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Psychology (PSYC)

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Psychology (PSYC)

Location

Location

  • Stewart Biology Building, Room W8/1
  • 1205 Dr. Penfield Avenue
  • Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1
  • Telephone: 514-398-6100
  • Fax: 514-398-4896
  • Email: info [at] psych.mcgill.ca
  • Website:

About Psychology

About Psychology

The Department of Psychology offers programs in both Arts and Science. All B.A. programs in Psychology can be found under Faculty of Arts > Psychology (PSYC).

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. It is both a social and a biological science. As a social science, psychology studies social interactions. As a biological science, it regards humans as the product of evolution and so studies them in biological perspective, comparing and contrasting human behaviour with that of other species.

The data of psychology are collected within the psychological laboratory by the use of experimental methods in the study of behaviour, and outside the laboratory by systematic observation of the behaviour of humans and animals. The aim is to formulate general principles of perception, learning, motivation, cognition, and social psychology that are relevant to different aspects of human life. Experimentation, laboratory techniques, observational procedures, measurement, and statistical methods are important tools of the psychologist.

Psychology has many interdisciplinary aspects. The study of psychological problems often involves knowledge drawn from other disciplines such as biology, physiology, linguistics, sociology, philosophy, and mathematics. For this reason, a student with varied interests can frequently find a place for these in psychology.

Psychology is a young science so that explanations of the processes underlying observed phenomena are often theoretical and speculative. The major objectives of psychological study are to reduce the discrepancy between theory and fact and to provide better answers about why humans think and behave as they do.

Although a number of undergraduate courses in Psychology have applied implications, applied training is not the purpose of the undergraduate curriculum. Its purpose is to introduce the student to an understanding of the basic core of psychological knowledge, theory, and method, regardless of questions of practical application.

The B.Sc. or B.A. with a Major or Honours degree in Psychology is not a professional qualification. It does not qualify the individual to carry on professional work in psychology. In the province of Quebec the minimum requirement for membership in the Order of Psychologists, the professional association governing the work of psychologists in the province, is a doctoral degree. All students planning to practice in the province of Quebec will be examined on their proficiency in French before being admitted to the professional association. Undergraduate courses in Psychology may prove of considerable value to students planning careers in professional fields other than psychology. These include but are not restricted to medicine, education, social work, human communication sciences, or business and industry.

Students who are interested in psychology as a career must pursue graduate studies. Persons who hold graduate degrees in Psychology, usually the Ph.D., may find employment in universities, research institutes, hospitals, community agencies, government departments, large corporations, or may act as self-employed consultants. At the graduate level, psychology has many specialized branches including social psychology, physiological psychology, experimental psychology, clinical psychology, child psychology, industrial psychology, community psychology, educational psychology, and others.

Requirements for admission to graduate studies in Psychology vary from one university to another and from one country to another. Nonetheless, both the Honours and Major degrees in Psychology may qualify the student for admission to many graduate schools, provided that sufficiently high grades are obtained and, in some cases, that research experience has been obtained. During the U2 year, undergraduate students are strongly advised to verify the admission requirements of various graduate programs. This is to ensure that sufficient time is available for students to complete all necessary requirements for admission to their preferred graduate programs.

The essential differences between the Honours and the Major program are an emphasis on research methodology courses and practice in the Honours program, and that higher academic standards are required of Honours students. Honours students also have an opportunity to work in small groups closely with staff members.

Information Meetings for New Students

Information Meetings for New Students

All new students entering the Psychology undergraduate program are required to attend an information meeting prior to registration. Students who have been accepted into a Bachelor of Science program in Psychology must attend one of these meetings. Newly admitted students from CEGEPs should attend the information session on Wednesday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. in room N2/2 in the Stewart Biology Building. There will be an identical information session on Tuesday, August 30 at 11:00 a.m. in room N2/2 in the Stewart Biology Building for all other students and for any CEGEP students who could not attend the earlier meeting. Students accepted into a Bachelor of Arts program must attend a different information meeting. (For details, see Faculty of Arts > Psychology (PSYC).) At this meeting, Paola Carvajal, the Academic Adviser, will explain the requirements of the Department's programs. Incoming students will have an opportunity to ask questions and receive advice on how to plan their courses. After this meeting, students will make appointments for individual advising sessions and fill out their Study Plan form for registration.

Entering students must bring their letter of acceptance and a copy of their collegial transcript(s). They will also need access to this publication and a preliminary Class Schedule before their individual advising session. Students will also find the Psychology Department Handbook helpful. It contains more detailed descriptions of Psychology courses and provides guidelines for how students might pursue particular areas of interest. The handbook is available on the Department website: .

