Psychology
The Department of Psychology prepares students for research and applied careers. The department offers courses and specializations in Cognitive and Neural Sciences; Developmental; Law and Forensic; Social; and History, Quantitative and Theoretical Psychology.
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar. Applicants to this program are required to submit official Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) results as part of their application. Applicants will submit official transcripts of all post-secondary course work and Graduate Record Examinations (GREs) to the department. Refer to the department’s website for deadlines and additional requirements ().
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The department reserves the right to admit only qualified applicants for whom departmental resources and appropriate faculty supervisors are available.
Program Requirements
This program offers five areas of specialization and consists of graduate course work and a thesis for a minimum of 30 units.
Students must complete
Reviews the basic logic of controlled experimentation, and focuses on analysis of variance designs commonly used in psychological research. Particular emphasis is given to the relative merits of the several designs when there are multiple research questions to be answered.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
Focuses on multivariate regression and correlation models. Deals with ways of answering questions when direct experimental manipulation is not feasible, and emphasizes new applications.
and one of the following research seminar courses specific to specialization taken every Fall and Spring
Research seminars are designed specifically to enable graduate students in Psychology to plan, execute, and analyse research including that leading to MA and PhD degrees. The seminars will provide directions for future research, critical discussion of pending designs, aid in resolving problems in ongoing studies, and alternative interpretations of results of completed projects. The research seminar courses are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
TBD |
and the requirements from one of the five areas of specialization below
and two PSYC graduate courses outside of student's specialization area
and a thesis proposal
and a thesis
Specialization
Cognitive and Neural Sciences Specialization
Students must complete a minimum of two area courses determined in consultation with the student's senior supervisor and graduate program chair.
Developmental Psychology Specialization
Students must complete
Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Masters or Doctoral program.
and a minimum two of
History, Quantitative and Theoretical Psychology Specialization
Students must complete a minimum of two area courses determined in consultation with the student's senior supervisor and graduate program chair.
Law and Forensic Psychology Specialization
Students must complete
Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Masters or Doctoral program.
and a minimum two of
Empirical and legal issues in law and psychology.
Prerequisite: PSYC 790.
Social Psychology Specialization
Students must complete
Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Masters or Doctoral program.
and a minimum two of
* This course may be repeated for credit.
Clinical Psychology Program Requirements
Students in the clinical program are all members of the clinical research area. The PhD program, accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), is based on the scientist-practitioner training model. The program provides generalist training and optional tracks in clinical child psychology, clinical forensic psychology, and clinical neuropsychology. Standing in the program is contingent upon maintenance of satisfactory performance in course work, thesis work, practicum skills development, comprehensive exams and adherence to professional ethical standards (CPA Code of Ethics, and CPBC Code of Conduct). Unsatisfactory academic progress and/or CPA ethical code of conduct violations (e.g. dishonesty, boundary violations, etc.) may lead to withdrawal from the clinical program.
The clinical MA program consists of graduate course work and thesis for a minimum of 30 units.
Students must complete all of
History, theory, and clinical issues in the psychological assessment of personality and psychopathology. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. Corequisite: PSYC 821B.
Administration and interpretation of tests that assess mental abilities. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. Corequisite: Enrollment in PSYC 820A. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Thu, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Administration and interpretation of tests that assess personality and psychopathology. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: PSYC 821A. Corequisite: PSYC 820B. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.
Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to the Masters or Doctoral program.
