The program information below is valid for the winter 2024 term (January 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024).

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Graduate research fields

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • The Department requires a minimum period of registration of 9 terms beyond an Honours Bachelor's degree or 6 terms beyond a Master's degree. While a PhD may be obtained within 9 terms of an Honours BA, a period of 12 to 18 terms is typical.
  • Program type 
    • Doctoral
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 
  • Additional program information 
    • Students admitted to the Clinical Psychology field (area of research) of the PhD program must supply a Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector) to the Department of Psychology prior to being matriculated.
  • Minimum requirements 
    • A 80% overall standing, or equivalent, in the last two years of study in the previous degree is the minimum requirement for admission.
    • Candidates applying to the Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate research field within the program must submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic scores). These scores are optional for students applying to the Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, and Developmental Psychology graduate research fields.
    • Please note that in most areas a Master’s degree is not required for admission into the PhD program (the exception is Social Psychology and Clinical Psychology).
  • Application materials 
    • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
      • Required for candidates applying to the Industrial/Organizational Psychology graduate research field within the program and optional for candidates applying to the Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, and Developmental Psychology graduate research fields.
    • Personal statement
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      academic

  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

    • Students must be admitted to one of the following Graduate Research Fields:
      • Clinical Psychology
      • Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Cognitive Psychology
      • Developmental Psychology
      • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
      • Social Psychology

