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| Graduate |
| Undergraduate |
| Introduction |
| Recommended Background |
| New Students |
| Elective Courses |
| Grade Requirements |
| Course Lists |
| Graduate Study |
| Courses |
Specific Areas of InterestGenerally speaking, students do not specialize in a particular
aspect of Psychology until the Graduate level. It is preferable for
undergraduates to obtain a solid background in many areas of Psychology
rather than to specialize
in an overly narrow fashion. Nonetheless, students may be interested in
learning
about what is
Child Development/Developmental PsychologyThe goal of developmental psychologists is threefold: (a) to describe the course of psychological development in normal children and in children with various problems, (b) to understand how physical, psychological, and social factors influence this development, and (c) to understand psychological functioning in adults by examining its developmental origins. Students interested in this area should obtain a solid grounding in the basic areas of psychology (from, for example, Perception and Cognition to Social Psychology) and should take the Child Development course. They may also want to take some of the advanced courses in developmental topics. As well, they should consider courses in other departments such as Philosophy (e.g., logic, philosophy of mind, ethics), Sociology (e.g., socialization, the family), Anthropology (physical and cultural), and Biology (e.g., genetics, evolution, development). Advisors: Clinical/Abnormal PsychologyClinical/abnormal Psychology involves the study of basic mechanisms underlying psychopathology and approaches used in the treatment of psychological disorders. The student interested in this area should obtain a solid background in the basic areas of Psychology and should complete the courses on Introduction to Abnormal Psychology. More advanced courses touching upon both mechanisms and treatment may also be of interest. It is suggested that students do not register for a series of courses focusing primarily on treatment issues. A balance of the mechanism and treatment oriented courses is recommended. Courses in Anthropology, Sociology, Biology, Computer Science, and Physiology would also be beneficial. Advisors: Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive ScienceCognitive psychologists investigate various aspects of the mind and behaviour such as memory, language, problem solving, reasoning, "high level" auditory and visual processes, and learning. These areas are also the concern of Cognitive Science, a field that integrates methods and concepts from Artificial Intelligence, Linguistics, Philosophy, and Psychology and Neuroscience (amongst others) to the study of "intelligence" in natural (human and animal) and artificial systems. Students interested in this integrative approach may wish to enroll in the Cognitive Science Minor which is described in the alphabetical listing in the Science section of the Arts and Science calendar. Further information and advice regarding this minor can be obtained at: McGill Cognitive Science Website Advisors: Communication Sciences and DisordersThe field of Communication Sciences and Disorders comprises two basic streams: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The speech-language pathology specialization deals with the assessment and intervention of speech and language disorders, such as aphasia, stuttering and abnormal language development, to name but a few. The audiology specialization deals with the non-medical assessment of hearing disorders and aural rehabilitation. The minimum educational requirement for this profession is a Masters degree. You may complete either a professional program (MSc, Applied), a research program (MSc with thesis or Ph.D.), or a combined research/applied program. A professional program emphasizes the understanding of various principles and theories and their present or potential clinical applications, and also teaches specific techniques for assessment and intervention. A research program is designed to provide research training to those students who are interested in pursuing an academic career in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders, while a combined program, as the name implies, provides both research and clinical training. An appropriate undergraduate background for students interested in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders is a major or honours program (either Arts or Science) in Psychology, with some courses in linguistics. A knowledge of Physiology is also recommended. Students interested specifically in audiology should also consider some courses in physics, mathematics or electronics. (Note: McGill offers clinical training at the master's level in speech language-pathology but not in audiology). Advisors:
Comparative PsychologyModern Comparative Psychology brings an evolutionary perspective to
problems in behaviour and cognition. A good background for this field
would include courses in Learning, Perception, Social Psychology, and
perhaps Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Psychology. In addition,
students should consider getting a
fairly strong background in biology. Courses should be taken to provide
a
solid understanding of genetics, animal behaviour and ethology. As
well, a
grounding in Advisors: Counselling PsychologyCounselling Psychologists (and Conseillers d'orientation) are concerned with the improvement of normal human functioning across the life span, particularly in the areas of personal, emotional and career, and educational development. They work in both applied and research settings. In an applied context, counselling psychologists may work with individual clients or groups, assessing needs and providing a variety of therapies. Counselling Psychologists (and Conseillers d'orientation) often use research to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and to search for novel approaches to assessing problems and changing behaviour. Students interested in Counselling should obtain grounding in the basic areas of psychology, such as theories of learning, motivation, perception, personality, cognition and in developmental and social psychology. They should also have a solid course in abnormal psychology, as well as courses in other social sciences such as sociology, anthropology and social work. Advisors:
