Student Directed Seminars

Student Directed Seminars are an expansion of the directed studies option offered by most departments and are a great way to enhance your own learning experience while gaining facilitation and leadership skills. You will also have the unique opportunity to work closely with a faculty member to develop the course proposal and syllabus. If you are an upper-year undergraduate student, in third-year standing or higher, you are eligible to coordinate a Student Directed Seminar.

When considering your suitability as a Student Coordinator, the Advisory Committee will be looking for students that have a strong academic background and leadership experience that can translate to a classroom environment.

Student Coordinators must be able to demonstrate:

• Motivation and a capacity for self-learning;
• A clear understanding of the Student Coordinator’s role as a facilitator, not an instructor;
• An ability to work independently and think critically;
• Aspirations for a career in teaching, or pursuing graduate school;
• Experience working in teams and inspiring others.

STUDENT DIRECTED SEMINARS FAQ

Students interested in being a Student Coordinator should review the Student Directed Seminars FAQ.

Faculty Sponsors are tasked with ensuring the academic rigor of the student directed seminar they sponsor. As such, a Faculty Sponsor should only sponsor a student coordinator they believe has the capability and capacity to run a successful seminar. A Faculty Sponsor’s role encompasses many duties including, but not limited to:

• Ensuring academic rigor;
• Providing ‘approval’ on topics, grading schemes and syllabus;
• Assisting with the seminar course development;
• Resolving any grade or academic-related disputes during the seminar’s duration;
• Signing off on final grades.

Faculty Sponsor FAQ

Faculty interested in being a Faculty Sponsor, should review the Faculty Sponsor FAQ.

Student participants are co-learners in a peer-guided environment, and are expected to facilitate some course discussion. Like coordinators, participants are upper-year undergraduate students with a high degree of motivation for self-learning. Furthermore, participants are expected to participate in peer-review grading and seminar processes. Students are allowed to participate in a maximum of two student directed seminars during their degree.

The Student Directed Seminars Advisory Committee is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. The Advisory Committee reviews all student directed seminar proposals thoroughly for academic rigor, quality of course plans, appropriate grading schemes and assignments, and the overall qualifications and suitability of the Student Coordinator.

The Advisory Committee will base their approvals on four core criteria:

1. Quality and Development of the Proposal
2. Suitability of the Student to Coordinate a Seminar
3. Student’s Grades and Academic Qualifications
4. Faculty Recommendation Form

May 29, 2026: Application deadline

Early June 2026: Applications are reviewed by the Advisory Committee

Late June 2026: Applicants are notified of the status of their application

August 2026: Orientation Session

Fall 2026: Synchronous and asynchronous training to design your seminar

January 2027: Seminar begins

Information session dates for 2026 are posted above.

Application requirements for the 2027/2028 academic year are currently under review.

PSYO_O 486-001: Genetic Counselling: Clinical, Social, and Cultural Considerations

This seminar explores the role of genetic counsellors within the healthcare system, with particular attention to how social, cultural, and psychosocial factors shape both the practice of genetic counselling and patient experiences.

Please note that this seminar is not a substitution for PSYO_O 440.
Prerequisite: Third-year standing and minimum cumulative average of 70%.

PSYO_O 486-002: Psychological Care, Identity, and Mental Health Among Marginalized Adolescents

This seminar will examine marginalized youths’ experiences within clinical mental health care as well as the psychological frameworks and social barriers that shape those experiences. We aim to explore various underrepresented identities through empirical research or case-study examples that highlight the lived experiences of youth. Primary course activities will be centered around class discussion and independent writing activities.

Please note that this seminar is not a substitution for PSYO_O 440.
Prerequisite: PSYO_O 111 and third-year standing. Students must also have a minimum cumulative average of 70%.

Past Seminars

2022W
PSYO_O 486: Queering Psychology from an Intersectionality Lens

2023W
POLI_O 486: Liberation Studies

2024W
PSYO_O 486: Brains, Bodies and Society: An Introduction to Eating Disorders

2024W
GWST_O 486: Growing up Queer

2025W
PSYO_O 486: Stress and Trauma in Context: An Interconnected Experience

2025W
PSYO_O 486: Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination