Careers

The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UBC, Okanagan campus, requires Sessional Instructors to teach the following courses during Term 1 and Term 2 of the academic year 2025-26.

Term 1 (September 2, 2025 to December 5, 2025)

PSYO 111-001 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes

Survey of topics in psychology which relate to basic processes. Methods and statistics, the nervous system and physiological processes, sensation and perception, learning, cognition and memory.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.  This course is capped at 300 students.

PSYO 111-002 Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes

Survey of topics in psychology which relate to basic processes. Methods and statistics, the nervous system and physiological processes, sensation and perception, learning, cognition and memory.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.  This course is capped at 100 students.

PSYO 121-001 Introduction to Psychology: Personal Functioning

Survey of topics in psychology which relate to personal functioning. Methods and statistics, motivation and emotion, life span development, social processes, personality, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM.  This course is capped at 120 students.

PSYO 219-001 Introduction to Cognition

A brief introduction to how the mind works from a cognitive perspective. Topics will be drawn from memory, decision making, reasoning, attention, object perception, and speech and language.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.  This course is capped at 300 students.

PSYO 322-001 Adolescent Development

Survey of developmental psychology, focusing on the adolescent segment of the lifespan. It examines physical, cognitive, personality, and social aspects of adolescent development.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM.  This course is capped at 120 students.

PSYO 343 001 Basic Clinical Diagnostics

Detailed introduction to general principles underlying scientific study of mental health and psychopathology. Critical theoretical and methodological issues related to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. Psychological disorders used to illustrate general issues and principles discussed.

*Please note:  This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM.  The course is capped at 120 students.

PSYO 348-001 Health Psychology

Critical survey of research and theory on relation between psychological factors (behaviour, emotion, cognition, personality, and interpersonal relationships) and health. Topics include: stress and health, coping with stress, social support, health behaviours (e.g., physical activity), and psychosocial aspects of chronic illness.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM.  This course is capped at 200 students.

PSYO 372-001 Research Methods and Statistics

Examination of sophisticated research designs and associated statistical methods. Direct research experience involving design, collection, and analysis of data in a formal research report; familiarity with use of computer programs to analyze research results.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.  This course is capped at 35 students.

PSYO 372 L01 (Laboratory) Research Methods and Statistics

Examination of sophisticated research designs and associated statistical methods. Direct research experience involving design, collection, and analysis of data in a formal research report; familiarity with use of computer programs to analyze research results.

*Please note:  This lab course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Fridays, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.  The course is capped at 35 students.

Term 2 (January 5, 2026 to April 9, 2026)

PSYO 356-001 Forensic Psychology II

Implications of theory and research in psychology for the criminal justice system. Role played by psychologists in the criminal justice system, assessment and treatment of offenders, victims, and survivors. Prerequisite: PSYO 355.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Mondays 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM.  This course is capped at 300 students.

PSYO 373 L01 (Laboratory) Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

Addresses selected issues on the validity and quality of research, complex research designs, and associated statistical analyses. Students will gain additional experience in the use of standard statistical computer programs.

*Please note:  This lab course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.  The course is capped at 40 students.

PSYO 380B-001 Abnormal Criminals

This course examines a survey of non-traditional types of offenders such as women, children, psychopaths, mass shooters, serial killers, and corporate criminals. We look at types of crimes and criminals that are popularized by media but may not occur as frequently in reality. The courses will focus on forensic risk assessments. We will then look at typologies of offenders, case studies, sentencing, treatment, and rehabilitation.

*Please note: This course is offered in-person and is scheduled for Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.  This course is capped at 60 students.

Applicants with a PhD in the discipline or a related discipline, and relevant research and post-secondary teaching experience are preferred.

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vita (including but not limited to previous teaching experience), recent teaching evaluations (if available), and the name of three referees who have agreed to submit letter of references directly to psychology.okanagan@ubc.ca. Please send application documents in electronic format using WORD or PDF files to: psychology.okanagan@ubc.ca or send documents via mail to:

Marla MacDonald, Senior Department Assistant
Department of Psychology
University of British Columbia – Okanagan
ART 321 – 1147 Research Road
Kelowna, B.C. VIV 1V7

The deadline for receipt of applications is July 15^th, 2025. All positions are subject to funding and enrollment.

“UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. We especially welcome applications from members of visible minority groups, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. Government regulations require that Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. All appointments are subject to budgetary approval.”