ObjectivesGraduate training in psychology at Concordia is primarily for students intending to obtain the PhD degree in our program. At the beginning of graduate training, students typically pursue an MA in Psychology and then proceed to complete the PhD in Psychology. Students affiliate at admission with either the Research or the Research & Clinical Training Options. The two options have the same research requirements; the Research & Clinical Training Option also includes training in the delivery of psychological services. Graduate training in Psychology at Concordia has two unique features: its selection of areas of research specialization and the availability of clinical training regardless of research specialization area.
Academic titleMaster of Arts in Psychology
Course descriptionCredits. A fully-qualified candidate is required to complete a minimum of 45 credits consisting of course work and thesis as follows: PSYC 601 (3 credits); PSYC 644, 645, 646, or 647 (3 credits); PSYC 714 (6 credits); 3 credits selected in consultation with the thesis supervisor from among PSYC 700, 716, 721, 724, 725, 726, 727 or 734; and PSYC 690 (30 credits).
Students affiliated with the Research & Clinical Training Option will take PSYC 700 and will concurrently complete the courses indicated under Graduate Certificate in Clinical Psychology and under the PhD (Research & Clinical Training) as taken during the MA years.
It is recommended that students also take Multivariate Statistics 734 or equivalent.
Thesis. The student must submit a thesis on a topic relating to one or more of the areas of research specialization of the department (Behavioural Neuroscience, Clinical and Health Research, Human Development and Developmental Processes, and Cognitive Science) chosen in consultation with his or her thesis supervisor. Topics must be approved by a committee of the department. The thesis shall be read and graded by the student’s thesis director and by at least two other scholars, one of whom may be an outside examiner. For purposes of registration, this work will be designated as PSYC 690: Research and Thesis (30 credits).
Thesis Examination. The student must defend the thesis and demonstrate knowledge of the field in which the thesis falls in an oral examination before a committee of the department.
The following are 3-credit courses unless otherwise indicated.
PSYC 601 Statistical Analysis and Experimental Design
A detailed consideration of selected issues in Psychological statistics. Topics include parametric and non-parametric techniques, analysis of variance, power of statistical tests, and hypothesis testing.
PSYC 644 Clinical and Health Research Area Seminar I
A seminar in which current research of faculty and students in clinical and health psychology is presented and discussed.
PSYC 645 Cognitive Science Area Seminar I
A seminar in which current research of faculty and students in cognitive science is presented and discussed.
PSYC 646 Human Development Area Seminar I
A seminar in which current research of faculty and students in human development and developmental processes is presented and discussed.
PSYC 647 Behavioural Neuroscience Area Seminar I
A seminar in which current research of faculty and students in behavioural neuroscience is presented and discussed.
PSYC 690 Research and Thesis (30 credits)
PSYC 700 Psychopathology
Prerequisite: Undergraduate course in behaviour disorders or equivalent.
This seminar deals with historical and current approaches to the study of behaviour disorders and problems of life adjustment in both adults and children, including critical evaluation of empirical findings in selected areas. Classification systems, including the current revision of the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, are critically reviewed. Students with credit for PSYC 660 or 860 may not take this course for credit.
PSYC 701 Models of Assessment I
Prerequisite: PSYC 700; Co-requisite: PSYC 706 or permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
Cognitive and ability testing of children and adults. This course stresses the conceptual bases of ability testing, research results and their implications for test interpretation, and strengths and limitations of current test batteries for children and adults. Specific course content includes: a) measurement theory, including issues of test construction, reliability, validity, and evaluation; b) appropriate use and interpretation of specific cognitive assessment batteries (e.g. the Wechsler and Stanford-Binet scales for children and adults); and c) special assessment issues, including the testing of minorities and assessment-related ethical problems. A practicum in assessment techniques (PSYC 706) is typically taken in conjunction with this course.
PSYC 702 Models of Assessment II
Prerequisite: PSYC 701; Co-requisite: PSYC 707 or permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
This course is a continuation of Assessment I, and focuses on the measurement of behaviour related directly to personality and/or behaviour disorders in both adult and child populations. Interviewing, projective techniques and structural (quantitative) tests of personality such as the MMPI and CPI are included. The course stresses the evaluation of assessment procedures in terms of reliability and validity issues, and focuses on the selection and use of assessment procedures for specific types of prediction. The course also stresses the integration of assessment procedures into treatment planning and evaluation.
PSYC 703 Psychological Treatment I: Foundations and Systems
Prerequisite: PSYC 700.
Models of psychological intervention with both adults and children are examined with respect to: a) theoretical formulations and etiological assumptions; b) treatment objectives and strategies; c) issues related to the application of these models; d) the efficacy of treatment procedures, including general issues in outcome research. The major emphases are on behavioural and psychodynamic approaches. Among other topics, the ethics of therapeutic interventions are discussed.
PSYC 704 Psychological Treatment II: Empirically Supported Interventions
Prerequisite: PSYC 703.
A continuation of PSYC 703. Psychological Treatment I: Foundations and Systems.
PSYC 705 Therapy Practicum I
Prerequisites or Co-requisites: PSYC 700 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
Students participate in case supervision, observe and/or assist with clients in therapy, and attend case conferences at the Applied Psychology Centre.
PSYC 706 Assessment Practicum I (1 credit)
Prerequisites or Co-requisites: PSYC 701, 705 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
This course focuses on the practical applications of the material discussed in Models of Assessment I (PSYC 701). Students administer intellectual tests under supervision. Techniques for administration, interpretation and report-writing of specific test batteries suitable for adults and children are stressed.
