Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering

Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering: Introduction

Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Applied Science and Engineering

Participating Degree Programs

Aerospace Science and Engineering — MASc, PhD
Civil Engineering — MASc, PhD
Electrical and Computer Engineering — MASc, PhD
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering — MASc, PhD
Medical Science — MSc, PhD
Psychology — MA, PhD

Supporting Units

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Overview

The Collaborative Master’s and Doctoral Specialization in Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering (PsychEng) includes participating programs offered by the Departments of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Civil and Mineral Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering and the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace Studies in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Science, and the Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

Engineering involves the creative application of science to the design of systems, processes, structures, and technologies. Psychology is a science that focuses on the mind and behaviour of people and animals to understand individuals and groups across all levels of analyses, from the cellular to the cultural. Psychiatry the study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal behaviour.

The Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering collaborative specialization supports graduate students and faculty interested in contributing to the growing interdisciplinary scholarship at the nexus of psychology, psychiatry, and engineering. Fields of study that may benefit from this collaborative specialization include, but are not limited to: human factors, design theory and methodology, artificial intelligence and information engineering, mental health, operations research, and robotics. This specialization strengthens ties between the three Faculties, and may propel research of interest to both beyond what is possible individually.

Upon successful completion of the master's and/or doctoral degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering" on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: gradstudies.engineering.utoronto.ca/collaborative-specialization-psychology-engineering-psycheng
Email: psych_eng@mie.utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 946-3028
Fax: (416) 978-7753

Collaborative Specialization in Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
University of Toronto
5 King's College Road
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Canada

Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering: Master's Level

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants who wish to enrol in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

  • Applicants must provide:

    • A statement of purpose that describes background experience relating to psychology, psychiatry, and engineering, and motivation for pursuing studies in PsychEng. Complete the online registration form.

    • A supervisor's letter of recommendation in support of the student's application to PsychEng.

Completion Requirements

  • Two sessions of APS1305H PsychEng Seminar Series — Master's Level.

  • Two PsychEng elective half courses (1.0 FCE). One of the courses must be from the other discipline. Students from one discipline (psychology, psychiatry, or engineering) should first consult with the instructor before registering for a course in the other discipline to ensure adequate fit in terms of interest and preparation. Psychology and Medical Science students must complete at least one graduate course in Engineering, and Engineering students must complete at least one graduate course in either Psychology or Medical Science.

  • A thesis focused on a topic in the area of the collaborative specialization.

  • All students enrolled in the collaborative specialization must complete the requirements of the collaborative specialization, in addition to those requirements for the degree program in their home graduate unit. The collaborative specialization director and/or specialization committee is/are responsible for certifying the completion of the collaborative specialization requirements. The home graduate unit is solely responsible for the approval of the student’s home degree requirements.

Mode of Delivery: In person

 

Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering: Doctoral Level

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants who wish to enrol in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to a doctoral-level graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

  • Applicants must provide:

    • A statement of purpose that describes the applicant's background experience relating to psychology, psychiatry, and engineering, and motivation for pursuing studies in PsychEng. Complete the online registration form.

    • A supervisor's letter of recommendation in support of the student's application to PsychEng.

Completion Requirements

  • Two sessions of APS1308H PsychEng Seminar Series — PhD Level.

  • Two PsychEng elective half courses (1.0 FCE). One of the courses must be from the other discipline. Students from one discipline (psychology, psychiatry, or engineering) should first consult with the instructor before registering for a course in the other discipline to ensure adequate fit in terms of interest and preparation. Psychology and Medical Science students must complete at least one graduate course in Engineering, and Engineering students must complete at least one graduate course in either Psychology or Medical Science.

  • A thesis focused on a topic in the area of the collaborative specialization.

  • Students who have completed the PsychEng collaborative specialization at the master's level must take the core seminar course at the PhD level, which requires a higher level of participation; i.e., present more frequently and/or take a leadership role in seminar activities such as the discussion of research papers. Students take two further (different) PsychEng electives during their doctoral program, and their research will be at a level appropriate to a PhD degree.

  • All students enrolled in the collaborative specialization must complete the requirements of the collaborative specialization, in addition to those requirements for the degree program in their home graduate unit. The collaborative specialization director and/or specialization committee is/are responsible for certifying the completion of the collaborative specialization requirements. The home graduate unit is solely responsible for the approval of the student’s home degree requirements.

Mode of Delivery: In person

 

Psychology, Psychiatry and Engineering: Courses

Core Course

Course CodeCourse Title
PsychEng Seminar Series — Master's Level
PsychEng Seminar Series — Doctoral Level

Elective Courses

Aerospace Studies

Course CodeCourse Title
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Management

Civil Engineering

Course CodeCourse Title
Indoor Air Quality

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Course CodeCourse Title
Sensory Cybernetics (suitable for Engineering students only)
Creative Applications for Mobile Devices
Neural Engineering (suitable for Engineering students only)

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Course CodeCourse Title
Intelligent Robots for Society
Experimental Methods in Human Factors Research
Analytical Methods in Human Factors Research
Human-Automation Interaction
Analysis and Design of Cognitive Work
MIE1444HEngineering for Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Enterprise Modelling
Formal Techniques in Ontology Engineering
Creativity in Conceptual Design

Medical Science

Course CodeCourse Title
Neuroanatomy
Molecular Approaches to Mental Health and Addictions
MSC1087HNeuroimaging Methods Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MSC1089HThe Biopsychosocial Basis of Mental Health and Addictive Disorders
Individualized Reading/Research Course

Psychology

Course CodeCourse Title
Directed Studies
Department of Psychology courses offered in the 5000 series; contact the department for exclusions.