Degree requirements

For information about the graduate degree programs offered in each of the six research areas in the Department of Psychology, see Programs.

The pages below provide a summary of degree requirements for each of the programs. The official degree requirements can be located in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar. All students are expected to have reviewed the official degree requirements for their program. 

Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology

The MA in psychology is a 2 year program available in Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Social Psychology. The MA is typically a first step in completing the PhD in each of the associated areas (though these are distinct programs requiring separate applications). The MA in psychology consists of coursework and the completion of a MA thesis. 

Please see here for program requirements: Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology 

For more information on submitting the MA thesis see here: Submission of the Master's Research Paper

Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Developmental and Communication Science (1 year)

Note: The requirement of a Master’s Research Paper applies only to those MASc DCS students completing a 2.5 unit Research Lab Internship (in conjunction with a 0.5 unit Community Location Internship). All other MASc DCS students, completing a 1.5 unit Research Lab Internship (in conjunction with a 1.5 unit Community Location Internship), should confirm the research project requirements with their advisor, who will be the sole grader of the project.

Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (2 years)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

To view the area specific course requirements, please visit the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar. 

Requirements for the PhD in Psychology consist of the following:

  1. Fulfillment of the departmental PhD breadth and statistics requirements.
  2. Completion of the set of core courses specified by the student’s Research Area (also see 'Notes' below).
  3. Academic Integrity Module.
  4. Successful defence of the PhD thesis before an examining committee followed by submission of the final thesis document, including any corrections or other changes stipulated by the examining committee. The PhD defence and the submission of the final thesis are governed by strict policies that must be followed. See the following for important information.

Notes:

  • Courses with a numeric grading basis must be taken to meet the core and statistics requirements unless departmental permission is provided to take a course with a Credit/No Credit grading basis.
  • All courses taken to meet degree requirements must be accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Psychology and no degree candidate can fulfil more than half of the minimum department course requirements with Credit/No Credit courses.
  • Use of a course not listed in the course requirements (e.g., a course from outside the Department of Psychology, a transfer credit from an extra-to-degree course from another university) to meet a degree requirement and other course substitutions are permitted but require departmental permission. Students should confirm the appropriateness of the course substitution with their advisor and have it approved by the Area head, Supervisor, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology. The form to complete for a course substitution is located here.