Educational and School/Applied Child PsychologyEducational Psychology is a broad field, concerned not only with the application of Psychological Theory and Research to traditional concerns of education such as instructional methods, curriculum, and evaluation, but also with furthering basic and applied research in a number of areas. These include teaching and learning processes, cognitive and social-emotional development, and several areas of special focus such as computer applications, creativity, students with handicaps or disabilities, giftedness, family-life education, educational media and computing, and social and personal conditions which place children and adolescents at risk for difficulties in school or society. Educational Psychology courses are in three main thematic groups: Cognition and Instruction, Professional Psychology, and Professional Education. Courses in Educational Psychology should be chosen after consultation with the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and with the Psychology advisor. There is a list of approved undergraduate courses for BA and BSc students, and BA students may elect a Minor Concentration in Educational Psychology. Courses in School/Applied Child Psychology are at the graduate level only. Psychology students interested in Graduate Studies and Research in Educational, School/Applied Child, or Counselling Psychology, including specific areas noted above, should consult Section "F" (Education" of the Calendar of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, or contact the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (Education Building, Room 513, phone 398-4241). Advisors:
Health PsychologyHealth Psychology is based on the assumption that health and illness
can best be understood by examining biological, psychological and
social factors in an integrative fashion. It focuses on behavioral
influences on the development, diagnosis, treatment and course of
"physical" disorders such as heart disease, cancer, AIDS, high blood
pressure and headaches. Health psychologists come from a variety of
areas of psychology, including clinical, developmental, physiological,
social-personality and neuropsychology. Students should note
that although there is graduate training in health psychology at some
institutions
in North America, these are still quite rare. More often, students are
admitted
into one of the more traditional areas of psychology with the stated
intention
to concentrate in health Advisors: Cognitive Neuroscience/Physiological PsychologyCognitive Neuroscience is one aspect of the larger field of study called Neuroscience. It focuses attention on brain mechanisms and how they produce thought and behaviour. Therefore, this field includes the study of cognition, behaviour, and the study of the brain and how it works. Courses in basic behaviour processes such as Learning, Perception, Motivation, and Cognition provide the behavioural background; courses in Neuroanatomy, Physiology and Neurochemistry provide the basic information about the brain. The two areas are combined in courses in Behavioural Neuroscience and, in a more applied way, in courses in Neuropsychology. Advisors: Industrial/Organizational PsychologyIndustrial/Organizational Psychology concerns the application of psychological theory to the problems and functioning of organizations. Primarily, the interested student should complete courses in Social Psychology and Tests and Measurement; however, courses in quantitative psychology should be considered. Courses in organizational behaviour, human resource management and consumer behavior taught in the Faculty of Management are also advised. Advisors:
Psycholinguistics/Psychology of LanguageThe psychology of language (also termed psycholinguistics) is concerned with a broad range of topics related to the human language capacity. These include language acquisition; bilingualism; processing of spoken, written and signed languages; neurophysiological bases of language; biological bases of language; social aspects of communication; comparisons between human and non-human communication; and language disorders; among others. The study of language is highly interdisciplinary. Depending on individual interests, the student should obtain a basic understanding of neuroscience, cognitive, social, and/or developmental psychology by taking the relevant one-year sequences. As well, course work in related areas of Linguistics, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Anthropology, and Education can expand the students' understanding of alternative theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of language. Advisors: Quantitative PsychologyThe study of Quantitative Psychology comprises methods of assessing psychological data, mathematical theories and models in psychology, and the theory of and techniques for psychological measurement. In addition to the basic statistical courses on Experimental Design and Correlational Techniques, the Department offers a sequence in Quantitative Psychology. Courses in the Departments of Mathematics (e.g., calculus, probability theory and finite mathematics, linear and matrix algebra, numerical analysis, logic) and Computer Science may also be of interest. Advisors: Social/Personality PsychologySocial psychologists are interested in the way in which the thoughts, feelings and behaviour of an individual are influenced and determined by the characteristics and actions of other persons. Personality psychologists emphasize those thoughts, feelings, and behaviours which distinguish one person from another over a period of time. These two areas converge when one examines how both immediate social influences and long-term personality characteristics affect a person. Students interested in this area should follow the Social and Personality sequence. Advanced courses in Social Psychology and in Theories of Personality may also be of interest. Sociology, Anthropology and Management may also contribute to a well-rounded program of study. Advisors:
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| Last update: July 5, 2007 |