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Graduate Calendar 2006-2007 |
PsychologyLoeb Building B555 The DepartmentChair of the Department: Mary Gick The Department of Psychology offers programs of study and research on a full-time and part-time basis, leading to the degrees of M.A., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Financial support is available, but is limited to full-time students. There is a very close link in the Department of Psychology between graduate studies and research. Research in the Department is distributed across the life sciences areas of behavioural neuroscience, animal learning, perception, and cognition, and across the social sciences areas of social and developmental psychology. Its research and graduate program in behavioural neuroscience is one of the strongest in Canada, with current research focusing on problems of the neurochemistry of stress and learning; developmental psychopharmacology; experimental models of epilepsy; neurodegeneration; dementia; neural mechanisms of audition; drug dependence; and the effects in animals and humans of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure on postnatal behaviour. The Department has related human neuropsychological research activities dealing with alterations to visual and auditory psychophysical functions associated with neuropathological conditions. In recent years, there has been a growth of activity in aspects of applied psychology, including evaluation research; corrections; education; impact of computer and telecommunications technology; behavioural medicine; and psychological assessment. This has fostered close collaborative contacts between the Department and public service and applied settings in Ottawa, such as the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Royal Ottawa Hospital, the National Research Council, Department of Communications (Canada), Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services, and the Ot tawa-Carleton Board of Education. Practica and internships are available in many of these settings to students at the doctoral level. Because of the breadth of interests in the Department, there is an emphasis in graduate courses on methodological and conceptual issues that are applicable across research specializations. Consequently, most substantive courses, regardless of title, are relevant to most students' programs. Students typically work closely with their advisers who, through informal tutorials and directed studies and independent research courses, provide much of the opportunity for specialized study. Applicants are strongly encouraged to write directly to faculty members for more specific details on research interests and programs underway. As part of its general experimental program, the Department provides the opportunity to pursue a concentration at the master's and doctoral level in behavioural neuroscience (a collaborative specialization with the University of Ottawa), human neuropsychology, or human information systems. Applicants should consult with the supervisor of graduate studies for information on structuring a doctoral program of studies within a concentration. Through a quantitative methods requirement, completion of a demanding empirical thesis presented and defended orally, participation in small seminars, and a close relationship with faculty advisers and students, the master's programs provide the opportunity for a refinement of critical, logical, and analytical skills; skills of written and oral expression; understanding of the strengths and limitations of the scientific method as a means of problem solving, demonstrated through psychology but applicable to issues in society at large; an understanding of quantification and scaling; the use of statistical methods and inference; and the use of evidence to support argument. For some students this is a satisfactory and satisfying end in itself. For others, it provides a solid preparation for the doctoral program in which original independent study and research is stressed. The Department does not distinguish between an applied and an experimental program; instead, the basic orientation is experimental and theoretical, but with opportunities, where appropriate, to provide complementary experience necessary to work successfully as a psychologist in applied research/service settings. Augmenting the well-equipped laboratories expected in an active research environment, the Department of Psychology receives excellent technical support from the Carleton University Science Technology Centre, where design and manufacture of special-purpose apparatus is carried out. In addition, the workshops provide technical support for the more than twenty-five computer systems in use throughout the Department's laboratories. In fulfilling degree credit requirements, all graduate students are required to demonstrate competence in statistical and quantitative methods through successful completion of PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411 (with a grade of B- or better) or the qualifying examinations. The qualifying examinations are ordinarily scheduled during the first part of September, just prior to the registration period, and they encompass the material covered in PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411. In the event of successful completion of the examinations, another course is substituted for PSYC 5410 and/or PSYC 5411 (depending on the outcome of the qualifying examinations). In the case of M.A. students, the Department may recommend that a grade of C+ in PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411 be accepted for credit (General Regulations, Section 11.2) only after successful completion of the qualifying examination. This option is limited to those who pass the examinations within two successive offerings, and who maintain continuous registration as graduate students between the first registration in PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411 and the taking of the examination. In addition to fulfilling the remaining credit requirements as described in subse quent sections, all graduate students in psychology are expected to conduct research of interest to them during each year of graduate study. This requirement may be satisfied by independent research, serving as a research