Psychology
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Information for Parents of Psychology Students


As the age at which students enter university decreases, parents have started to take a more involved role in their child’s education. This page is provided for parents of Psychology students to answer some frequently asked questions.

Overview

You child’s choice to study psychology likely stems from an interest in human behaviour that you helped foster. The study of psychology will help your son or daughter explore theories and research in the study of human behaviour and will give them well-rounded critical thinking, writing, statistical, and research ability. Whether they are interested in the study of children, adults, mental illness, personality, counselling, culture or workplace and industry, their education at the University of Windsor will be a comprehensive one full of both challenges and success. In your role as parent, you have the ability to support your child through the challenging moments and help them realize that through hard work, dedication and perseverance, they will graduate with a degree they are proud of and job prospects they can look forward to.

Frequently asked questions
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What is the learning environment like?

The University of Windsor Department of Psychology prides itself on keeping class sizes small, values student-teacher interaction and challenging students to reach their individual potential. The undergraduate program is taught by highly qualified instructors with a wide variety of research interests. The majority of Windsor’s Psychology instructors are also researchers and published authors, so they are always able to bring new research into the classroom and provide students with a well-balanced understanding of the discipline.

Will my child have the opportunity to do research?

Students enrolled in introductory psychology courses are invited to participate in research being done by upper-year students, graduate students and faculty. By signing up for the Undergraduate Participant Pool, they can earn bonus marks for contributing to research, while concurrently gaining an understanding of how the research process works. In upper years of study students can volunteer as research assistants, or may be able to find paid assistantships doing research for graduate students or faculty members. If your child is interested in doing research, encourage them to speak with professors whose areas of interest match their own.

Is there an applied component to student training?

In the fourth year of study, students may be able to enrol in the undergraduate practicum course. This course helps students find placement in a community agency and complete a research project for credit. Many students after completing the practicum have remarked that it gave them greater insight into the ways in which psychology can be applied, and educated them about future career choices.

Students who are looking for applied psychological training are encouraged to seek a volunteer opportunities at a number of local agencies. A list of locations students have volunteered and done placements in the past can be found here.

Where can my child get help with writing multiple-choice exams or essays?

The Academic Writing Centre is open to all students and provides assistance with written grammar, idea generation and can offer guidance with regards to writing style and citations. They also offer a variety of workshops for students such as business writing, writing for English as a second language, and research writing techniques. On their website you can find a number of helpful links to referencing and citation guides.

The Educational Development Centre offers workshops throughout the year under the S.T.E.P.S. banner. Workshops range from strategies to succeed when writing multiple choice tests to presentation skills and organizing your schedule. S.T.E.P.S. workshops are taught by highly-trained students and workshop sizes are kept small and interactive.


What are some careers psychology prepares my child for, and how can they find out more about employment after graduation?

Please see our Career Resources for Psychology Students page for more information about finding a job after getting a degree in psychology.

The Centre for Career Education located on-campus is a great resource that can provide your child with information about finding a job, help them to build a resume, find a volunteer placement and practice interview skills.


* This page has been patterned after one developed by The University of Wisconsin- River Falls and Brock University. The information has been tailored to meet the needs of University of Windsor students and their parents.