PSYCH 218Psychology of Death and Dying
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- Psychology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Variations in the meaning and significance of death and dying will be considered from a psychological perspective, with particular attention to the contexts (e.g., cultural, familial, life-span developmental) in which these variations occur.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4154 | 85 / 100 | T 18:30–21:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7560 | 0 / 100 | T 18:30–21:20 |
| LEC 701 | 8113 | 56 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
94% liked it61% easy78% useful
From 32 ratings and 16 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This was truly an amazing course.
I wish everyone could have the opportunity to take this course. It's incredibly meaningful no matter where you are in life or what you've been through.
Dr. Burris has set this course up in a way that the content is discussed in a systematic ("levels") manner, going through: the animate level, the species level, historical/cultural level, medical, legal, religious, arts/media, political, relational and finally individual level.
Try your best not to miss any lectures!! He doesn't post ANY material coverage online.
I feel like it may be a tougher course if you don't have much of a familial experience with death (one that you've been included in the…Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
favourite course i've taken at waterloo. lectures were super absorbing and emotionally resonant, coming from someone who thinks about these topics frequently :)
Oct 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
As someone else's review suggested, this is even more interesting than psych of evil due to the range of topics it has. Although psych of evil has its edges. It'll feel more of a secular sociological review of death despite the religious level analysis, but it will be fairly comprehensive. Also, once you attend the outro of the course the prof's style of storytelling makes a lot of sense to you.
May 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
this course made me cry on several occasions. maybe not the best course to take if you're mentally unwell, but it's really fascinating. death is relevant to all of us, we can't escape it, so may as well learn about it.
course structure was three in-class multiple choice tests. it can be a bit daunting seeing how much the tests are worth, but pay attention in class, take notes, and do your readings. study those, and you should be fineMay 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
took it as a non psych student and it was very interesting the 3 hour lecture did get boring sometimes hard to stay awake that late (6:30-9) content was interesting but can be hard mentally if your not used to death and concepts surrounding it.
Mar 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
22 posts and comments in 18 threads mention PSYCH 218, August 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2023
Psych 218 Psychology of death and dying recordings 1 point, 1 comment
u/sStinkySsoCks: “Did anyone save the recordings during Covid for psych 218? Missed a few lectures to prep for interviews, but going to have the test this week. Prof doesn’t post any notes to encourage us to go in person. Would appreciate any help!!”
Spring 2023
What's a course that you think everyone should take? 50 points, 41 comments
“Just curious about people's experiences, and why they think everyone should take it. also i'm looking for first year electives and open to any ideas lol”
u/kled24: “Psych 218- psychology of death and dying. Probably the best class I took in my entire undergrad. Super interesting and helped normalize death/dying. It can have some difficult topics though, so please be mindful of that for your own well-being ❤️”
Fall 2022
Readings for Psych 218 1 point, 1 comment
Fall 2021
What I wish I knew before taking PSYCH 218 4 points, 3 comments
u/bigpicklewater: “Hello I just wanted to do a course review of psych 218 (psychology of death and dying). First, I took it online and definitely regret it because if it was in person then the experience would have been so much better (I think). …”
u/serendipity_2002: “exciting to see a psych 218 shoutout in the wild!! I took the course this term as well. I agree with everything you've said here. …”
Down in the dumps with life and stress from school 60 points, 12 comments
“My dog that I had ever since I was a kid recently died, I've been trying to stay positive and stay busy with school to keep my mind off it. …”
u/bigpicklewater: “… i’m taking psych 218 right now which is a course on death and dying, and from what i’ve learned identity markers about the loved one you had can help you cope. …”
Is there a group for Psych 218? 0 points, 1 comment
u/broccolipizza: “Just wondering who else is taking the course”
Spring 2021
PSYCH218 or FINE112? 0 points, 2 comments
u/extrabayleaf: “Right now I'm indecisive about taking either PSYCH218 (Psychology of Death) or FINE112 (Modern Art) as my very last elective. …”
u/10minuteninja: “fine112 is was really easy in person so it will probably be easy online, pretty interesting course too psych218 will require more effort but it might change you for life”
u/extrabayleaf: “Would you say that the content of psych218 alone was enough to keep you interested? For example I loved psych101 but only because of the prof's lectures and his personal anecdotes he would share with the class. …”
Winter 2021
Best Online Psych or Philosophy course W21? 5 points, 16 comments
“Hi! Im in software eng and a have a free elective this term. I would love to take an engaging psych or philosophy course. …”
[deleted]: “… Burris is also a pretty good lecturer and his courses have well recorded videos (at least PSYCH 218 does), but the readings are very heavy (which I think is true even if it were offered in person).”
Fall 2017
What is the best PSYCH 200 level course you've taken? 1 point, 6 comments
“I'm trying to chose an elective for this semester and need some input. Which ones were the easiest / most interesting / had the best profs?”
u/Asthmagirl420: “PSYCH 218 with Chris Burris was killer PSYCH 211 with Pamela Seeds is both interesting and very easy to do well in. But psych 218 was the first uni course i genuinely enjoyed, and the only 3 hour night lecture i looked forward to attending. When Dr. …”
Fall 2016
Anyone take psych 218 (Death & Dying) with Dr. Burris? 1 point, 1 comment
u/stst102: “Thinking of taking it but seeing some mixed reviews online on the difficulty of the course. Grading scheme is 3 non-cumulative tests which are multiple choice. Anyone who took it with him in the past care to shed a little light on how his tests are?”
Spring 2016
Best Psychology courses 1 point, 6 comments
“What are/were your favorite PSYCH courses? Who taught them? I'm doing a PSYCH minor and was wondering which courses you found interesting (truth be told, they all sound interesting!)”
u/sanzoidy: “… (There are group assignments where you dig through someone's trash and profile them, I think.) Then I took PSYCH 232 - Psychology of Evil, then PSYCH 218 - Psychology of Death and Dying. Both by Burris and both really fun. Others I enjoyed were 101 and 207. …”
Winter 2016
How challenging is Waterloo Psych? 8 points, 51 comments
u/thetdotbearr: “...except psych, AFAIK. I'm at the end of my CS major, psych minor undergrad and I can say that without a doubt the psych courses I took were the easiest by a mile. …”
u/thetdotbearr: “… If you're willing to go back down in the 200s though I'd strongly recommend either of PSYCH232 (psych of evil) or PSYCH218 (death and dying). Prof Burris teaches those and he does an absolutely fantastic job conveying the course material in an interesting fashion. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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