assistant, or by doing pilot or thesis research. Each year, the candidate's adviser submits a written critique of research progress, which becomes part of the candidate's permanent record. Qualifying-year students are evaluated at the end of the first twelve months. Depending on his/her field of concentration, a candidate may be required to demonstrate an ability to read with understanding relevant technical material in a foreign language and/or to give satisfactory evidence of competence in such areas as computer techniques, electronic instrumentation, psychometrics, sampling procedures, or surgical techniques. The Department may recommend that a graduate student be asked to withdraw from the program at any time if his or her progress in course work, research, or comprehensive examinations proves unsatisfactory. Within the Department exist subgroups of faculty members with common interests and subgroups of courses associated with particular areas of psychology. Below are listed four formally identified fields of concentration, with the work that would be expected from any student who decided to pursue interests in one of these fields. ConcentrationsBasic and Applied Social Psychology The Concentration in Basic and Applied Social Psychology is designed to provide students with a fundamental knowledge in the traditional fields of social psychology such as: social psychological research methods; attitudes and personality; the application of social psychology to current social issues such as family violence; health promotion, assessment and program evaluation; crime and delinquency; computers and the psychology of women. Faculty interests span a broad spectrum of perspectives in social, personality, communi ty and applied social psychology. Current research in the Department includes historical and critical social psychology, laboratory investigations of social processes in decision making and attitudes through applied studies in areas such as family violence, women and the work force, the psychology of women, delinquency, criminal justice and corrections, health promotion, and performance enhancement. Students interested in this area are encouraged to take courses such as PSYC 5010, PSYC 5011, PSYC 5109 and PSYC 5406, and to generate theses in this area. Concentration in Cognitive PsychologyThe Concentration in Cognitive Psychology is intended to provide the graduate student with an advanced knowledge of methodological and theoretical issues in the domain of cognitive psychology. Research interests of regular and adjunct faculty in cognition include perception and psychophysics, attention, pattern recognition, reading and language processing, cognitive development, learning and memory, problem solving, neuropsychology, and human-computer interactions. Students interested in this area are encouraged to take courses such as PSYC 5700, PSYC 5703, PSYC 5704 and PSYC 6700 and generate theses in the area of cognition. Concentration in Developmental Psychology The Concentration in Developmental Psychology is intended to provide graduate students with an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical and methodological issues associated with the study of child development from birth to adolescence. Faculty interests span the areas of language, cognitive, and social development. Current research in the Department includes topics related to literacy acquisition; bilingualism; peer relationships, aggression and shyness; learning disabilities; conduct disorders and antisocial behaviours; and consequences of offspring exposed prenatally to drugs. Students interested in this area are encouraged to take courses such as PSYC 5501, PSYC 5502, PSYC 6500, a nd PSYC 6501. Also it is expected that students in this field will generate a thesis in the area of developmental psychology. Concentration in Human-Computer Interaction The Concentration in Human-Computer Interaction is designed to provide students with skills to conceive, conduct and report research that improves the usefulness and usability of computer and communication technologies. Examples include the creation and evaluation of human-computer interfaces, the use of psychological principles in the design of interactive technologies, and studies of the social effects of computer-mediated communication. To pursue the Concentration, students are encouraged to take at least three of PSYC 5105, PSYC 5106, PSYC 6105 and PSYC 6106, take additional courses in related areas (e.g., cognition, social psychology, design) and complete a thesis in the area. Specialization in Behavioural Neuroscience Behavioural Neuroscience is the study of the relation between behaviour and the nervous system. This specialty is cross-disciplinary, incorporating neuroanatomy, neurobiology, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, psychiatry, psychology and cognitive studies. While individual researchers usually specialize in a particular area, behavioural neuroscientists must also be able to appreciate significant research in other fields of neuroscience. Training in Behavioural Neuroscience extends beyond the boundaries of traditional departments. This area of concentration is offered as a collaborative Specialization in Behavioural Neuroscience by the Institute of Neuroscience at Carleton University and the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Faculty members of the Institute of Neuroscience are from the Psychology and Biology depar tments and also include adjuncts from the large and diverse Ottawa Neuroscience community. To augment the scope of training provided, faculty members from the Department of Psychiatry (Institute of Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital) also participate in the teaching, research training and student supervision. Further details on the Specialization, including faculty members of the Institute of Neuroscience and program requirements of the Specialization are listed in the Neuroscience section of this Calendar. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Director of the Institute of Neuroscience for current research activities of the participating faculty. Qualifying-Year ProgramOccasionally, candidates with exceptional promise who offer less than Honours B.A. status may be admitted to a qualifying-year program approved by the graduate studies committee and designed to prepare them for master's study. A grade of B- or better must be obtained in each qualifying-year course, and candidates may be required to complete satisfactorily the equivalent of a B.A.