Psychology
Department of Psychology
B550 Loeb Building
Tel.: 613-520-2644
carleton.ca/psychology
M.A. Psychology
About the Program
The field of psychology is dedicated to the scientific study of thoughts, feelings and actions from multiple perspectives (e.g., social, developmental, biological, etc.). The M.A. program offered by the Department of Psychology is strongly research-oriented and provides students with an exciting blend of coursework, hands-on research experience, and community practica. Being situated in Ottawa, our M.A. students are exposed to unique research opportunities and can access Carleton's many connections to agencies in the nation's capital. Faculty members in the department supervise students in a range of psychological disciplines including cognitive, developmental, forensic, health, applied, and personality/social. Many of our graduates find immediate employment upon completion of their M.A. degree, whereas other students use their M.A. as preparation for further doctoral-level studies. For more information about the Department's M.A. program, consult the following website: carleton.ca/psychology
Admission Requirements
The normal requirement for admission into the master's programs is a B.A. Honours Psychology (or equivalent) with high honours standing, completion of a research thesis, and credit in a breadth of courses in line with the psychology major.
Candidates with particular course deficiencies may be required to register in additional courses at Carleton.
Qualifying Year
Occasionally, 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.
Program Requirements
The master's program consists of 5.0 credits, of which at least two must be at the graduate level (numbered 5000 or higher), and a thesis (equivalent to 2.5 credits) which must be defended at an oral examination.
Specific requirements include:
- 1.0 credit in PSYC 5410 Advanced Analysis of Variance and PSYC 5411 Advanced Regression. Equivalencies will be determined on a case-by-case basis through application to the graduate committee;
- PSYC 5906 Pro-Seminar in Psychology.
M.A. Concentrations
The following courses are recommended for M.A. students in the concentrations:
Concentration in Applied Psychology
PSYC 5012, PSYC 5105, PSYC 5106 and PSYC 5700, and to generate a thesis in applied psychology.
Concentration in Personality and Social Psychology
PSYC 5010, PSYC 5011, PSYC 5109 and PSYC 5601 and to generate a thesis in personality or social psychology.
Concentration in Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 5700, PSYC 5703, PSYC 5704 and PSYC 6700 and to develop a thesis in cognitive psychology.
Concentration in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 5500, PSYC 5503, and PSYC 5504, and to generate a thesis in developmental psychology.
Concentration in Forensic Psychology
PSYC 5021, PSYC 5022, PSYC 5023, and PSYC 5024.
Concentration in Health Psychology
PSYC 5209, and to generate a thesis in health psychology.
Ph.D. Psychology
About the Program
The field of psychology is dedicated to the scientific study of thoughts, feelings and actions from multiple perspectives (e.g., social, developmental, biological, etc.). The Ph.D. program offered by the Department of Psychology is strongly research-oriented and emphasises hands-on training. In addition to exciting opportunities for developing research collaborations within the Department and across the University, students can enrol in a range of graduate courses and participate in community practica. Being situated in Ottawa, our students are exposed to unique research opportunities and can access Carleton's many connections to agencies in the nation's capital. Faculty members in the department supervise students in a range of psychological disciplines including cognitive, developmental, forensic, health, applied, and personality/social. Graduates of our Ph.D. program find employment in a diversity of settings, including academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector. For more information about the Department's Ph.D. program, consult the following website: carleton.ca/psychology
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program are outlined in the General 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.
Program Requirements
The minimum program requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Psychology include 10.0 credits with a grade of B- or better in each course. Specific requirements are:
- 1.0 credit in PSYC 5410 Advanced Analysis of Variance and PSYC 5411 Advanced Regression
- 0.5 credit from: PSYC 5401 Multivariate Techniques, PSYC 5412 Topics in Advanced Statistics and Methods, PSYC 5413 Workshops in Advanced Statistics and Methods, or other as approved by the graduate committee (e.g., PSYC 5010). Equivalencies will be determined on a case-by-case basis through application to the graduate committee;
- Any additional concentration requirement;
- PSYC 6906 Pro-Seminar in Psychology I and PSYC 6907 Pro-Seminar in Psychology II;
- PSYC 6909 Ph.D. Thesis, equivalent to 7.0 of the required 10.0 credits which must be defended at an oral examination.
- 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.
Concentrations
The following courses are recommended for students in the concentrations.
Concentration in Applied Psychology
PSYC 5012, PSYC 5105, PSYC 5106 and PSYC 5700, and to generate a thesis in applied psychology.
Concentration in Personality and Social Psychology
PSYC 5010, PSYC 5011, PSYC 5109 and PSYC 5601 and to generate a thesis in personality or social psychology
Concentration in Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 5700, PSYC 5703, PSYC 5704 and PSYC 6700 and to develop a thesis in cognitive psychology.
Concentration in Developmental Psychology
PSYC 5500, PSYC 5503, and PSYC 5504, and to generate a thesis in developmental psychology.
Concentration in Forensic Psychology
Students interested in this area are encouraged to take courses such as PSYC 5021, PSYC 5022, PSYC 5023, and PSYC 5024 and to generate a thesis in the area of forensic psychology
Concentration in Health Psychology
PSYC 5209, and to generate a thesis in health psychology.