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Course requirements are determined by the student’s previous academic background and their Graduate Research Field.
    • Where applicable course requirements for students entering with a Bachelors degree or equivalent or an MA degree from the University of Waterloo in the Graduate Research Field in which they are completing their PhD are described below. Students entering directly into a PhD without completing an MA may be permitted to complete an MA during their PhD. If students have relevant academic background beyond a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent but have not completed the MA degree from the University of Waterloo in the Graduate Research Field in which they are completing their PhD, then the PhD course requirements can, when deemed appropriate, be determined in consultation with the student's advisor, the Area Head, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology prior to admission.
    • Students enrolled in the doctoral program must complete the Department's core requirements, statistics requirements (or credit granted for evidence of a strong undergraduate statistics background) and comprehensive breadth requirements as described within each Graduate Research Field’s course requirements below. 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. For the purposes of the breadth requirement the relevant areas are listed below. Whether a course meets a breadth requirement is determined by the Graduate Research Field. If a student is unclear about whether a course will meet their breadth requirements, then they should consult with their supervisor and area head before enrolling in the course.
      • Clinical Psychology
      • Cognitive Psychology
      • Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Developmental Psychology
      • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
      • Quantitative Methods
      • Social Psychology
    • 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.
    • Course requirements are minimum requirements only. Students may be required to take additional courses depending on their previous academic background and Graduate Research Field.
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology may also be considered. Departmental permission is required. Note: When selecting a course from outside of the Department of Psychology, students should check with their advisor about its suitability.
    • Transfer credits may also be considered. The acceptance of transfer credits from prior registration at another university will be determined in individual cases by the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) of the Faculty at the time of admission to the program. Transfer credits must be "unused" credits (i.e., they must not have been credited towards an earlier acquired degree or other academic credential). Transfer credits must be specified in writing at the time of departmental recommendation for admission. A minimum of 70% (University of Waterloo converted grade) is required for transfer credit.
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology and transfer credits can usually count for no more than 2 one-term credits toward breadth requirements.
    • Use of a course not listed in the course requirements below 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, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology.
    • Students pursuing the Clinical Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses contingent upon the student’s previous academic background.
    • If a student enters the PhD with only a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then the student is required to meet the course requirements beginning Year One below.
    • If a student enters the PhD program having completed the MA in Psychology degree with a Clinical Psychology Graduate Research Field from the University of Waterloo, then the student is required to meet the course requirements beginning Year Three below in addition to completing any courses listed in Year One and Year Two not already completed. By the end of the PhD, students need to have completed all requirements from Year One to Year Six below or approved substitutes when courses completed during both the MA and PhD are considered. The courses are listed below in a typical sequence. Individual student’s course sequences may vary, for example, based on course availability.
      • 2 statistics courses one of which must be PSYCH 630 Multiple Regression from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 803 Meta-Analysis
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 4 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Clinical Psychology (e.g., not from the list of core, clinical practica, or research
        Clinical Psychology courses below) or an approved substitute. Students need to ensure that they meet the CPA breadth requirements.
      • Year One
        • Coursework (core):
          • PSYCH 716 Adult Psychopathology
          • PSYCH 717 Psychological Assessment I
          • PSYCH 718 Psychological Assessment II
          • PSYCH 719 Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
        • Clinical Practica:
          • PSYCH 720A Practicum in Interviewing & Cognitive Assessment I
          • PSYCH 720B Practicum in Interviewing & Cognitive Assessment II
          • PSYCH 721A Diagnostic Assessment Practicum I
          • PSYCH 721B Diagnostic Assessment Practicum II
          • PSYCH 722C Clinical Full-Time Fieldwork Placement I (0.50 unit weight) or PSYCH 811C Clinical Part-Time Fieldwork Placement I (0.25 unit weight)
        • Research Activities:
          • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum I
        • Year Two
          • Coursework (core):
            • PSYCH 723 Child Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
            • PSYCH 724 Personality & Measurement Theory
            • PSYCH 725 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
          • Clinical Practica:
            • PSYCH 726A Practicum in Integrated Assessment I
            • PSYCH 726B Practicum in Integrated Assessment II
            • Elective: PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II (optional, by approval). Note: Students must have completed PSYCH 722C Clinical Full-Time Fieldwork Placement I or a set of 2 of PSYCH 811A, PSYCH 811B, and PSYCH 811C Clinical Part-Time Fieldwork Placement I, before they are eligible to take PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II.
          • Research Activities:
            • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum II
        • Year Three
          • Coursework (core):
            • PSYCH 727 Efficacy and Program Evaluation
            • PSYCH 728 Psychotherapy: Classical Roots & Contemporary Developments
          • Clinical Practica:
            • PSYCH 729A, PSYCH 729B, PSYCH 729C Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • PSYCH 730A, PSYCH 730B, PSYCH 730C Adult Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • Elective: PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II (optional, by approval). Note: Students must have completed PSYCH 722C Clinical Full-Time Fieldwork Placement I or a set of 2 of PSYCH 811A, PSYCH 811B, and PSYCH 811C Clinical Part-Time Fieldwork Placement I, before they are eligible to take PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II.
          • Research Activities:
            • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum III
        • Year Four
          • Coursework (core):
            • PSYCH 731 Emotion-Focused Therapy
          • Clinical Practica:
            • PSYCH 732A, PSYCH 732B, PSYCH 732C Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • PSYCH 733A, PSYCH 733B, PSYCH 733C Adult Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • Elective: PSYCH 737A, PSYCH 737B, PSYCH 737C Emotion-Focused Therapy Practicum
            • Elective: PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II or PSYCH 739A, PSYCH 739B, PSYCH 739C Clinical Fieldwork Placement III (optional, by approval)
          • Research Activities:
            • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum IV
        • Year Five (and beyond)
          • Clinical Practica:
            • PSYCH 734A, PSYCH 734B, PSYCH 734C Practicum in Supervision I, II, III (required of all students)
            • PSYCH 735A, PSYCH 735B, PSYCH 735C Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • PSYCH 736A, PSYCH 736B, PSYCH 736C Adult Psychotherapy Practicum I, II, III
            • Elective: PSYCH 737A, PSYCH 737B, PSYCH 737C Emotion-Focused Therapy Practicum
            • Elective: PSYCH 740A, PSYCH 740B, PSYCH 740C Senior Practicum I or PSYCH 741A, PSYCH 741B, PSYCH 741C Senior Practicum II or PSYCH 742A, PSYCH 742B, PSYCH 742C Senior Practicum III (optional, by approval) 
        • Year Six
          • Students must compete a year of predoctoral residency, the successful completion of which results in the crediting of the Graduate Studies Clinical Internship milestone.
    • Students pursuing the Cognitive Neuroscience Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses contingent upon the student’s previous academic background.
    • If a student enters the PhD with only a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then the student is required to complete 12 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses.
    • If a student enters the PhD having completed the MA in Psychology degree with a Cognitive Neuroscience Graduate Research Field from the University of Waterloo, then the student is required to complete 8 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses such that students meet all of the course requirements listed below when courses completed during both the MA and PhD are considered.