Required every term prior to internship except when granted 'on leave' status from PSYC 825, or when enrolled in PSYC 880 and also inactive at the Clinical Psychology Centre (CPC). Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV to Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
TBD |
Reviews the basic logic of controlled experimentation, and focuses on analysis of variance designs commonly used in psychological research. Particular emphasis is given to the relative merits of the several designs when there are multiple research questions to be answered.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
Focuses on multivariate regression and correlation models. Deals with ways of answering questions when direct experimental manipulation is not feasible, and emphasizes new applications.
and one of the following every fall and spring term
Research seminars are designed specifically to enable graduate students in Psychology to plan, execute, and analyse research including that leading to MA and PhD degrees. The seminars will provide directions for future research, critical discussion of pending designs, aid in resolving problems in ongoing studies, and alternative interpretations of results of completed projects. The research seminar courses are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
TBD |
and the requirements from one of the tracks below
and a thesis proposal
and a thesis
** Students must be enrolled in PSYC 825 every term.
Clinical Psychology Tracks
Clinical General Track
Students must complete two of the following in consultation with the student's senior supervisor and director of clinical training
Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 1
Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 2
Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 3
Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 4
Clinical Child Track
Students must complete two of the following
Prerequisite: PSYC 820.
Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: PSYC 820. Corequisite: PSYC 830. Students must successfully complete a Criminal Record Check.
Clinical Forensic Track
Students must complete two of the following
Empirical and legal issues in law and psychology.
Prerequisite: PSYC 790.
Clinical Neuropsychology Track
Students must complete two of the following
ANAT 516 - Functional Human Neuroanatomy: Central Nervous System (3) (UBC)
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six terms.
Other Information
Transfer from MA to PhD
Students with a previous master's degree can apply mid-program to the fast-track PhD program (); students who are accepted are not required to complete an MA thesis. Students in the MA program will not be permitted to enroll in PhD course work until they are admitted to the PhD, or receive approval from their senior supervisor, area coordinator and graduate program chair.
Satisfactory Performance
It is the policy of the Department of Psychology that a grade of less than B (3.0) on any course is deemed unsatisfactory. Any graduate student who obtains a grade of less than B (3.0) in two or more courses or who fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.5, may be required to withdraw from the program. Additionally, students who receive unsatisfactory ratings on their annual evaluations, whether due to grades, inadequate progress through the program or unethical behavior, may be withdrawn from the program (as per Graduate General Regulation 1.8.2).
A student in the clinical psychology program whose behaviour raises the question of possible violations of the ethical codes binding the profession (CPA Code of Ethics, and CPBC Code of Conduct) will be advised of the nature of the problem behaviour in writing, and requested to meet with the clinical committee in a confidential closed session to determine the facts. Access to clinical clients may be immediately suspended pending the outcome of this meeting. The student will be invited to present any information and to respond to any questions. Whether or not the student attends, the committee members subsequently will meet in camera to consider the facts, and to decide on a recommendation to make to the graduate studies committee (GSC) of the department. Possible outcomes of this process include limitation of clinical training work, restriction of contact with clinical clients or research participants, remedial work, and recommendation of termination from the program. Issues pertaining to ethical integrity of students in the Psychology Graduate Program are subject to the same codes of conduct and will follow the same procedures as described above, but will be handled directly by the graduate studies committee.
A student may appeal the decision to the GSC of the department. The GSC will adjudicate the appeal using procedures outlined in Graduate General Regulation 1.8.2 Review of Unsatisfactory Progress. The grounds for appeal are errors or unfairness in the procedures that were followed.
Translational and Integrative Neuroscience (TRAIN) Specialization
Students interested in taking NEUR 800 and NEUR 801 to fulfill their graduate course requirements need to consult with the senior supervisor and graduate program chair.
For more information on TRAIN, please see Translational and Integrative Neuroscience.
Thesis
Students are required to present a written thesis proposal to their supervisory committee before the end of their fourth term in the program. After the thesis has been submitted an oral defence will be scheduled. Students are expected to have completed their thesis by the end of their second year in the program. For further information and regulations, see Graduate General Regulations 1.9.2.
Supervisory Committees
For the thesis, students establish a supervisory committee before the end of their first term. The supervisory committee will normally consist of at least two Department of Psychology tenure-track or tenured faculty members, one of whom will be the senior supervisor and committee chair. Other individuals who are considered necessary by the student and senior supervisor may serve on the committee.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.