychological research institutions. To find out more about becoming an experimental psychologist in Canada, click here.

Requirements for entry into experimental psychology graduate programs vary from institution to institution. You can find essential information about the University of Ottawa’s experimental psychology program here. A list of all experimental psychology graduate programs in Canada is available here.

Counselling Psychology

Counselling psychology is a broad specialization within professional psychology concerned with using psychological principles to enhance and promote the positive growth, well-being, and mental health of individuals, families, groups, and the broader community. Counselling psychologists work with many types of individuals, including those experiencing distress and difficulties associated with life events and transitions, decision-making, work/career/education, family and social relationships, and mental health and physical health concerns. The research and professional domain of counselling psychology overlaps with that of other professions such as clinical psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and mental health counselling. Find out more about counselling psychology here.

In order to become certified with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, you must hold a Master’s degree in counselling or a related professional field and meet the CCPA’s certification criteria. A list of all counselling psychology programs in Canada is available here.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and networks of sensory and motor nerve cells, called neurons, throughout the body. Neuroscience aims to understand how the nervous system works to produce and regulate emotion, thought, behavior, and critical bodily functions, including breathing and keeping the heart beating. Find out more information about neuroscience here.

Careers in neuroscience are generally research-based. There are different branches of neuroscience including medical neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, behavioural neuroscience, and more. Some neuroscience programs require a BSc, while others also accept applicants with a BA. A list of all neuroscience graduate programs in Canada is available here.

Medical School

Medical school programs are four years long, with the first two years being spent learning in a classroom setting, and the last two learning in a hospital setting. Medical school prepares students to become medical doctors. Doctors provide essential medical care, prescribe medication, perform surgeries, and offer preventative measures to help people maintain their health. They also conduct research, educate patients and the public, and work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.

Admission to medical school varies from institution to institution. Some programs require specific courses (in biology, organic chemistry, etc.), while others do not. Some programs require you to write the MCAT, while others don’t. Find information about the admission requirements for all Canadian medical school programs here. Requirements for the University of Ottawa’s Medical School program can be found here.

Law School

The role of lawyers is to guide their clients through the judicial system. They may help them reach a settlement in a case, in full respect of the laws in effect. Read more about what lawyers do here.

Canada has two legal systems, the common law system and the civil law system. The common law system is used everywhere in Canada except for in Quebec, which uses the civil law system. Learn more here. The University of Ottawa offers programs in both common law and civil law.

To apply to law school in Canada, you must complete at least three years of an undergraduate program. Most schools also require you to write the LSAT (excluding McGill). Find a list of all Canadian law schools here.

Human Resources

Human Resource Management (HRM) includes managing all relationships between each employer - through various delegates or representatives - and each employee, either as an individual or as a union member, depending on circumstances and the problem at hand. HRM includes planning and staffing, selection and placement, by maintaining appropriate lists of candidates and hiring employees on the basis of tests and interviews. You can find more information about the field of HRM here.

There are different professional HRM designations in Ontario, including Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation or the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation. Individuals must apply to gain these designations, and applicants must have a sufficient foundation of HRM discipline-specific knowledge. They must then write the CHRP Knowledge Exam​ or the CHRL Knowledge Exam to officially gain the title. Find more information here.

However, you do not need to have a CHRP or CHRL designation to work in HRM. Oftentimes, entry-level HRM positions only require a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, such as psychology. You can also obtain a graduate degree in HRM; you can find a list of graduate HRM programs in Canada here.