Psychology


Psychology: Introduction

Faculty Affiliation

Arts and Science

Degree Programs

Psychology

MA and PhD

Note: admissions to the MA program have been administratively suspended.

Collaborative Specializations

The following collaborative specializations are available to students in participating degree programs as listed below:

Overview

Graduate training in Psychology stresses training in general experimental psychology. Areas of specialization include the following:

  • Behavioural Neuroscience
  • Perception, Cognition, and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Developmental
  • Social and Personality.

Contact and Address

Web: www.psych.utoronto.ca/graduate
Email: psy.graduate@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 978-3404

Graduate Program, Department of Psychology
University of Toronto
Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street, Room 4034
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G3
Canada


Psychology: Graduate Faculty


Psychology: Psychology MA

The Master of Arts (MA) program is designed to provide students with rigorous scientific training in experimental psychology. The program is one year in duration, during which time students obtain instruction in statistics and research design, and carry out a research project that culminates in a written thesis and oral examination. Students admitted to the MA program are expected to continue to the PhD program.

MA Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Psychology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a minimum A– average (or first-class standing) in the last two undergraduate years, and the equivalent of 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in psychology including statistics and adequate research performance.

  • It is assumed that all students entering the MA program intend to continue in the PhD program.

Completion Requirements

  • Courses and individual research training leading to a thesis.

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 2.0 FCEs as follows:

    • PSY1000H Directed Studies

    • PSY2001H Statistics I

    • two half-course Psychology electives (1.0 FCE total)

  • MA thesis.

It is expected that following the MA year, students will proceed to the PhD program. To be eligible for admission, adequate research performance and at least an A– average are required.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 


Psychology: Psychology PhD

The principal aim of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is to equip students with the skills to carry out advanced research within experimental psychology, and to become independent research scientists. Students work closely with a faculty adviser to develop and conduct a specialized (often multidisciplinary) program of research that ultimately culminates in a written dissertation and final oral examination. Through additional coursework and research opportunities, students gain breadth in their knowledge base and skill set in experimental psychology. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in academia, or a variety of non-academic careers where rigorous and in-depth research training is required.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Psychology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Appropriate University of Toronto master's degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, with a minimum A– average and adequate research performance.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • 0.5 FCE: an advanced statistics course chosen from a list provided by the department (typically PSY2002H Statistics II, taken in Year 1).

    • PSY3000H External Research Project, a research project course supervised by a faculty member other than the student's PhD supervisor, completed during Years 1 and 2.

    • PSY3001H Professional Psychology, taken in two modules in Years 1 and 3.

    • 1.0 FCE in Psychology course electives. Of this requirement, 0.5 FCE can be achieved through two 0.25 FCE Psychology module electives (PSY3100H Psychological Science Skills).

    • PSY4000H Doctoral Research Project, thesis proposal, and oral exam (examination in the student's area of research).

  • PhD thesis.

  • Students may take other courses, but it is expected that the requirements will be completed in the first two years of the PhD program. Students admitted with a master's degree from another university will normally be required to fulfil the PhD course requirements; however, exemptions may be granted by the Graduate Director of the Department of Psychology.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Psychology's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Appropriate University of Toronto bachelor's degree, or its equivalent from a recognized university, with a minimum A– average and adequate research performance.

  • Applicants with a master's degree in Psychology or a cognate discipline will likely be admitted to the four-year PhD program, whereas students with a master’s degree in an unrelated discipline will be admitted to the direct-entry PhD option. Such admission decisions will be made by the Graduate Director.

Completion Requirements

  • Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • PSY1100H Foundational Research Project, a research project course supervised by the student's supervisor plus two other faculty members, completed during Years 1 and 2.

    • PSY2001H Statistics I, taken in Year 1.

    • 0.5 FCE: an advanced statistics course chosen from a list provided by the department (typically PSY2002H Statistics II, taken in Year 1).

    • PSY3000H External Research Project, a research project course supervised by a faculty member other than the student's PhD supervisor, completed during Years 2 and 3.

    • PSY3001H Professional Psychology, taken in two modules in Years 1 and 3.

    • 2.0 FCEs in Psychology course electives. Of this requirement, 0.5 FCE can be achieved through two 0.25 FCE Psychology module electives (PSY3100H Psychological Science Skills).

    • PSY4000H Doctoral Research Project, thesis proposal, and oral exam (examination in the student's area of research).

  • PhD thesis.

  • Students may take other courses, but it is expected that the requirements will be completed in the first three years of the PhD program. Students admitted with a master's degree from another university will normally be required to fulfil the PhD course requirements; however, exemptions may be granted by the Graduate Director of the Department of Psychology.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time

 


Psychology: Psychology MA, PhD Courses

Not all courses are offered each year. See the current offerings.

MA and PhD Core Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
Directed Studies
PSY1100HFoundational Research Project
Selected Topics in Psychology
Selected Topics in Psychology
Conceptual Bases of Psychology
Statistics I
Statistics II
External Research Project
Professional Psychology
PSY3100HPsychological Science Skills
Doctoral Research Project

Behavioural Neuroscience Core Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
Mechanisms of Behaviour
Advanced Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience I
Advanced Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience II
Advanced Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience III
Advanced Topics in Animal Behaviour and Motivation II
Advanced Topics in Neuropsychology I

Developmental Core Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
PSY5303HCognitive Development
PSY5304HLanguage Development
PSY5305HSocial Development
PSY5310HAdvanced Topics in Development I
PSY5311HAdvanced Topics in Development II

Perception/Cognition/Cognitive Neuroscience Core Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
Audition
Higher Cognition
Attention
Memory
Advanced Topics in Perception I
Advanced Topics in Perception II
Advanced Topics in Perception III
Advanced Topics in Cognition I
Advanced Topics in Cognition II
Advanced Topics in Cognition III

Social and Personality Core Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
Personality
Social Cognition
Advanced Topics in Abnormal I
Advanced Topics in Abnormal II
Advanced Topics in Personality I
Advanced Topics in Personality II
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology I
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology II
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology III
Advanced Topics in Social Psychology IV

Cross-Listed Courses

Course CodeCourse Title
JLP2450HPsycholinguistics
JLP2451HLanguage Acquisition
JLP2452HLanguage Acquisition and Linguistic Theory
Fundamentals of Neuroscience: Systems and Behaviour
Parenting: Multidisciplinary Perspectives
PCL3100HBehavioural Pharmacology I
PCL3101HBehavioural Pharmacology II