Your degree in Psychology

Skills you’ll develop

While studying Psychology, you’ll develop important skills related to psychological disorders, developmental psychology, social psychology, learning, memory, cognition and perception, personality, motivation, thinking, language, mental wellbeing, and much more.

These skills may include:

• Critically evaluating psychological claims in the media and in the research literature
• Applying theory to analyze and understand psychological phenomena
• Laboratory proficiency and research experience in the physical, cognitive, emotional, or social aspects of human behaviour
• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data within multiple areas of psychology, as well as maintenance of accurate records
• Using basic descriptive and inferential statistics to solve problems
• Designing and executing experiments with human participants, including ethical approval, data collection, basic statistical analysis, and presentation
• Evaluating a broad range of phenomenon and differentiating between pseudoscience and science
• Synthesizing peer-reviewed research literature in psychology to answer questions about behaviour
• Critical and creative thinking to gain insight into human motivation, personality, social processes, health behaviours, mental health, and others

Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including healthcare, social work, counselling, government, non-profit, advertising, marketing, journalism, education, research, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas.

Visit the Job Bank Canada website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field. Some career options may require further education or training.

Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities, develop your skillset, and help you clarify your values and interests.

• UBC Psychology Students’ Association
  Sign up for resume and CV workshops, meet your Psychology professors, and attend fun events.
• UBC Chapter of Psi Chi
  Check out events and award opportunities for psychology students with distinguished academics.
• Departmental events
  Network with Psychology students and faculty members at a variety of events.
• Departmental research opportunities
  Browse online volunteer postings or reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• UBC Psychology’s Human Subject Pool
  Learn more about the process of psychological science and contribute to ongoing investigations into human nature.
• Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference
  Present your undergraduate research or simply attend this academic conference in Term 2.
• Psychology co-op success stories
  Learn about the experiences of past and present co-op students from your program and others.
• Arts Co-op Program
  Gain paid work experience in your area of study as part of your degree program.
• UBC Undergraduate Journal of Psychology
  Showcase your research by submitting papers to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
• Vancouver Coastal Health volunteer opportunities
  Find volunteer opportunities in hospitals and health centres. 
• Fraser Health volunteer opportunities
  Gain volunteer experience in local communities through healthcare opportunities.
• Kids Help Phone
  Volunteer to help young people across Canada access the support they need.
• Psychology career paths
  Read about job responsibilities for various types of counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and social workers in Canada.
• UBC Psychology big-picture advising
  Meet with a departmental advisor to talk about questions about what you can do with your Psychology degree, how to prepare for grad school, and more.
• BC regulated professions
  Many professions related to psychology are regulated. If you want to practice in British Columbia, check with your regulatory body association to make sure you have the appropriate credentials.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and accessing job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• American Psychological Association
• Association for Psychological Science
• BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
• BC Psychological Association
• Canadian Association for Neuroscience
• Canadian Association for Play Therapy
• Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs
• Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Canadian Professional Counsellors Association
• Canadian Psychological Association
• Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science
• Psychonomic Society

Connect with alumni

Learn about possible career paths by browsing alumni stories or viewing the profiles of UBC Psychology graduates on LinkedIn.

As you read, take note of interesting job titles, organizations, and experiences you may want to explore. If a particular story or profile aligns with your goals, consider reaching out for an informational interview.

More information

Throughout your Arts degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Arts degree.