Site Navigation
Welcome
Important Notice and Disclaimer
Faculty of Graduate Studies General Information
Graduate Students' Association (GSA)
Academic Schedule
Faculty of Graduate Studies Degrees Information
Admissions
Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students
Tuition and General Fees
Academic Regulations
Program Descriptions
Anthropology ANTH
Archaeology ARKY
Art ART
Biological Sciences BISI
Biomedical Engineering BMEN
Chemistry CHEM
Communication and Media Studies CMMS
Communications Studies COMS
Computational Media Design CMD
Computer Science CPSC
Culture and Society CUSP
Drama DRAM
Economics ECON
Education Graduate Programs
Engineering Programs ENGG
Engineering, Chemical and Petroleum ENCH
Engineering, Civil ENCI
Engineering, Electrical and Computer ENEL
Engineering, Geomatics ENGO
Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing ENME
English ENGL
Environmental Design EVDS
French, Italian and Spanish FISL
Geography GEOG
Geoscience GLGP
German GSEA
Greek and Roman Studies GRST
Haskayne School of Business: Management MGMT
History HIST
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program IGP
Kinesiology KNES
Languages, Literatures and Cultures LLAC
Law LAW
Linguistics LING
Mathematics and Statistics MTST
Medicine Programs
Military and Strategic Studies CMSS
Music MUSI
Nursing NURS
Philosophy PHIL
Physics and Astronomy PHAS
Political Science POLI
Psychology PSYC
Psychology (PSYC) Program
Clinical Psychology (CPSY) Program
Public Policy PPOL
Religious Studies RELS
Social Work SOWK
Sociology SOCI
Sustainable Energy Development SEDV
Veterinary Medical Sciences VMS
Interdisciplinary Specializations
Courses of Instruction
Student and Campus Services
About the University of Calgary
Graduate Studies Calendar 2017-2018 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 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 Examinations

Doctoral students must pass oral and written Field of Study examinations. For complete details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements, see Psychology Candidacy Requirements.

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.

Doctoral students must submit a written thesis proposal, which is approved by their Supervisory Committee in a Thesis Proposal Meeting. For further information see Psychology Candidacy Requirements.

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.