Psychology

Psychology

Location

Location

  • Department of Psychology
  • 2001 McGill College Avenue, 7th Floor
  • Montreal QC H3A 1G1
  • Canada
  • Telephone: 514-398-6127/514-398-6137
  • Email: grad.psych [at] mcgill.ca
  • Website: mcgill.ca/psychology

About Psychology

About Psychology

The aim of the Experimental program is to provide students with an environment in which they are free to develop skills and expertise that will serve during a professional career of teaching and research as a psychologist. Coursework and other requirements are at a minimum. Success in the program depends on the student's ability to organize unscheduled time for self-education. Continuous involvement in research planning and execution is considered a very important component of the student's activities.

The Clinical program adheres to the scientist practitioner model and as such is designed to train students for careers in university teaching or clinical research, and for service careers (working with children or adults in hospital, clinical, or educational settings). Most of our clinical graduates combine service and research roles. While there are necessarily many more course requirements than in the Experimental program, the emphasis is again on research training. There is no master’s program in Clinical Psychology; the Department offers direct entry to a doctoral degree for holders of an undergraduate degree, and students are expected to complete the full program leading to a doctoral degree.

Research interests of members of the Psychology Department include:

  • behavioural neuroscience;
  • clinical psychology;
  • cognition and cognitive neuroscience;
  • developmental science;
  • health psychology;
  • quantitative psychology and modelling; and
  • social and personality psychology.

Facilities for advanced research in a variety of fields are available within the Department itself. In addition, arrangements exist with the Departments of Psychology at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Allan Memorial Institute, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal Children's Hospital, and Montreal General Hospital to permit graduate students to undertake research in a hospital setting.

Note: Many MUHC-affiliated hospitals and institutes are now located at the Glen site; further information is available on the MUHC website.

For inquiries about all programs and financial aid, and for application forms, contact the psychology.grad [at] mcgill.ca (Graduate Program Administrator).

Ph.D. Option in Behavioural Neuroscience

Information about this option is available from the Department and at mcgill.ca/psychology/graduate/program-tracks.

Ph.D. Option in Language Acquisition (LAP)

Information about this option is available from the Department and at psych.mcgill.ca/lap.html and mcgill.ca/psychology/graduate/program-tracks/experimental/additional-program-opportunities.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Psychology (Thesis) (45 credits)

Candidates must demonstrate a sound knowledge of modern psychological theory, of its historical development, and of the logic of statistical methods as used in psychological research. Candidates will be expected to have an understanding of the main lines of current work in areas other than their own field of specialization.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Psychology (Thesis) (45 credits)

Candidates must demonstrate a sound knowledge of modern psychological theory, of its historical development, and of the logic of statistical methods as used in psychological research. Candidates will be expected to have an understanding of the main lines of current work in areas other than their own field of specialization.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology

Please contact the Department for more information about this program.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Behavioural Neuroscience

The Ph.D. in Psychology: Behavioural Neuroscience program emphasizes modern, advanced theory and methodology aimed at the neurological underpinnings of behaviour in human and non-human animals. This program is intended for graduate students in any area of Psychology who wish to obtain unique, intensive training at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience, thereby enhancing their expertise, the interdisciplinary potential of their dissertation research, and enabling them to compete successfully for academic or commercial positions in either field alone, or their intersection. It requires that students complete a dissertation that addresses Behavioural Neuroscience themes.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Language Acquisition

This unique interdisciplinary program focuses on the scientific exploration of language acquisition by different kinds of learners in diverse contexts. Students in the Language Acquisition program are introduced to theoretical and methodological issues on language acquisition from the perspectives of cognitive neuroscience, theoretical linguistics, psycholinguistics, education, communication sciences and disorders, and neuropsychology.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)

Psychology Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Psychology Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Admission to the graduate program depends on an evaluation of students' research interests and their aptitude for original contributions to knowledge and, if applicable, for professional contributions in the applied field.

