Program Requirements
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. The B.A.; Joint Honours Psychology Component (36 credits) provides students with an overview of psychological science, covering the core areas as well as select advanced courses. Students are required to take a 2-term research course and seminar; students also have the option to complete an additional research course (see Program Requirements for details). This program emphasizes practice in the research techniques and statistics used in graduate school and professionally later on. However, the Joint Honours Program is not as comprehensive as the B.A. or B.Sc. Honours Program, and does not give students the space to take the additional courses they may need for certain graduate programs in psychology or to complete the undergraduate credits in psychology as specified by the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec (which are required by some graduate psychology programs). Students must apply to the Joint Honours program; admission is selective.
Program Requirements
Students who wish to study at the Honours level in two Arts disciplines may apply to combine Joint Honours program components from two Arts disciplines. For a list of available Joint Honours programs, see "Overview of Programs Offered" and "Joint Honours Programs".
Joint Honours students should consult an adviser in each department to discuss their course selection.
Admission to the B.A. Joint Honours Component Psychology is highly selective. Typically, students apply to the B.A Joint Honours program at the end of U1; students may apply at the end of U2, although there are often fewer seats for students applying in U2 (also the B.A. Joint Honours program requirements must be completed within the remaining terms). To be eligible to apply to the B.A. Joint Honours in Psychology, students must have completed a minimum of 27 graded credits in the academic year prior to applying (fall and winter terms only). All applicants must have taken PSYC 204, PSYC 211, PSYC 212, PSYC 213, PSYC 215 and PSYC 305. Exceptional performance in these courses is a primary criterion for acceptance into the B.A. Joint Honours program. In addition to performance in these psychology courses, a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.50 is required to apply. However, since enrolment is limited, the typical CGPA cut-off is ~3.75, although this varies from year to year depending on the applicant pool. Once in the B.A. Joint Honours program, students must obtain a GPA of 3.00 in the U2 year to continue in the B.A. Joint Honours program for U3. Students are also encouraged to continue to complete a minimum of 27 graded credits in their U2 and U3 academic years. This is also the minimum number of credits required to be eligible for fellowships and awards.
The application is available on the Psychology Department website at: https://www.mcgill.ca/psychology/undergraduate/current- students/research-opportunities/research-courses. The deadline is specified on the website. Candidates will be informed of the Department's decision via email before classes begin in September.
Awarding of the B.A. Joint Honours program will depend on both CGPA and a minimum grade of B in PSYC 380D1/PSYC 380D2 and PSYC 306. "First Class Honours" is awarded to students who obtain a minimum CGPA of 3.50 and a minimum grade of A- in PSYC 380D1/PSYC 380D2 and PSYC 306. "Joint Honours" is awarded to students with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 and a minimum grade of B in PSYC 380D1/PSYC 380D2 and PSYC 306.
In addition to the requirements of the B.A. Joint Honours Component Psychology, students must also complete all requirements of their other Joint Honours component.
Program Prerequisites (0-6 credits)
Students planning to enter the B.A. Joint Honours Psychology program, should have completed an introductory course in general psychology, biology and statistics at the CEGEP level. Otherwise, they can complete them in their first year of study at McGill University (see below).
Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology in CEGEP is equivalent to PSYC 100 at McGill. Students who have not completed either of those courses are advised to take PSYC 100 in their first year.
Students who have completed Human Biology or General 1or 2 in CEGEP would have the recommended biology background.
Student who have not completed ones of those courses are advised to complete BIOL 115 or BIOL 111 or 112 during their first year.
McGill Freshman students are recommended to complete the following courses in their U0 year:
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PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Introduction to the scientific study of mind and behavior, including basic concepts and methods in psychology while also highlighting the relevance of psychology to everyday life; attachment, aggression, depression, parenting and personality change.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
Restriction: Not open to students who have passed an Introductory Psychology course in CEGEP: 350-101 or 350-102 or equivalent
3 credits from:
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BIOL 111 Principles: Organismal Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the phylogeny, structure, function and adaptation of unicellular organisms, plants and animals in the biosphere.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Hargreaves, Anna; Shapiro, Benjamin Jesse; Hendry, Andrew; Cristescu, Elena (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CEGEP objective 00UK or equivalent; or BIOL 115.
This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00UK
Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.
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BIOL 112 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The cell: ultrastructure, division, chemical constituents and reactions. Bioenergetics: photosynthesis and respiration. Principles of genetics, the molecular basis of inheritance and biotechnology.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Dent, Joseph Alan; Schöck, Frieder (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory
Labs are held weekly, starting from the second week of term. Attendance at the first lab is mandatory to confirm registration in the course.
