History
The University of Alberta opened its doors to 45 students on September 23, 1908 with degree programs leading to the B.A. and B.Sc. in Arts, and the degree of B.Sc. in applied science. The first courses were intended to represent the academic disciplines of Arts and Science and included study in English, Classics, Modern Language, and Mathematics. The first psychology course, "Psychology and Logic" using the text, Psychology: The Briefer Course by William James, was offered in 1909.
After various department affiliations with Philosophy and Education, Psychology became a full department in 1960. The PhD program was initiated in 1962 with 22 graduate course offerings. The department experienced strong growth during this period increasing from 16 staff in 1964 to 24 staff in 1965. By 1972, the department had approximately 30 full-time staff and a graduate student enrollment of 87. Today we have approximately 37 full-time academic staff and 67 graduate students working in a wide range of areas, including Behaviour Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience; Cognition; Comparative Cognition and Behavior; Developmental Science; and Social and Cultural Psychology.
A brief chronology with Department Heads and Chairs
| 1909-1945 | John M MacEachran*, Head, Department of Philosophy and Psychology *Link to the Department of Psychology MacEachran Statement and Report of the MacEachran Subcommittee. |
| 1909 | First psychology course offered in the Faculty of Arts and Science |
| 1911 | Psychology joins with Philosophy to become the Department of Philosophy and Psychology |
| 1915 | Honors course, Psychology 105 Experimental Psychology offered |
| 1924 | Experimental psychology program expanded |
| 1933 | Department of Philosophy, Psychology, and Education established |
| 1933 | Clinical program developed together with courses for students in Nursing |
| 1937 | Introduction of laboratory psychology |
| 1945-1952 | John Macdonald, Head, Department of Philosophy and Psychology |
| 1952-1957 | Douglas E Smith, Head, Department of Philosophy and Psychology |
| 1956 | Department of Philosophy and Psychology establishes Teaching Counseling Services |
| 1957-1960 | Anthony Mardiros, Head, Department of Philosophy and Psychology |
| 1960 | Department of Psychology established |
| 1960-1967 | Joseph R Royce, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 1962 | PhD program established |
| 1963 | Extension Branch of the Department established in Calgary |
| 1965 | First PhD student in Psychology graduates |
| 1966 | Joseph Royce establishes the Center for Advanced Theoretical Study in Psychology |
| 1967-1985 | Thomas M Nelson, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 1985-1997 | Eugene C Lechelt, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 1997-1998 | Gay L Bisanz, Acting Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 1998-1999 | Charles M Beck, Acting Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 1999-2000 | Terrance M Caelli, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2000-2008 | Douglas S Grant, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2008-2009 | Donald L Kuiken, Acting Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2009-2011 | Douglas S Grant, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2011-2012 | Thomas L Spalding, Acting Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2012-2016 | Jeff Bisanz, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2016-2019 | Chris Sturdy, Chair, Department of Psychology |
| 2019-Present | Anthony Singhal, Chair, Department of Psychology |