the psychology major allows students to become familiar with current work in four main areas of psychology in order to understand the mechanisms believed to underlie thought and behaviour. in addition, this degree provides training in a number of skills related to social research, statistical analysis, and interpersonal relations. this integration of theory and practice is in keeping with the research/practitioner model, which encourages an integration of basic research with applied topics. while the major does not prepare graduates to practice as psychologists (this requires a ph.d. and registration with the provincial regulatory organization), it is excellent preparation for work in many related fields, and it is the first step toward further training to obtain professional qualifications.