This course serves as an alternative to CEGEP objective code 00XU
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CEGEP objective 00XU or equivalent;or BIOL 115; or AEBI 122
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BIOL 115 Essential Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to biological science that emphasizes the manner in which scientific understanding is achieved and evolves and the influence of biological science on society. Topics will include cell structure and function, genetics, evolution, organ physiology, ecology and certain special topics that change from year to year.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Woolley, Sarah; Western, Tamara (Fall)
Required Courses (33 credits)
U1
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PSYC 204 Introduction to Psychological Statistics (3 credits) *
Overview
Psychology : The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Kreitewolf, Jens (Fall) Kreitewolf, Jens (Winter)
Fall and Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have passed a CEGEP statistics course(s) with a minimum grade of 75%: Mathematics 201-307 or 201-337 or equivalent or the combination of Quantitative Methods 300 with Mathematics 300
This course is a prerequisite for PSYC 305, PSYC 406, PSYC 310, PSYC 336
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
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PSYC 211 Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to contemporary research on the relationship between brain and behaviour. Topics include learning, memory and cognition, brain damage and neuroplasticity, emotion and motivation, and drug addiction and brain reward circuits. Much of the evidence will be drawn from the experimental literature on research with animals.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Fall)
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PSYC 212 Perception (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Perception is the organization of sensory input into a representation of the environment. Topics include: survey of sensory coding mechanisms (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory), object recognition, spatial localization, perceptual constancies and higher level influences.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Roy, Mathieu (Winter)
Fall 2 Lectures, 1 conference
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PSYC 213 Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Where do thoughts come from? What is the nature of thought, and how does it arise in the mind and the brain? Cognition is the study of human information processing, and we will explore topics such as memory, attention, categorization, decision making, intelligence, philosophy of mind, and the mind-as computer metaphor.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Johns, Brendan (Fall) Sheldon, Signy (Winter)
Winter
2 lectures, 1 conference
Prerequisite: One previous course in Psychology.
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PSYC 215 Social Psychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The course offers students an overview of the major topics in social psychology. Three levels of analysis are explored beginning with individual processes (e.g., attitudes, attribution), then interpersonal processes (e.g., attraction, communication, love) and finally social influence processes (e.g., conformity, norms, roles, reference groups).
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Lydon, John (Fall) Hehman, Eric (Winter)
U1 or U2
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PSYC 305 Statistics for Experimental Design (3 credits) **
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to the design and analysis of experiments, including analysis of variance, planned and post hoc tests and a comparison of anova to correlational analysis.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Falk, Carl (Fall) Hwang, Heungsun; Kreitewolf, Jens (Winter)
Fall and Winter
Prerequisite: PSYC 204 or equivalent
This course is required of all students who propose to enter an Honours or Major program in Psychology
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
U2
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PSYC 306 Research Methods in Psychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The philosophy of science, the methods psychologists use, and how to interpret and evaluate psychological research. The ethical issues in psychological research and how to communicate psychological research in written and visual forms. How to become consumers of psychological science, and to provide building blocks to become expert producers of psychological science.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: O'Driscoll, Gillian (Winter)
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PSYC 380D1 Honours Research Project Seminar (4.5 credits)
Overview
Psychology : First laboratory research project.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Roy, Mathieu; Axt, Jordan; Lydon, John (Fall)
Restriction: Open only to students admitted to the psychology honours program (for details, see:https://www.mcgill.ca/psychology/undergraduate/current-students/research...);admission is selective.
Students must register for both PSYC 380D1 and PSYC 380D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both PSYC 380D1 and PSYC 380D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Prerequisite: Departmental permission required.
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PSYC 380D2 Honours Research Project Seminar (4.5 credits)
Overview
Psychology : See PSYC 380D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Roy, Mathieu; Axt, Jordan; Lydon, John (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: PSYC 380D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both PSYC 380D1 and PSYC 380D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
U2 or U3
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PSYC 439 Correlational Techniques (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The statistical analysis of relations among a number of variables in situations common in psychology. Methods include regression analysis, principal components analysis, and other techniques for modelling the structure of correlation matrices.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Hwang, Heungsun (Fall)
*Advising note for PSYC 204: CEGEP students are exempt from PSYC 204 if they have completed, with a minimum grade of 75%, the following two courses: 1) Quantitative Methods and either 2a) Advanced Quantitative Methods or 2b) Statistics for Social Science. CEGEP students are also exempt from PSYC 204 if they have completed Probability & Statistics or Statistics with a minimum grade of 75%.
Bachelor of Arts students exempt from PSYC 204 replace this course with 3 credits at the 300 level or above in Psychology (PSYC), Anthropology (ANTH), Linguistics (LING), or Sociology (SOCI).
**Note: Students who wish to apply to the Joint Honours program in Psychology must complete the required courses above, including PSYC 305 in their U1 year to be eligible for admission. Also, all students must complete a minimum of 27 graded credits in the academic year prior to applying (fall and winter terms only). For additional information about applying to Joint Honours, please refer to the Joint Honours program description.
Complementary Course (3 credits)
3 credits in Psychology at the 400 or 500 level.
