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• 2001 ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ College, Room 740
• Montreal QC H3A 1G1
• Telephone: 514-398-6100
• Fax: 514-398-4896
• Email: undergrad.psych [at] mcgill.ca
• Website: mcgill.ca/psychology

The Department of Psychology offers programs in both Arts and Science. All B.A. programs in Psychology can be found in Faculty of Arts > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Psychology.

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behaviour. It is both a social and a biological science.

• As a social science, psychology examines the social nature of human beings and the influence that culture, group membership, and relationships have on individual personality, thought, and behaviour.
• As a biological science, psychology seeks to identify the neural basis of human behaviour, both directly, through the study of humans, and indirectly, through the study of other species.

The data of psychology is collected within the psychological laboratory by the use of experimental methods in the study of behaviour, and outside the laboratory by systematic observation of the behaviour of humans and animals. The aim is to formulate general principles of perception, learning, motivation, cognition, and social psychology that are relevant to different aspects of human life. Experimentation, laboratory techniques, observational procedures, measurement, and statistical methods are important tools of the psychologist.

Psychology has many interdisciplinary aspects. The study of psychological problems often involves knowledge drawn from other disciplines such as biology, physiology, linguistics, sociology, philosophy, and mathematics. For this reason, a student with varied interests can frequently find a place for these in psychology.

Psychology is a young science, so explanations of the processes underlying observed phenomena are often theoretical and speculative. The major objectives of psychological study are to reduce the discrepancy between theory and fact and to provide better answers about why humans think and behave as they do.

Undergraduate Studies

Although a number of undergraduate courses in psychology have applied implications, applied training is not the purpose of the undergraduate curriculum. Its purpose is to introduce the student to an understanding of the basic core of psychological knowledge, theory, and method, regardless of questions of practical application.

The B.Sc. or B.A. with a Major or Honours degree in psychology is not a professional qualification; it does not qualify the individual to carry on professional work in psychology. In the province of Quebec, the minimum requirement for membership in the Order of Psychologists, the professional association governing the work of psychologists in the province, is a doctoral degree. However, the Order also has a number of undergraduate course requirements that you should consult in planning your degree if you ultimately hope to apply for membership in the Order of Psychologists of Quebec. All students planning to practise in the province of Quebec will also be examined on their proficiency in French before being admitted to the professional association. Undergraduate courses in psychology may prove to be of considerable value to students planning careers in professional fields other than psychology. These include, but are not restricted to, medicine, education, social work, human communication sciences, and business and industry.

What distinguishes the Honours program from the Major program is the Honours program's emphasis on research methodology and practice, and its requirement that students maintain a high academic standard. Honours students also have an opportunity to work closely with faculty members in small groups.

Graduate Studies

Students who are interested in psychology as a career must pursue graduate studies. Persons who hold graduate degrees in Psychology, usually the Ph.D., may find employment in universities, research institutes, hospitals, community agencies, government departments, large corporations, or may act as self-employed consultants. At the graduate level, psychology has many specialized branches including social psychology, cognitive psychology, physiological psychology, experimental psychology, clinical psychology, child psychology, industrial psychology, educational psychology, and others.

Requirements for admission to graduate studies in psychology vary from one university to another and from one country to another. Nonetheless, both the Honours and Major degrees in Psychology may qualify the student for admission to many graduate schools, provided that sufficiently high grades are obtained and, in some cases, that research experience has been obtained. During the U2 year, undergraduate students are strongly advised to verify the admission requirements of various graduate programs. This is to ensure that sufficient time is available for students to complete all necessary requirements for admission to their preferred graduate programs.

All new students entering the Psychology undergraduate program should attend an information meeting prior to registration. Newly admitted students from CEGEPs should attend the information session in June. There will be an identical information session in August for all other students and for any CEGEP students who could not attend the earlier meeting. Please check the Psychology Department website for the specific dates. Students accepted into a Bachelor of Arts program must attend a different information meeting from the one offered to students in the Faculty of Science. (For details, see Faculty of Arts > Undergraduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Psychology). At this meeting, the Psychology Undergraduate Advising team will explain the requirements of the Department's programs. Incoming students will have an opportunity to ask questions and receive advice on how to plan their courses.

Entering students can bring a copy of their collegial transcript(s). They should also consult the eCalendar and a preliminary Class Schedule before this advising session.

Students entering the Psychology program in January are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with an academic advisor in the Department of Psychology in early December to clarify their course selection.