(Honours) thesis. Master of ArtsAdmission RequirementsThe normal requirement for admission into the master's program is a B.A.(Honours, in Psychology) (or its equivalent) with high honours standing and with credit in the following areas: statistics and design of experiments; experimental psychology; learning or motivation; physiology and/or comparative psychology; and history and/or systems. Candidates with particular course deficiencies may be required to register in additional courses at Carleton. The deadline for submitting applications for graduate study in psychology are: January 15 is the deadline for submitting application and supporting documents for graduate study in psychology for fall admission. Candidates will be considered for financial assistance if th ey meet the requirements. November 1 is the deadline for students seeking admission in January. Financial assistance is not available. Program Requirements The master's program usually consists of 3.0 credits, of which at least two must be at the graduate level (numbered 5000 or higher), and a thesis (equivalent to 2.0 credits) which must be defended at an oral examination. PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411, or the successful completion of the opting-out examination in Advanced Analysis of Variance and Advanced Regrression, are required of all graduate students. Course credit will not be given for successful completion of the qualifying examinations for PSYC 5410 or PSYC 5411. Master of ScienceThe Department of Psychology offers the M.Sc. degree for those students in the behavioural neuroscience specialization. For the neuroscience specialization, the candidate must fulfil the normal program requirements together with the requirements of the specialization. For further details, see the Neuroscience section of this Calendar. Academic StandingA grade of B- or better is normally required in each of the credits counted towards the M.A. or M.Sc. degree. The Department is prepared on occasion to recommend to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studie..s and Research that a candidate be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit or each of two 0.5 credits. In the case of PSYC 5410 and PSYC 5411, such a recommendation will be based on successful completion of the qualifying examination. This option is limited to those who pass the examination within two successive offerings of it, and who maintain continuous registration as graduate students between the first registration in PSYC 5410 or PSYC 5411 and the taking of the examination. Doctor of PhilosophyAdmission Requirements The requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program are outlined in the Genera l Regulations section of this Calendar. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination are optional. The Ph.D. program in psychology normally will be undertaken on a full-time basis; however, in cases of exceptional merit, the Department will accept a few candidates for the degree on a part-time basis. The time limit for completion of Ph.D. degree requirements for those who enter the program on a part-time basis will be the same as for those who enter on a full-time basis and subsequently register for part-time study: that is, eight calendar years. (See General Regulations, Section 13, Time Limits.) Applicants should note that of the B.A., M.A., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology, ordinarily only two may be taken at Carleton University. Program Requirements The minimum program requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Psychology are as follows:
All Ph.D. candidates are required to submit a thesis prospectus. The prospectus examination will normally be successfully completed within seven calendar terms of the student's initial registration for full-time students and ten terms for part-time students. Comprehensive Examination All Ph.D. candidates in psychology are required to successfully complete PSYC 6905, Comprehensive Examination (1.0 credit). The required format of the comprehensive depends on the student's area of specialization. Students in forensic science are required to complete a written examination based on an assigned reading list. Students must answer three out of five examination questions that have been approved, along with the reading list, by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Psychology. The examination date for the comprehensive will be scheduled within the formal examination period of the term registered for the comprehensive. The writing of the examination will be followed within one to three weeks by a comprehensive oral examination covering the sub areas the student chose to respond to on the written examination, but which is not restricted to issues raised in the written portion. A major essay or grant proposal is the required format for students in the areas of development, cognitive, health, social/organization, neuroscience, and human computer interaction. The major essay or grant proposal must be on a topic distinct from the topic of the thesis. The topic of the comprehensive examination shall be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Psychology. The submission of the major essay or research grant will be followed within one to three weeks by a comprehensive oral examination, which is not restricted to issues raised by the written portion. The comprehensive examination must be completed successfully before the Ph.D. prospectus meeting is scheduled. Students are required to successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination by the end of the fourth term of the student's initial registration for full-time students in the Ph.D. program or by the end of the sixth term of the student's initial registration in the part-time Ph.D. program. Graduate CoursesNot all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 2006-2007 and to determine the term of offering, consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet, published in the summer and available online at carleton.ca/cu/programs/sched_dates/
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