Program Requirements
The Ph.D. in Psychology; Behavioural Neuroscience program emphasizes modern, advanced theory and methodology aimed at the neurobiological underpinnings of behaviour in human and non-human animals. This program is intended for graduate students in any area of Psychology who wish to obtain unique, intensive training at the intersection of psychology and neuroscience, thereby enhancing their expertise; the interdisciplinary potential of their dissertation research, and enabling them to compete successfully for academic or commercial positions in either field alone, or their intersection. It requires that students complete a dissertation that addresses Behavioural Neuroscience themes as determined by the graduate program director.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field of Behavioural Neuroscience and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses
-
PSYC 701 Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
Overview
Psychology : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
-
PSYC 781 Behavioural Neuroscience Special Topics (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Behavioural neuroscience (BNS) emphasizes recent advances in both theory and methodology aimed at describing neurobiological processes underpinning behaviour and cognition in non-human and human animals. This team-taught lecture course will survey multiple topics within the field of BNS and is intended to provide students with a broad theoretical, methodological, and empirical foundation within the discipline.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Open to all McGill graduate students with permission of the instructor. Psychology graduate students will have enrollment priority.
-
PSYC 782 Behavioural Neuroscience Advanced Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Behavioural neuroscience (BNS) emphasizes recent advances in both theory and methodology aimed at describing neurobiological processes underpinning behaviour and cognition in non-human and human animals. This seminar course will focus on a specific topic within the field of BNS, and is thus intended to provide students with an in-depth understanding at the theoretical, methodological, and empirical levels.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: PSYC 781
Restrictions: Open to all McGill graduate students with permission of the instructor. Psychology graduate students will have enrollment priority.
Complementary Courses
6-18 credits
6 credits (one course per term in Year 2 and Year 3) chosen from relevant 700-level courses in consultation with the supervisor and graduate program director.
0-12 credits from the following (students without a master's degree from McGill need to take all 12 credits):
-
PSYC 650 Advanced Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : A course in advanced statistics with specialization in experimental design.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
-
PSYC 651 Advanced Statistics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : A course in advanced statistics with specialization in multivariate techniques.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
-
PSYC 660D1 Psychology Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Professors representing the various research areas within the Department discuss critical issues and developments within their fields of expertise.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Students must register for both PSYC 660D1 and PSYC 660D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both PSYC 660D1 and PSYC 660D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
-
PSYC 660D2 Psychology Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : See PSYC 660D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: PSYC 660D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both PSYC 660D1 and PSYC 660D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Note: The Department of Psychology does not ordinarily require an examination in a foreign language however, all students planning on practicing clinical psychology in the province of Quebec will be examined based on their proficiency in French before being admitted to the professional association.
