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Program Requirements

Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your program coordinator should you notice any discrepancies.

Fields

Training at the doctoral level in all four fields is based on a research apprenticeship model, in which students work closely with faculty supervisors conducting research.

Doctoral students are encouraged to teach a course as part of their program experience.

Cognitive and Behavioural Neurosciences

  • One of PS660: Principles of Cognition, or PS663: Principles of Neuroscience. Students will take whichever course they did not take previously. Those students entering the program without a Laurier MSc will take the course most suited to their research interests (in consultation with Psychology graduate coordinator).
  • PS856 Research Seminar in Neuroscience II. All PhD candidates are required to participate in the research seminar. The seminars will have a component devoted to training in teaching. The seminars are taken in the fall and winter terms for the duration of the student’s enrolment in PhD program. Students are marked on a pass/fail basis in the last year in the program (receiving an incomplete until that point).
  • PS891: Comprehensive Research Experience I. During the first two years of the PhD program, all students must complete a comprehensive research experience under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor.
  • Two additional credits from either: (i) PS892: Comprehensive Research Experience II (which can take the role of : a research project, including a written report, or a review paper) under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor, or (ii) elective content courses from: PS860: Seminar in Cognition, PS861: Seminar in Comparative Cognition, PS862: Seminar in Perception, PS863: Seminar in Behavioural Neuroscience, PS864: Seminar in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, PS865: Seminar in Cognitive Neuroscience.
  • PS899: Dissertation.

Community Psychology

  • PS801: Multi-level Modeling.
  • PS802: Program Evaluation.
  • PS805: Qualitative Research Methods.
  • PS880: Theories and Ethics of Social Analysis and Intervention.
  • PS886: Community-Based Participatory Research Theory.
  • PS887: Application of Social Science Theories to Community Issues.
  • PS891: Comprehensive Research Experience I During the first two years of the PhD program, all students must complete a comprehensive research experience.
  • One additional credit from either: (i) PS892: Comprehensive Research Experience II (which can take the role of : a research project, including a written report, or a review paper) under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor, or (ii) an elective content course from another field in the PhD program, or from other graduate course offerings at Laurier.
  • PS899: Dissertation.

Developmental Psychology

  • The following two courses (as offered): PS874: Advanced Seminar in Social Developmental Psychology, PS875: Advanced Seminar in Cognitive Developmental Psychology. These two courses will alternate every other year, usually taught by one faculty member in his/her area of specialization.
  • PS800: Advanced Multivariate Methods.
  • PS891: Comprehensive Research Experience I . During the first two years of the PhD program, all students must complete a comprehensive research experience under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor.
  • One additional credit from either: (i) PS892: Comprehensive Research Experience II (which can take the role of : a research project, including a written report, or a review paper) under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor, or (ii) an elective content course from another field in the PhD program, or from other graduate course offerings at Laurier. Electives may include but are not restricted to: PS860: Seminar in Cognition, PS861: Seminar in Comparative Cognition, PS862: Seminar in Perception, PS863: Seminar in Behavioural Neuroscience, PS864: Seminar in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, PS870: Specialized Research and Methods in Social Psychology I: Attitudes and Social Cognition or PS871: Specialized Research and Methods in Social Psychology II: Interpersonal Relationships and Group Processes. The course should provide for greater breadth of perspective in the student's dissertation area.
  • PS876: Research Seminar in Developmental Psychology I, PS877: Research Seminar in Developmental Psychology II and PS878: Research Seminar in Developmental Psychology III. All PhD candidates are required to participate in these research seminars. The seminars will have a component devoted to training in teaching. The seminars are taken in each of the first 3 years (I, II and III in each of year 1, 2 and 3 respectively) of the PhD program and are marked on a pass/fail basis.
  • PS899: Dissertation.

Social Psychology

  • The following two courses (as offered): PS870: Specialized Research and Methods in Social Psychology I: Attitudes and Social Cognition, PS871: Specialized Research and Methods in Social Psychology II: Interpersonal Relationships and Group Processes. These two courses will alternate every other year, usually taught by one faculty member in his/her area of specialization.
  • PS800: Advanced Multivariate Methods.
  • PS891: Comprehensive Research Experience I. During the first two years of the PhD program, all students must complete a comprehensive research experience under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor.
  • One additional credit from either: (i) PS892: Comprehensive Research Experience II (which can take the role of: a research project, including a written report, or a review paper) under the supervision of a faculty member other than their advisor , or (ii) an elective content course from another field in the PhD program, or from other graduate course offerings at Laurier. Electives may include but are not restricted to: PS860: Seminar in Cognition, PS861: Seminar in Comparative Cognition, PS862: Seminar in Perception, PS863: Seminar in Behavioural Neuroscience, PS864: Seminar in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, PS874: Advanced Seminar in Social Developmental Psychology, PS875: Advanced Seminar in Cognitive Developmental Psychology. The course should provide for greater breadth of perspective in the student's dissertation area.
  • PS846: Research Seminar in Social Psychology I, PS847: Research Seminar in Social Psychology II, and PS848: Research Seminar in Social Psychology III. All PhD candidates are required to participate in these research seminars. The seminars will have a component devoted to training in teaching. The seminars are taken in each of the first 3 years (I, II and III in each of year 1, 2 and 3 respectively) of the PhD program and are marked on a pass/fail basis.
  • PS899: Dissertation.

PhD Dissertation Requirements

The university regulations regarding the requirements for submitting a doctoral dissertation and scheduling the oral examination will apply. Refer to the academic calendar.