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Discover The Psychology Department

The field of psychology thrives on questions. Can babies learn before birth? What causes schizophrenia? How does the brain work? Is psychoanalysis useful? How can we measure personality? Do humans have free will? As a young science, we have many more questions than we have answers. We need people with the curiosity to ask good questions and the ability and determination to seek answers.

Why study Psychology at Bishop’s?

Studying psychology at Bishop's is interesting, challenging, and fun. The Psychology program at Bishop's University is a warm, tightly-knit community. The classes are relatively small and as a result students are able to work closely with the professors. The professors, all PhDs, are friendly and approachable. It is a comforting feeling to be known by your name and not your student number when approaching them. The department features a club where students meet on a regular basis in a non-scholastic social setting, to interact among themselves and with the professors.

Program strengths

• We take pride in the quality of our teaching. Six of our faculty members have recently been recognized with Teaching Awards.
• We offer an array of concentrations that allow students to target their specific interests in clinical psychology, health psychology, human resources or neuroscience.
• Perhaps above all else we are available for our students and we go the extra mile to make sure that they get the most out of the Bishop's experience

New and Popular courses

• Courses that cover personality disorders, psychoses and organic mental disorders, as well as therapeutic techniques and practices are perennial favorites. These include Abnormal Psychology, Major Psychopathologies and Advanced Clinical Seminar.
• Students enjoy learning about the development of social and cognitive skills in Child Development I and II, The Psychology of Exceptional Children and Adolescence.
• Interested in sports? Have a look at Sports Psychology: Performance Enhancement and The Social Psychology of Sports and Exercise.
• The Clinical Practicum gives advanced students a chance to gain applied experience outside the classroom.
• The Honours Thesis and Honours Seminar courses give our students that are planning to go to graduate school a chance to sharpen their thinking and their research skills.

Did you know?

• Psychology is one of the largest departments at Bishop’s with approximately 165 students taking an Honours or Major degree and another 35 students or so taking a Psychology Minor.
• Our faculty members come from Canada (Quebec and Alberta), the U.S., Scotland, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.
• Our annual Psychology Fall wine and cheese (October 2008) regrouped all faculty members and over 60 students in the beautiful Speid Mansion in the heart of Lennoxville.
• Dr. McKelvie, who teaches among other things Research Methods and Sports Psychology, has run several marathons (best time: 2h48!) and even an ultra-marathon!
• Professors Stuart McKelvie and Benoit-Antoine Bacon contribute to Bishop's annual fundraiser for “War Child” by singing Bob Dylan songs with their colleagues Jamie Crooks (Philosophy), Daniel Miller (Religion) and Michele Murray (Religion). Hear them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ21beqDkTQ