Skills You Will Gain from this Degree
A bachelor’s degree in psychology builds practical, transferable skills for any people-focused career. Students learn to understand human behavior, think critically about evidence, communicate clearly, and make ethical decisions in complex situations. Graduates are prepared for diverse paths in health, social services, education, business, policy, and further study.
General/Transferable Skills:
- Academic writing and presentation skills
- Critical thinking and analytical skills
- Abstract reasoning
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and teamwork skills
- Organization/time management skills
- Goal setting and prioritizing
- Knowledge of and experience with basic techniques of statistical analysis
- General research skills, including database searching, conducting literature reviews, synthesizing and interpreting vast amounts of information, designing and conducting new research, data analysis, and interpreting and understanding both your own and other’s research results
Psychology Related Skills:
- An understanding of physiological, emotional, cognitive, and social determinants of behaviour
- Basic understanding of the various disciplines in psychology as well as major theories and history of psychology
- Familiarity and experience with psychological research methods, including data collection and analysis
- Knowledge of research ethics
- Earn research participation marks towards your final grades with the opportunity to have an “up close” look at psychology research.
- Specific knowledge and abilities related to your specialization (ie: Cognition, Neuroscience, Developmental, Social, HCI, Forensic, etc.)
Experiential Learning
The Department of Psychology offers numerous options for students hoping to combine in-class learning with experience in applied environments. All provide an opportunity to make valuable contacts, cultivate the professional skills associated with success, engage with Psychology outside the classroom, and become more involved with career planning. They also provide opportunities for employers to work with highly-motivated students possessing a variety of skills that are valued in the workplace.
Earn Practical Skills and Experience on the Job
The Co-operative Education team at Carleton University provides ongoing assistance to our students and employers in order to ensure that recruitment needs are met with some of the brightest and most talented candidates available. Our students are eager to learn and are ready to make meaningful contributions.
The Carleton University Co-op Program office will assist you with job searches. You will have access to a database that includes employers indicating a willingness to take on Carleton Co-op students. A sampling of participating employers includes:
- Aspire Academy
- Bruyère Research Institute
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Carleton’s Career Services
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Global Affairs Canada
- Health Canada
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Indigenous Services Canada
- National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)
- RCMP
- Service Canada