MA Program

Our MA program provides opportunities to engage in intensive research training, and develop a critical and scholarly approach in each of our three focus areas: Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience, Lifespan Development, and Social & Personality Psychology. Full-time and part-time study is available. We offer high-quality training in a collaborative, collegial, and supportive environment

Program Features:

Research

  • Research work includes an empirical thesis, completed over a two-year period.
  • Each thesis is supervisory by a primary supervisor and two other committee members. Our small student-to-faculty ratio (typically 2:1) results in close mentorship.
  • Many students collaborate with fellow students and faculty members on additional research projects from both within and across research labs and focus areas.
  • Our students are actively involved in research and dissemination, including presentations at national and international academic conferences, and publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals.

Coursework

  • Coursework includes a two-term course on research methods and data analysis, a one-term ‘core’ course specific to each focus area, a one-term elective, a two-term research seminar taken for each of two years.

Teaching

  • Teaching assistantships (TA) are guaranteed for two terms, for each of two years. TAs help plan and lead seminars, grade assignments and exams, and mentor undergraduate students in small-group and one-on-one settings.

Funding

  • Funding is guaranteed for two years, approx. $17,500 per year. (Tuition and fees are approximately $10K per year).
  • Our students are highly successful in winning external scholarships and awards through provincial and national award agencies (60% of grad students for 2018-19), which can significantly boost funding per year.

Completion and Careers

  • MA students typically complete their degrees within 24 months.
  • Students develop market-ready transferable skills in several areas, including research design and implementation, data analysis, teaching, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.
  • In recent years, over 80% of our MA graduates have continued on to our PhD program.
  • Other MA graduates have gone on to careers in teaching, counselling, assessment, clinical practice, computer programming, and data analysis.