Students entering the Psychology program in January are strongly encouraged to visit the Academic Adviser, Paola Carvajal, in early December to clarify their course selections.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 16, 2011) (disclaimer)

Psychology (PSYC) Faculty

Psychology (PSYC) Faculty

Chair
D. Zuroff
Emeritus Professors
Albert S. Bregman; M.A.(Tor.), Ph.D.(Yale)
Virginia I. Douglas; B.A.(Qu.), M.A., M.S.W., Ph.D.(Mich.)
Wallace E. Lambert; M.A.(Colgate), Ph.D.(N. Carolina), F.R.S.C.
A.A.J. Marley; B.Sc.(Birm.), Ph.D.(Penn.)
Ronald Melzack; M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.), F.R.S.C. (E.P. Taylor Emeritus Professor of Psychology)
Peter M. Milner; B.Sc.(Leeds), M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.)
Professors
Frances E. Aboud; B.A.(Tor.), M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
Mark Baldwin; B.A.(Tor.), M.A., Ph.D.(Wat.)
Irving M. Binik; B.A.(NYU), B.H.L.(Jewish Theological Seminary), M.A., Ph.D.(Penn.)
Blaine Ditto; B.S.(Iowa), Ph.D.(Ind.)
Keith B.J. Franklin; B.A., M.A.(Auck.), Ph.D.(Lond.)
Fred H. Genesee; B.A.(W. Ont.), M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
Richard F. Koestner; B.A., Ph.D.(Roch.)
John Lydon; B.A.(Notre Dame), M.A., Ph.D.(Wat.)
Jeffrey S. Mogil; B.Sc.(Tor.), Ph.D.(Calif.-LA) (E.P. Taylor Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair in Genetics of Pain)
Debbie S. Moskowitz; B.S.(Kirkland), M.A., Ph.D.(Conn.)
Yuriko Oshima-Takane; B.A., M.A.(Tokyo), Ph.D.(McG.)
David J. Ostry; B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.)
Caroline Palmer; B.Sc.(Mich.), M.Sc.(Rutg.), Ph.D.(C’nell) (Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuropsychology of Performance)
Michael Petrides; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Lond.), Ph.D.(Cant.) (joint appt. with Neurology and Neurosurgery)
Robert O. Pihl; B.A.(Lawrence), Ph.D.(Ariz.)
Barbara B. Sherwin; B.A., M.A., Ph.D.(C'dia) (James McGill Professor, CIHR Distinguished Scientist)
Thomas R. Shultz; B.A.(Minn.), Ph.D.(Yale)
Michael J.L. Sullivan; B.A.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(C'dia)
Yoshio Takane; B.L., M.A.(Tokyo), Ph.D.(N. Carolina)
Donald M. Taylor; B.A., M.A., Ph.D.(W. Ont.)
Norman M. White; B.A.(McG.), M.S., Ph.D.(Pitt.)
David C. Zuroff; B.A.(Harv.), M.A., Ph.D.(Conn.)
Associate Professors
A.G. Baker; B.A.(Br. Col.), M.A., Ph.D.(Dal.)
Evan S. Balaban; B.A.(Mich. St.), Ph.D.(Rockefeller)
Baerbel Knaeuper; Dipl., Dr. phil.(U. of Mannheim), Dr. phil. habil.(Free Univ., Berlin)
Daniel J. Levitin; A.B.(Stan.), M.S., Ph.D.(Ore.) (FCAR/FQRNT Strategic Professor, Bell Professor of Psychology and E-Commerce)
Morton J. Mendelson; B.Sc.(McG.), A.M., Ph.D.(Harv.)
Karim Nader; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.) (William Dawson Scholar and Alfred Sloan Fellow, CIHR New Investigator)
Gillian A. O'Driscoll; B.A.(Welles.), M.A., Ph.D.(Harv.) (William Dawson Scholar)
Kristine Onishi; B.A.(Brown), M.A., Ph.D.(Ill.)
Maria Pompeiano; M.D., Ph.D.(Pisa)
Zeev Rosberger; B.Sc.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(C'dia) (part-time)
Debra Titone; B.A.(NYU), M.A., Ph.D.(SUNY, Binghamton) (Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language and Memory)
Assistant Professors
Ian F. Bradley; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Tor.), Ph.D.(Wat.) (part-time)
Yogita Chudusama; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Cardiff Univ.)
Melanie Dirks; B.A.(McM.), M.S., M.Phil., Ph.D.(Yale)
Heungsun Hwang; B.A.(Chung-Ang Univ.), Ph.D.(McG.)
Jelena Ristic; B.A., M.A., Ph.D.(Br. Col.)
Hsiu-Ting Yu; B.S.(Taiwan), M.S., M.A., Ph.D.(Ill.-Urbana-Champaign)
Lecturers
Rhonda Amsel; B.Sc., M.Sc.(McG.)
Paola Carvajal; B.Sc.(C'dia), M.A.(McG.)
Associate Members
Clinical Research Institute of Montreal: Terence J. Coderre
Douglas Hospital: Jorge Armony, Suzanne King, Martin Lepage, Jens Pruessner, Howard Steiger
Montreal Neurological Institute: Lesley Fellows, Marilyn Jones-Gotman, Daniel Guitton, Brenda Milner, Edward Ruthazer, Wayne Sossin, Viviane Sziklas, Robert Zatorre
Psychiatry: Frances Abbott, Marco Leyton, Amir Raz
Vision Research Unit (Ophthalmology): Curtis Baker, Robert Hess, Frederick A.A. Kingdom, Kathleen Mullen
Music Faculty: Stephen McAdams
Affiliate Members
David Dunkley; B.Sc.(Tor.), Ph.D.(McG.)
Lisa Koski; B.S.(Tor.), Ph.D.(McG.)
Adjunct Professors
M. Bruck; B.A.(Wheaton), M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
S. Burstein; B.Sc.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(Wat.)
P. Delise; B.Sc., M.Ps., Ph.D.(Montr.)
P. Gregoire; B.A.(College St. Marie), B.Ph., L.Ph., Ph.D.(Montr.)
Z. Pleszewski; M.A., Ph.D.(Poznan)
D. Sookman; B.A.(McG.), M.A.(Guelph), Ph.D.(C’dia)
A. Vouloumanos; B.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.)
P. Zelazo; B.A.(Amer. Int'l. Coll.), M.S.(N. Carolina), Ph.D.(Wat.)
Part-time Appointments
Jessey Bernstein; B.A.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(Roch.)
Judith LeGallais; B.A., M.A., Ph.D.(McG.)
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 16, 2011) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor Psychology (24 credits)