PSYC 707 Assessment Practicum II (2 credits)
Prerequisite: PSYC 706, Co-requisite: PSYC 702, and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
This course focuses on the practical applications of the material discussed in models of Assessment II (PSYC 702). Students administer personality tests under supervision. Techniques for administration, interpretation and report writing of specific assessment test batteries suitable for adults and children are stressed.
PSYC 708 Therapy Practicum II: General
Prerequisite or Co-requisites: PSYC 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
The focus of this course is the practical applications of the material discussed in Models of Assessment II and Models of Behaviour Change I and II PSYC 702, 703 and 704. Students are responsible for the assessment and treatment of selected clients of the Applied Psychology Centre under faculty supervision.
PSYC 709 Therapy Practicum II: Adult
Prerequisites or Co-requisites: PSYC 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
The focus of this course is the practical applications of the material discussed in Models of Assessment II and Models of Behaviour Change I and II PSYC 702, 703 and 704. Students are responsible for the assessment and treatment of selected adult clients of the Applied Psychology Centre under faculty supervision.
PSYC 710 Therapy Practicum II: Child
Prerequisites or Co-requisites: PSYC 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
This focus of this course is the practical applications of the material discussed in Models of Assessment II and Models of Behaviour Change I and II PSYC 702, 703 and 704. Students are responsible for the assessment and treatment of selected child clients of the Applied Psychology Centre under faculty supervision.
PSYC 711 Extramural Practicum I: General (non-credit)
Prerequisites: PSYC 701, 702, 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
A four-month extramural practicum done under qualified supervisors in an applied setting approved by the department’s internship committee, e.g., hospitals, clinics, schools, community and rehabilitation centres.
PSYC 712 Extramural Practicum I: Adult (non-credit)
Prerequisites: PSYC 701, 702, 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
A four-month extramural practicum with adult clients, done under qualified supervisors in an applied setting approved by the department’s internship committee, e.g. hospitals, clinics, schools, community and rehabilitation centres.
PSYC 713 Extramural Practicum I: Child (non-credit)
Prerequisites: PSYC 701, 702, 703, 704, 706, 707 and permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
A four-month extramural practicum with child clients, done under qualified supervisors in an applied setting approved by the department’s internship committee, e.g., hospitals, clinics, schools, community and rehabilitation centres.
PSYC 714 Central Topics in Psychology (6 credits)
A general seminar dealing with basic theoretical and research issues in Psychology. Topics will be drawn from a wide range of areas in Psychology including perceptual and cognitive processes, learning, motivation, and psycho-pathology. Issues will be considered with respect to developmental, physiological and social approaches. Students who have credit for PSYC 602 may not take this course for credit.
PSYC 715 Vision and Audition
A seminar on physical, physiological and psychological aspects of visual and auditory perception with special emphasis on the comparison between normal and defective vision and hearing.
PSYC 716 Advanced Human Development
A seminar on theory and research in human development and developmental processes. Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number.
PSYC 720 Seminar on Ethical and Professional Issues
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: PSYC 834 or permission of the Director of Clinical Training.
In this biweekly seminar, ethical and professional issues in clinical psychology are considered through case presentations by students, faculty and guest clinicians. The ethical principles of national accrediting bodies and of the Order of Psychologists of Québec are reviewed.
PSYC 721 Special Topic Seminar
Advanced treatment of specialized research literature in an integrative or selected area of psychology outside the department’s major areas of specialization. This course may be offered as a seminar, tutorial or directed reading course, or in any other format, subject to approval of the program director.
Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number. Students with credit for PSYC 603 or 803 may take this course for credit only if the subject matter is different.
PSYC 724 Special Topics in Clinical and Health Psychology
Advanced treatment of specialized research literature in an area of clinical and/or health psychology. This course may be offered as a seminar, tutorial or directed reading course, or in any other format, subject to approval of the program director.
Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number. Students with credit for PSYC 603, 721, 803, or 805 may take this course for credit only if the subject matter is different.
PSYC 725 Special Topics in Cognitive Science
Advanced treatment of specialized research literature in an area of cognitive science. This course may be offered as a seminar, tutorial or directed reading course, or in any other format, subject to approval of the program director.
Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number. Students with credit for PSYC 603, 721, 803, or 805 may take this course for credit only if the subject matter is different.
PSYC 726 Special Topics in Human Development
Advanced treatment of specialized research literature in an area of human development and developmental processes. This course may be offered as a seminar, tutorial or directed reading course, or in any other format, subject to approval of the program director.
Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number. Students with credit for PSYC 603, 721, 803, or 805 may take this course for credit only if the subject matter is different.
PSYC 727 Special Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience
Advanced treatment of specialized research literature in an area of behavioural neuroscience. This course may be offered as a seminar, tutorial or directed reading course, or in any other format, subject to approval of the program director.
Subject matter will vary from term to term and from year to year. Students may re-register for this course, provided that the course content has changed. Change in content will be indicated by the letter following the course number. Students with credit for PSYC 603, 721, 803, or 805 may take this course for credit only if the subject matter is different.
PSYC 734 Multivariate Statistics
Prerequisite: PSYC 601.
Building upon material presented in PSYC 601, this course covers multivariate procedures, includes MANOVA, cluster analysis, canonical correlation, factor analysis, structural equation modelling, and multilevel modelling.
Note: Students who have received credit for PSYC 730 or PSYC 732 may not take this course for credit.