The usual requirement for admission is an Honours or Major degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) in Psychology. This usually includes an introductory course plus twelve courses in psychology (each equivalent to three term hours). Courses in experimental psychology, the theoretical development of modern ideas in psychology, and statistical methods as applied to psychological problems (equivalent to an introductory course) are essential. Applicants' knowledge of relevant biological, physical, and social sciences is considered. Students applying to the clinical program are advised to complete 42 specific undergraduate credits in psychology as specified by the Order of Psychologists of Quebec (Ordre des psychologues du Québec).

Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree but who have not met these usual requirements should consult the Graduate Program Director to determine which (if any) courses must be completed before an application can be considered. Students with insufficient preparation for graduate work may register as Special Students (undergraduate level) in the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science, and follow an appropriate course of study. Such registration requires the permission of the Department but carries no advantage with respect to a student's eventual admission to graduate studies.

Applicants should note that the deadline for many scholarships and fellowships is about four months earlier than the application deadlines and that applications for scholarships and fellowships should be submitted through their home university.

The GRE General Test as well as the Psychology Subject Test are not mandatory, but if you wish to take either or both, your scores can be submitted to us and will be added to your application.

Note: Official transcripts do not need to be included as part of an application; they will only be requested once applicants are formally accepted into the program.

English Language Proficiency

For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.

Application Procedures

Application Procedures

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

  • Three letters of reference
  • Personal Statement
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Application Summary Sheet

For further details about these additional requirements, consult the Department of Psychology's website.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Department of Psychology and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)

Master of Arts (M.A.) Psychology (Thesis) (45 credits)

M.A. and M.Sc. degrees may be awarded in Experimental Psychology, but only as a stage in the Ph.D. program. There is no M.A. or M.Sc. program in Clinical Psychology.

For more information, see Master of Arts (M.A.) Psychology (Thesis) (45 credits).

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology

All candidates for the Ph.D. degree must demonstrate broad scholarship, mastery of current theoretical issues in psychology and their historical development, and a detailed knowledge of their special field. Great emphasis is placed on the development of research skills, and the dissertation forms the major part of the evaluation at the Ph.D. level. ...

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Behavioural Neuroscience

The Ph.D. in Psychology; Behavioural Neuroscience program emphasizes modern, advanced theory and methodology aimed at the neurobiological underpinnings of behaviour in human and non-human animals. This program is intended for graduate students in any area of Psychology who wish to obtain unique, intensive training at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience...

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Behavioural Neuroscience.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Language Acquisition

Students must satisfy all program requirements for the Ph.D. in Psychology. The Ph.D. thesis must be on a topic relating to language acquisition.

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Language Acquisition.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Psychology: Psychosocial Oncology

The Ph.D. thesis topic must be germane to psychosocial oncology and approved by the PSO coordinating committee.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (12 credits)

NUR2 705 (3) Palliative Care
NUR2 783 (3) Psychosocial Oncology Research
PSYC 701 (0) Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

One graduate seminar each term during Year 2 and Year 3 chosen from seminar courses PSYC 712 to PSYC 753.

Note: The Department of Psychology does not ordinarily require an examination in a foreign language; however, all students planning on practising clinical psychology in the province of Quebec will be examined based on their proficiency in French before being admitted to the professional association.

Note: If the student has a non-McGill master's then the following courses are also required:

PSYC 650 (3) Advanced Statistics 1
PSYC 651 (3) Advanced Statistics 2
PSYC 660D1 (3) Psychology Theory
PSYC 660D2 (3) Psychology Theory

Complementary Course (3 credits)

One of the following courses:

PSYC 507 (3) Emotions, Stress, and Illness
PSYC 753 (3) Health Psychology Seminar 1
SWRK 609 (3) Understanding Social Care
SWRK 668 (3) Living with Illness, Loss and Bereavement
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Arts—2024-2025 (last updated Mar. 15, 2024) (disclaimer)
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