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Graduate Studies Calendar 2016-2017 Program Descriptions Psychology PSYC Psychology (PSYC) Program
Psychology (PSYC) Program
1. Degrees and Specializations Offered

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based

The Department accepts applicants who plan to remain full-time to the completion of their degree. The program does not offer a part-time option.

Specializations:

  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Medical Imaging (Interdisciplinary)*

*See the Calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specialization for further information.

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

a) A four-year undergraduate degree in Psychology or related discipline.

b) A minimum admission grade point average of 3.40 on a four-point scale over the last 60 units (10 full-course equivalents).

c) An undergraduate course in statistics/experimental design.

d) An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) for students with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Students not having an undergraduate degree in Psychology must also write the Psychology Subject Test.

e) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), or 105 (Internet-based test), an IELTS score of 7.5, a MELAB score of 86, or a PTE score of 75.

f) Two reference letters.

3. Application Deadline Deadlines for the submission of completed applications:

December 5 for May or September admission
October 1 for January admission

The Industrial Organizational Program accepts applications for a September start date only.

4. Advanced Credit

The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Science

Master's students must take no fewer than 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents), 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) of which must come from Psychology 607, 611, 613, 615, 617, or 619; and at least 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) of which must come from Psychology 601, 620, 630, 639, 700, 710, 720, 730, or 739 over their 24-month program (courses other than Psychology 601 may be repeated for credit). A student may take seminar courses from other departments instead of courses in the second list above, upon approval of their supervisor and the Graduate Program Director.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students shall take no fewer than 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) while in the program. The Supervisor and the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychology, must approve all courses. Incoming doctoral students must demonstrate that they have an adequate background in statistics and methodology (including computer applications). Those needing remedial work may be required by the Department of Psychology to take particular courses.

Industrial Organizational Specialization

I/O students in the MSc program are required to take 24 units (4.0 full-course equivalents) with 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) in research methods and statistics, 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) in I/O Psychology (639, 739), and 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) outside the I/O area.

I/O students in the PhD program are required to take 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) in I/O Psychology (739), and 6 units (1.0 full-course equivalent) outside of I/O Psychology that were not completed during the MSc program.

Medical Imaging Specialization

The specialization is open to students interested in pursuing research in cognitive and clinical neuroscience. This specialization requires completion of a course sequence in Medical Imaging (see the MEDI section for further details). MSc students must take a minimum of two courses (the core and a foundational course). PhD students would take three courses (including the core, a foundational and an elective course). PhD students previously completing the MSc Specialization in Medical Imaging will be required to complete one elective course in medical imaging.

These requirements are in addition to the core requirements of the Psychology graduate program. The Medical Imaging courses would count towards Psychology graduate program elective courses.

6. Additional Requirements

None.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Credit may be given for 500-level undergraduate courses.

8. Time Limit

Expected completion time is two years for the Master of Science program and three years for the doctoral program. (Particular circumstances can be taken in to account).

9. Supervisory Assignments

An interim supervisor is assigned to each student at the time of admission. In no case will a student be admitted if an appropriate supervisor is not expected to be available. The shift from interim to permanent supervisor formally takes place at the end of the first year. The Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychology, must approve the permanent supervisor.

Master’s level students must have a supervisory committee consisting of the supervisor plus two other faculty members.

10. Required Examinations

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations for thesis examination, the program requires:

Thesis Examination

Thesis oral examinations are open.

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student's research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner must be external to the home program.

Core faculty members in the Psychology and Clinical Psychology programs are not eligible to serve as Internal Examiner; however, adjunct faculty members are eligible to serve in this capacity.

Candidacy Examination

A doctoral student will normally be required to take the candidacy examination within the first 17 - 20 months of the program. The candidacy examination has a written and an oral component. The written examination consists of one, two or three questions, determined by the supervisory committee that must be answered in no more than 30 double-spaced pages in total (word-processed, 12 pt font, reference list extra). Students must consult with their supervisors. The oral examination questions will be based on the answers to the written questions and the candidacy reading list.

Revised candidacy requirements will be posted in the 2016-2017 academic year.

11. Research Proposal Requirements

Students whose research involves human subjects must receive approval from the appropriate departmental or University Ethics Review Committee before beginning data collection.

All Master of Science students must formally present a thesis proposal not more than 14 months after admission to the program. The proposal must be typed and 10 to 30 double-spaced pages (12 pt font, reference list extra). Students must consult with their supervisors. The supervisory committee must approve the thesis proposal.

All Doctor of Philosophy students must formally present a thesis proposal not more than 16 months after admission to the program. The proposal must be typed and 10 to 30 double-spaced pages (12 pt font, reference list extra). Students must consult with their supervisors. The supervisory committee must approve the thesis proposal.

12. Special Registration Information

None.

13. Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for scholarships are advised to submit their applications to the Department by January 15.

14. Other Information

Initial inquiries may be made to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Psychology.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests

The active research interests of the faculty can be found at psychology.ucalgary.ca.