Course Requirements

For courses offered in 2018-2019, go directly to COURSES OFFERED IN 2018-2019.

Please note that if you fail to register for a course before the add/drop deadline (search for sessional dates in the current Graduate Calendar), you will have to complete a Petition for Special Consideration.

As you plan your courses, consult with your supervisory committee and complete your Plan of Study.

Health and Safety training, SGS 101, and SGS 201 must be completed in the first term of the first year.
SGS 700 is a placeholder course; if you are not taking any courses in a particular term, you must register in SGS 700.

The PNB Masters degree requires the following courses

• Statistics and Research Design (PSYCH 710, half course = 1 term = 3 units), completed in first year.
• Contemporary Problems in PNB (PSYCH 720, full course = 2 terms = 6 units), completed in first year.

The PNB PhD degree requires the following courses

• Statistics and Research Design (PSYCH 710, half course = 1 term = 3 units), completed in first year.
• Contemporary Problems in PNB (PSYCH 720, full course = 2 terms = 6 units), completed in first year.
• Two Advanced Statistics courses (PSYCH 711 and 712, quarter courses = 6-7 weeks = 1.5 units each)

• PSYCH 711: Advanced Statistics and Computational Methods I
• PSYCH 712: Advanced Statistics and Computational Methods II

These can be fulfilled in several ways: a statistical, computational, or programming course offered by the department, or with approval of your committee and the Graduate Chair, a course offered outside the department.

A request for substitution can be made by submitting a full course syllabus to the Graduate Chair. Discuss the substitution with your supervisory committee for their approval before submitting to the Graduate Chair.

• Two Independent Study Modules (PSYCH 713 and 714, quarter courses = 6-7 weeks = 1.5 units each)

• PSYCH 713: Special Topics in PNB I
• PSYCH 714: Special Topics in PNB II

Independent study modules are typically fulfilled by working in a lab other than your supervisor's lab to broaden knowledge and/or learn new techniques.

Substitutions can be made with approval of the Graduate Chair by submitting a proposal as outlined here. Discuss the proposal with your supervisory committee for their approval before submitting to the Graduate Chair.

The faculty member with whom you work to complete the research module should submit this Special Topics Evaluation form to Nancy Riddell to provide a grade.

• One additional half course (1 term = 3 units)

Check the McMaster Graduate Calendar (link to 2017-18 calendar) for the list of half courses. Notice that the names of the courses refer to general topics, to allow flexibility. You may take a course offered by the department or you may find a course in a different department or an approved online course, which can be used to fulfill one of the half courses listed.

Such substitutions can be made with approval of the Graduate Chair by submitting a full course syllabus. Discuss the substitution with your supervisory committee for their approval before submitting to the Graduate Chair.

• Comprehensive Exam

The PNB PhD RCT stream requires the following courses

• In the first year (Masters level), Research and Clinical Training (RCT) students take the following courses:

• Statistics and Research Design (PSYCH 710, half course = 1 term = 3 units), completed in first year.
• Contemporary Problems in PNB (PSYCH 720, full course = 2 terms = 6 units), completed in first year.
• Scientific and Professional Ethics in Clinical Psychology (PSYCH 751, half course = 1 term = 3 units), completed in first year.

• Visit the RCT webpages for course requirements beyond the first year.