Psychology (MA)

The MA in Psychology program has been designed to provide intensive research training and develop the capacity for a critical and scholarly approach to issues in each of the three specializations. Collaborative work allows students to link across focal areas to pursue the research questions they seek to address.

Specializations:

  • Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Lifespan Development
  • Social / Personality

Entry point:

  • September

Duration:

  • Thesis – 6 terms (2 years)

Application deadline:

  • December 15

Admission requirements

  1. Check the university requirements and the program requirements.
  2. Complete the online application and submit the non-refundable application fee.

For applicants with an undergraduate honours degree with a major in psychology or neuroscience:

You will need to submit your transcripts as well as the following program specific materials:

  • Two references, preferably academic, are required.
  • Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test are recommended but not required. See the program website for additional information. Applicant’s need to request official hard copies that once received, need to be uploaded to their application. Please do not have hard copies sent to the University. Scores on the GRE Psychology Subject Test are NOT required for those with backgrounds in psychology or neuroscience.
  • Include a Personal Statement of Interest. It should be no more than one page and provide some indication of your research experience (i.e. thesis research, RA work) as well as your intermediate and long term goals. Although not a requirement for your application package, an updated CV, listing any publications, presentations, research assistant work, etc. would be considered an asset. Statement (and optional CV) must be uploaded.
  • Complete the Applicant Interest Form (Research and Faculty Checklist) and upload. On this you will indicate, in order of preference, potential faculty members as supervisors in addition to indicating your interest in various research topics. If you are unable to fill out the form directly in the link provided, you can download the form and then upload to your application.

If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English, must be scanned and uploaded.

For applicants applying with backgrounds other than psychology or neuroscience:

The Department will consider applications from applicants with backgrounds other than psychology or neuroscience. The applicant must have completed a Bachelor’s Thesis in another discipline that involved empirical research at a level comparable to a Psychology (or Neuroscience) Honours Thesis. Candidates must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test and the GRE Psychology Subject test section. When applicants are unable to provide evidence of sufficient background preparation, they may be advised to take upper level Psychology undergraduate courses and reapply. Advising an applicant to upgrade does not obligate the Department to accept the candidate upon resubmission. If you have further questions please email psycgradinfo@brocku.ca.

You will need to submit your transcripts as well as the following program specific materials:

  • Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. See the program website for additional information.
  • Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Psychology Subject Test.
  • A personal statement of interest in pursuing graduate studies. It should be no more than one page and provide an indication of your research interests as well as your intermediate and long-term goals. If you are interested in including a CV (optional) indicating any relevant research, teaching or work experience, please include 1-2 pages of CV at the end of the statement of interest document.
  • Complete the Applicant Interest Form and upload. On this you will indicate, in order of preference, potential faculty members as supervisors in addition to indicating your interest in various research topics. If you are unable to fill out the form directly in the link provided, you can download the form and then upload to your application.

Please note: If English is not your native language, an official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English, must be digitally scanned and uploaded with your application.

Career outcomes

  • PhD programs in Psychology
  • Data management, research design, data analysis
  • Counselling, assessment, mental health, health care
  • Education, teaching
  • Computer programming