      • 2 statistics courses from the following list or an approved substitute
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 803 Meta-Analysis
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 6 core courses in Cognitive Neuroscience including PSYCH 677A Fundamentals of Behavioural Neuroscience and PSYCH 784 Human Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology with the remaining selected from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 670 Special Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 779A Cognitive Neuropsychology I
        • PSYCH 781 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
        • PSYCH 782 Visual Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 783 Neuroimaging of Cognition
        • PSYCH 785 Attention and the Brain
        • PSYCH 788 (cross-listed as HLTH-672) Epidemiologic Methods in Aging Research
        • PSYCH 789 Mind-wandering and Inattention
        • PSYCH 790 Case Studies in Neuropsychology
        • PSYCH 792 An Introduction to Methods in Computational Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 794 Cognitive Neuroscience of Face Perception
      • 4 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Cognitive Neuroscience (e.g., not from the list of Cognitive Neuroscience core courses
        above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 707 Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 4 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Students are encouraged to take PSYCH 707 for a 5th year if they have not yet finished their PhD. Note: PSYCH 707 is a 0.0 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students pursuing the Cognitive Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses contingent upon the student’s previous academic background.
    • If a student enters the PhD with only a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then the student is required to complete 12 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses.
    • If a student enters the PhD having completed the MA in Psychology degree with a Cognitive Psychology Graduate Research Field from the University of Waterloo, then the student is required to complete 8 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses such that students meet all of the course requirements listed below when courses completed during both the MA and PhD are considered.
      • 2 statistics courses including PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance with the remaining selected from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 803 Meta-Analysis
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 6 core courses in Cognitive Psychology from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • COGSCI 600 Seminar in Cognitive Science
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 650 Special Topics in Cognition and Perception
        • PSYCH 758 Applied Practicum in Cognitive Psychology
        • PSYCH 759 Research Practicum in Cognitive Psychology
        • PSYCH 769 Causal Reasoning
        • PSYCH 770 Basic Issues in Cognition
        • PSYCH 771 Basic Visual Processes
        • PSYCH 774 Visual Cognition
        • PSYCH 775 Consciousness and Cognition
        • PSYCH 776 Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making
        • PSYCH 777 Human Memory
        • PSYCH 778 Attention
        • PSYCH 779 Language and Reading
        • PSYCH 810 Directed Studies (on departmentally approved topics)
      • 4 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Cognitive Psychology (e.g., not from the list of Cognitive Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 747 Cognitive Psychology Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 4 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 747 is a 0.0 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students pursuing the Developmental Psychology must complete the following courses contingent upon the student’s previous academic background.
    • If a student enters the PhD with only a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then the student is required to complete 12 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses.
    • If a student enters the PhD having completed the MA in Psychology degree with a Developmental Psychology Graduate Research Field from the University of Waterloo or the MASc in Developmental and Communication Science at the University of Waterloo, then the student is required to complete 8 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses such that students meet all of the course requirements listed below when courses completed during both the MA or MASc and PhD are considered.
      • 2 statistics courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 6 core courses in Developmental Psychology from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 680 Special Topics in Child Behaviour and Development
        • PSYCH 701 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Basic
        • PSYCH 702 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Social Cognitive Development
        • PSYCH 705 Foundations in Language Development: Basic Language Development
        • PSYCH 706 Foundations in Language Development: Pragmatics of Language
        • PSYCH 708 Reasoning about Ownership of Property
        • PSYCH 709 Reasoning about Beliefs and Desires
        • PSYCH 713 Theories of Pretense
        • PSYCH 810 Directed Studies (on departmentally approved topics)
      • 4 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Developmental Psychology (i.e., not from the list of Developmental Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 710 Current Issues in Developmental Psych Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 4 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 710 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students pursuing the Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses:
      • 2 statistics courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 2 core courses in Industrial/Organizational Psychology selected from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 876 The Psychology of Justice in the Workplace
        • PSYCH 877 Work Motivation
        • PSYCH 878 Job Performance
        • PSYCH 883 Organizational and Management Development
        • PSYCH 884 Special Topics in Industrial & Organizational Psychology
        • PSYCH 886 Psychology of Training
        • PSYCH 888 Negotiation, Conflict Management, and Teamwork: Theory and Practice
      • 2 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Industrial/Organizational Psychology (e.g., not from the list of core Industrial/Organizational Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 885 Industrial and Organizational Psychology Research Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 4 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 885 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students in Industrial/Organizational Psychology must take all courses for a numeric grade unless they are only offered Credit/No Credit.
    • Students pursuing the Social Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses contingent upon the student’s previous academic background.
    • If a student enters the PhD with only a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, then the student is required to complete 12 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses.
    • If a student enters the PhD having completed the MA in Psychology degree with a Social Psychology Graduate Research Field from the University of Waterloo, then the student is required to complete 8 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses such that students meet all of the course requirements listed below when
      courses completed during both the MA and PhD are considered.
      • Minimum 2 statistics courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 6 core courses in Social Psychology including PSYCH 704A Social Psychology and PSYCH 870 Research Design & Methods with the remaining selected from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 690 Special Topics in Social and Personality
        • PSYCH 743 Advanced Intergroup Relations
        • PSYCH 744 Personality in Social Context
        • PSYCH 745 Close Relationships
        • PSYCH 746 Culture and the Mind
        • PSYCH 748 Self-Regulation and Motivation
        • PSYCH 749 Wisdom
      • 4 breadth courses from other graduate research fields outside of Social Psychology (i.e., not from the list of Social Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute. Up to 2 of these breadth courses may be additional statistics courses.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 714 Social Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 4 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 714 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • PhD Thesis
    • The Department requires a successful defense of the PhD Thesis.
    • Students must be admitted to one of the following Graduate Research Fields:
      • Clinical Psychology
      • Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Cognitive Psychology
      • Developmental Psychology
      • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
      • Social Psychology
    • A Graduate Research Field is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed research concentrated in the area of the Graduate Research Field. The Department, represented by the student’s supervisor and examining committee, must assess whether a student’s completed research warrants the field designation at the time of degree completion. To obtain the Graduate Research Field designation, students must also complete the required courses associated with their chosen Graduate Research Field outlined in the above course requirements section.