A minor program in Psychology is available to students registered in any B.Sc. program other than Psychology. This program is intended to complement a student's primary field of study by providing a focused introduction to specialized topics in psychology. ...

For more information, see Minor Psychology (24 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Liberal Program - Core Science Component Psychology (45 credits)

This Core Science Component Psychology requires the completion of 45 credits in Psychology, all of which need to be passed with a minimum grade of C. A prerequisite to the program is PSYC 100 or equivalent. Students completing a Liberal Program with a Core Science Component Psychology must also complete at least one breadth component in a second area.

For more information, see Liberal Program - Core Science Component Psychology (45 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Psychology (54 credits)

Students majoring in Psychology must obtain a minimum grade of C in all 54 credits of the program. A grade lower than C may be made up by taking another equivalent course (if there is one), by successfully repeating the course, or by successfully writing a supplemental examination (if there is one).

For more information, see Major Psychology (54 credits).

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Psychology (60 credits)

Honours in Psychology prepares students for graduate study, and so emphasizes practice in the research techniques which are used in graduate school and professionally later on. Students are normally accepted into Honours at the beginning of their U2 year, and the two-year sequence of Honours courses continues through U3.

For more information, see Honours Psychology (60 credits).

Admission Requirements to the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Psychology

Admission Requirements to the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Psychology

Applications can be obtained from the Undergraduate Office of the Department of Psychology, Room N7/9A, Stewart Biology Building. The applications must be completed and returned to the Undergraduate Office by August 1 for September admission. Candidates will be advised of the Department's decision via email before classes begin in September.

Students should note that awarding of the Honours degree will depend on both cumulative grade point average and a minimum grade of B on PSYC 380D1/380D2 and PSYC 482. “First Class Honours” is awarded to students who obtain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and a minimum program GPA of 3.50 and a minimum grade of A- in the required Honours courses, namely PSYC 380D1/380D2 and PSYC 482. “Honours” is awarded to students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00, and a minimum program GPA of 3.00 and a minimum grade of B in the required Honours courses, namely PSYC 380D1/380D2 and PSYC 482. Moreover, the awarding of the Honours degree normally requires completion of two full years of study, U2 and U3, in the Honours program. Students with particularly strong academic records may be admitted for the U3 year only on the basis of their marks and research experience. These students must complete all Honours program requirements.

For more information, see Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Psychology (60 credits).

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 16, 2011) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Science—2011-2012 (last updated Aug. 16, 2011) (disclaimer)
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