Psychology

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

This program offers five areas of specialization and consists of graduate course work and a thesis for a minimum of 30 units.

Students must complete

and one of the following research seminar courses specific to specialization taken every fall and spring

and the requirements from one of the five areas of specialization below

and two graduate courses outside of student's specialization area

and a thesis proposal

and a thesis

Accelerated Master's

SFU students accepted in the accelerated master’s within the Department of Psychology may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor’s degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor’s program and the requirements of the master’s degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.

Specialization

Cognitive and Neural Sciences Specialization

Students must complete a minimum of two area courses determined in consultation with the student's supervisor and graduate program chair.

Developmental Psychology Specialization

Students must complete

and a minimum of two graduate psychology courses chosen in consultation with the supervisor or graduate program chair.

History, Quantitative and Theoretical Psychology Specialization

Students must complete a minimum of two area courses determined in consultation with the student's supervisor and graduate program chair.

Law and Forensic Psychology Specialization

Students must complete

and a minimum two of

Social Psychology Specialization

Students must complete

and a minimum two of

* This course may be repeated for credit.

Clinical Psychology Program Requirements

Students in the clinical program are all members of the clinical research area. The PhD program, accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), is based on the scientist-practitioner training model. The program provides generalist training and optional tracks in clinical child psychology, clinical forensic psychology, and clinical neuropsychology. Standing in the program is contingent upon maintenance of satisfactory performance in course work, thesis work, practicum skills development, comprehensive exams and adherence to professional ethical standards (CPA Code of Ethics, and CPBC Code of Conduct). Unsatisfactory academic progress and/or CPA ethical code of conduct violations (e.g. dishonesty, boundary violations, etc.) may lead to withdrawal from the clinical program.

The clinical MA program consists of graduate course work and thesis for a minimum of 30 units.

Students must complete all of

and one of the following every fall and spring term

and the requirements from one of the tracks below

and a thesis proposal

and a thesis

** Students are expected to complete PSYC 819 in their second year of the MA program (typically in the spring term).

*** Students must be enrolled in PSYC 825 every term.

Accelerated Master's

SFU students accepted in the accelerated master’s within the Department of Psychology may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor’s degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor’s program and the requirements of the master’s degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.

Clinical Psychology Tracks

Clinical General Track

Students must complete two of the following in consultation with the student's supervisor and director of clinical training

• Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 1
• Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 2
• Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 3
• Advanced Topics in Assessment or Intervention Course 4

Clinical Child Track

Students must complete two of the following

Students who take PSYC 830 and 831 must take an additional course, however those intending to advance to the PhD are strongly encouraged to select PSYC 830 and PSYC 831.

Clinical Forensic Track

Students must complete two of the following

Clinical Neuropsychology Track

Students must complete two of the following

ANAT 516 - Functional Human Neuroanatomy: Central Nervous System (3) (UBC)

* when topic is offered as pediatric neuropsychology

Program Length

Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six terms.

Other Information

Entrance to the PhD Program

Students can complete their master’s and then apply to the PhD program or in certain circumstances they may transfer to the PhD program prior to completion. Students with a previous master's degree can apply mid-program to transfer into the PhD program (https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/graduate-studies.html); students whose transfer is approved are not required to complete an MA thesis. Course work taken in the MA program will not need to be repeated in the PhD program. A student’s supervisor, area coordinator and graduate program chair may recommend alternative course work.

Satisfactory Performance

It is the policy of the Department of Psychology that a grade of less than B (3.0) on any course is deemed unsatisfactory. Any graduate student who obtains a grade of less than B (3.0) in two or more courses or who fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.5, may be required to withdraw from the program. Additionally, students who receive unsatisfactory ratings on their annual evaluations, whether due to grades, inadequate progress through the program or unethical behavior, may be withdrawn from the program (as per Graduate General Regulation 1.8.2).

For clinical psychology program students, decisions regarding clinical suitability (defined as the demonstration of professional behaviour and judgement consistent with applicable ethical principles and standards) are determined by registered psychologists who are members of the clinical program committee. A student in the clinical psychology program whose behaviour raises the question of possible violations of the ethical codes binding the profession (Canadian Psychological Association Code of Ethics, and College of Psychologists of BC Code of Conduct) will be advised of the nature of the problem behaviour in writing, and requested to meet with the clinical committee in a confidential closed session to determine the facts. Involvement in clinical practica may be immediately suspended pending the outcome of this meeting.

Translational and Integrative Neuroscience (TRAIN) Specialization

Students interested in taking NEUR 800 and NEUR 801 to fulfill their graduate course requirements need to consult with the supervisor and graduate program chair.

For more information on TRAIN, please see Translational and Integrative Neuroscience.

Thesis

Students are required to present a written thesis proposal to their supervisory committee before the end of their fourth term in the program. After the thesis has been submitted an oral defence will be scheduled. Students are expected to have completed their thesis by the end of their second year in the program. For further information and regulations, see Graduate General Regulations 1.9.2.

Supervisory Committees

For the thesis, students establish a supervisory committee before the end of their first term. The supervisory committee will normally consist of at least two Department of Psychology tenure-track or tenured faculty members, one of whom will be the supervisor and committee chair. Other individuals who are considered necessary by the student and supervisor may serve on the committee.

Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations

All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.