Experiential learning means LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE or LEARNING BY DOING. This covers everything from student internships and co-op opportunities to community-based projects and organization-partnered research.
Research Courses
The research courses offered by our department give students the opportunity to perform research under the guidance of a supervisor, who is typically also a UTSC professor. This can be a great way to build skills for scientific inquiry, further advancing one’s knowledge and gaining relevant experience especially for those interested in pursuing a career in research.
| PSYB90H3 Supervised Introductory Research in Psychology |
This course provides an introduction to, and experience in, ongoing theoretical and empirical research in any field of psychology. Students will typically engage in an existing research project within a supervisor’s laboratory. |
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PSYC90H3 |
An intensive research project intended to provide laboratory/field experience in data collection and analysis. These courses provide an opportunity to engage in research in an area after completing basic coverage in regularly scheduled courses. The student must demonstrate a background adequate for the project proposed and should present a clear rationale to prospective supervisors. Regular consultation with the supervisor is necessary, and extensive data collection and analysis will be required. Such a project will culminate in a written research report. |
| This course offers the opportunity to engage in a year-long research project under the supervision of an interested member of the faculty in Psychology. The project will culminate in a written report in the form of a thesis and a poster presentation. During the course of the year, at appropriate times, students will meet to present their own research proposals, to appraise the proposals of others, and to discuss the results of their investigation. Students planning to pursue graduate studies are especially encouraged to enrol in the course. |
Current students interested in a research course should visit the UTSC Psychology Undergraduate Resources portal for registration information.
Co-op Programs
The Specialist programs in the Department of Psychology offer a co-op option, which provides students with the opportunity to complete 8 to 12 months of paid full-time work or research experience during their degree. The co-op programs offered by our department combine academic studies in the field with practical paid work experience in settings where scientific knowledge from their studies is applied. Students may apply for work term employment in settings such as research and development departments in industry, educational institutions, health care institutions and government agencies. Work settings may also provide students with the opportunity to observe other professionals, hence providing a broader and more informed basis for the selection of a post graduate program appropriate to the student's talents and interests.
For more information, visit the Arts & Science Co-op website.
Learning Abroad
As U of T students, students have access to academic, research and professional experiences abroad. Students have opportunities to experience a different academic environment and cultural interaction by taking short-term courses abroad, completing intensive short-term research activities in another country, or interning for professional organizations.
For more information, visit the U of T Learning Abroad website.
Work Study
U of T offers part-time employment opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students registered in at least 40% of a full course load. Work-study positions are created by UofT faculty and staff in a wide variety of offices and research labs throughout the campus, and offer students the opportunity to explore career options or gain experience in your field of study.
Current students may visit the Career Learning Network (CLNx) website for job postings.
Service Learning
UTSC offers an experiential learning course, where students apply their discipline-specific academic knowledge as they learn from and engage with communities. Students provide, and gain, unique perspectives and insights as they interact with community partners. Through class discussions, workshops and assignments, students also develop transferable life skills such as interpersonal communication, professionalism and self-reflection that support their learning experiences and help them connect theory and practice.
For more information, visit the Center for Teaching and Learning's website.