The Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island has openings for sessional instructors during the forthcoming Fall 2025 semester. All positions are subject to final budgetary approval. 

Please note: the courses offered below will be taught in person, unless otherwise specified as an online course. 

PSY 3050 - Adolescent Develop. Adjustment

This course examines both the research and theoretical perspectives in areas that are integral to an understanding of the period of adolescence and of adolescents themselves. We address the following areas: puberty and psychobiology; the development of cognition and social cognition; the formation of identity, including career options, and the development of sexuality and a system of values, factors that influence the formation of identity, such as the family, the peer group, and the media, the school experience; and issues in adolescent development such as some aspects of psychopathology, juvenile justice, and the problems encountered by indigenous youth.

PSY 3080 - Child Development

This course explores children's development in depth by focusing on the various domains of change from birth to adolescence. Themes of change and stability throughout childhood are examined using analytical and descriptive theories of development. Implications of developmental approaches are examined for practice and public policy domains. Lectures, in-class assignments, and research projects are designed to encourage students to assess critically these developmental changes and to apply that understanding to other contexts. 

PSY 3110 - Physiological Psychology

This course focuses on the nervous system as the basis of all experience and behaviour. It examines how a biological perspective of the brain developed, how neuroanatomy defines brain function, how neurons transmit information, how body movement is controlled, and how touch, pain, sleep and arousal work.

PSY 3330 - Ecopsychology 

This seminar-style course examines the important role of human relationships with nature in order to better understand psychological experience and ecological issues. It explores a variety of factors that may contribute to human disconnection from nature (such as technology, consumerism, psychological views of health and of the self) and ways of developing more sustainable relationships and deepening personal connections with nature (such as direct experience in nature, environmental restoration and activism, nature-based worldviews and psychotherapies, and systems theory). Some "field work" is required.

PSY 3710 - Advanced Statistics

A more advanced course in applied statistics as used by behavioural scientists in designing and analyzing experiments and field studies. The major concentration of the course is analysis of variance and linear regression. In addition, students are introduced to a variety of topics in multivariate statistics, including multiple regression and correlation, discriminant analysis, Hotelling's T2 and multivariate analysis of variance.

PSY 3830 - Psycholinguistics

This course reviews the psychology of language from the perspectives of sensation, perception, cognition, and interpersonal processes. Topics include the nature of speech production and perception, the nature of grammatical and lexical knowledge, semantics and pragmatics, language acquisition, the social bases of human communication, and computer systems for language understanding.

PSY 4130 - Psychology of Social Class

This course explores the role that social stratification plays in human thought, behaviour and experience. It studies the history of social stratification and the relatively recent emergence of a class-based society. It examines some of the ways that psychologists and other social scientists have integrated social class into their work. A rigorous interrogation of everyday experiences of economic injustice is central to this course. Topics may include the way that social class intersects with a range of identity categories, classism, poverty, inequality, commodity fetishism, and consumer society.

PSY4350 - Gender and Sexuality

This course provides a critical examination of gender and sexuality. It explores the individual, interpersonal, and societal constructions of gender and sexuality within varying biological, cultural, and historical contexts; and uses psychological theory and research to analyze experiences and representations of gender and sexuality.

PSY 6202 - Ethics & Professional Issues

This course introduces students to important ethical and professional issues in the practice of clinical psychology. Ethical issues are explored through an in-depth study of the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Students learn to resolve ethical dilemmas that are likely to emerge in clinical practice. The course also provides students with an opportunity to learn about legal and professional aspects of the practice of psychology including examination of relevant jurisprudence, regulatory issues within the profession, as well as a range of other topics that characterize the practice of professional psychology. Implications for the profession of an increasingly diverse client base are also considered.

PSY 7801 - Clinical Dissertation I 

The Clinical Dissertation is the major research component in the Doctor of Psychology Program. It is completed during the second and third year of the program and must be completed (via a formal defense) before students leave for internship. The project is carried out using a cohort model in which students develop independent research projects with the support of student colleagues and under the supervision of a graduate faculty member who serves as the Doctoral Research Coordinator. In this course students complete a comprehensive literature review which determines the type and scope of the research to be carried out. The research proposal is presented to the class and other members of the Department of Psychology and approved by the Doctoral Research Coordinator. Student projects must make a novel contribution to the clinical psychology research literature and may develop research within qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods paradigms. Research projects that do not include data gathering, such as novel research syntheses or work toward policy development, may be proposed. 

PSY 8201 - Clinical Psychology in the Community

The course extends beyond clinical psychology's focus on the individual so that students may develop a greater understanding of the impacts clinical psychologists may have at the community level. This course allows students to explore established and novel approaches which may be used by clinical psychologists to effectively engage with communities. Topics are likely to include community-based health promotion and prevention, political action, and empowerment in the application of clinical psychology principles to community-based social, mental health, and environmental problems. It also emphasizes values, applied research, and action focused on promoting the welfare of the whole community through organizational, community, and societal-level action. Implications of cultural and individual diversities for application of clinical psychology in the community are explored.

Qualifications:

Successful applicants should hold a Graduate degree or a Doctoral degree in Psychology. 

Preference will be given to the qualified candidates with seniority on the UPEI Sessional Roster and full-time and term contract Faculty Members of the Academic unit.

Application Instructions: 

Applicants should submit a letter of application, an updated C.V., and the names of three referees to: 

Dr. Annabel Cohen, Professor and Chair
Department of Psychology
University of Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3
psychadmin@upei.ca

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment.

UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute. UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

Closing date for applications is March 9, 2025.