Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology

The program information below was valid for the winter 2024 term (January 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Graduate research fields

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Two years
  • Program type 
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
  • Study option(s) 
  • Additional program information 
    • Students admitted to the Clinical Psychology field (area of research) of the MA program must supply a Criminal Record Check (Vulnerable Sector) to the Department of Psychology prior to being matriculated.

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • Normally an Honours Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in Psychology with at least a 80% overall standing, in the last two years, or equivalent.
    • Completion of the Department of Psychology Application.
    • Candidates applying to the Cognitive Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology graduate research fields within the program may submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic scores), though this is not a requirement.
    • Candidates with an Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent preparation may be admitted to a Master's program or directly to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program.
    • Qualified candidates are admitted to either a MA or a PhD program (in which a Master’s degree may be obtained along the way). The program to which candidates are admitted to varies by program Area (e.g., Clinical and Social applicants are typically accepted into an MA program, while Cognition, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, and Industrial Organizational students are typically accepted to a PhD program). Candidates accepted to the MA program are expected to continue to a PhD program.
  • Application materials 
    • Personal statement
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
      • From all other post-secondary institutions.
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      academic
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    • Students must be admitted to one of the following Graduate Research Fields:
      • Clinical Psychology
      • Cognitive Neuroscience
      • Cognitive Psychology
      • Developmental Psychology
      • Social Psychology

    Thesis option:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Course requirements are determined by the Graduate Research Field to which the student is admitted.
    • Students must complete a minimum of 4 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses (or equivalent) accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Psychology. Course requirements are minimum requirements only. Students may be required to take more courses depending on their previous academic background and Graduate Research Field.
    • Students pursuing the Clinical Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete additional courses (see below for further details).
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology may also be considered. Departmental permission is required. Note: when selecting a course from outside of the Department of Psychology, students should check with their advisor about its suitability.
    • Transfer credits may also be considered. The acceptance of transfer credits from prior registration at another university will be determined in individual cases by the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) of the Faculty at the time of admission to the program. Transfer credits must be "unused" credits (i.e., they must not have been credited towards an earlier acquired degree or other academic credential). Transfer credits must be specified in writing at the time of departmental recommendation for admission. A minimum of 70% (University of Waterloo converted grade) is required for transfer credit.
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology and transfer credits can usually count for no more than 1 one-term credits toward breadth requirements.
    • Use of a course not listed in the course requirements below to meet a degree requirement and other course substitutions are permitted but require departmental permission. Students should confirm the appropriateness of the course substitution with their advisor and have it approved by the Area head, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology.
    • When taking a course during the MA that is extra-to-degree (i.e., not taken to meet the MA requirements), students need to complete a course drop/add form and identify the course as extra-to-degree.
    • No degree candidate can fulfil more than half of the minimum department course requirements by Credit/No Credit courses.
    • Where applicable courses taken to meet the core and statistics requirements must be taken for numeric grade unless departmental permission is provided to take the course for Credit/No Credit.
    • Students pursuing the Clinical Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses. The courses are listed below in a typical sequence. Individual student’s course sequences may vary, for example, based on course availability.
      • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
      • Year One
        • Coursework (core):
          • PSYCH 716 Adult Psychopathology
          • PSYCH 717 Psychological Assessment I
          • PSYCH 718 Psychological Assessment II
          • PSYCH 719 Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology
        • Clinical Practica:
          • PSYCH 720A Practicum in Interviewing & Cognitive Assessment I
          • PSYCH 720B Practicum in Interviewing & Cognitive Assessment II
          • PSYCH 721A Diagnostic Assessment Practicum I
          • PSYCH 721B Diagnostic Assessment Practicum II
          • PSYCH 722C Clinical Full-Time Fieldwork Placement I (0.50 unit weight) or PSYCH 811C Clinical Part-Time Fieldwork Placement I (0.25 unit weight)
        • Research Activities:
          • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum I
      • Year Two
        • Coursework (core):
          • PSYCH 723 Child Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
          • PSYCH 724 Personality & Measurement Theory
          • PSYCH 725 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
        • Clinical Practica:
          • PSYCH 726A Practicum in Integrated Assessment I
          • PSYCH 726B Practicum in Integrated Assessment II
          • Elective: PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II (optional, by approval). Note: Students must have completed PSYCH 722C Clinical Full-Time Fieldwork Placement I or a set of 2 of PSYCH 811A, PSYCH 811B, and PSYCH 811C Clinical Part-Time Fieldwork Placement I, before they are eligible to take PSYCH 738A, PSYCH 738B, PSYCH 738C Clinical Fieldwork Placement II.
        • Research Activities:
          • PSYCH 621 Advanced Clinical Research Forum II
    • Students pursuing the Cognitive Neuroscience Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses:
      • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 803 Meta-Analysis
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 1 core Cognitive Neuroscience course of either PSYCH 677A Fundamentals of Behavioural Neuroscience or PSYCH 784 Human Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology
      • Minimum 1 core Cognitive Neuroscience course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 670 Special Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 779A Cognitive Neuropsychology I
        • PSYCH 781 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
        • PSYCH 782 Visual Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 783 Neuroimaging of Cognition
        • PSYCH 785 Attention and the Brain
        • PSYCH 788 (cross-listed as HLTH-672) Epidemiologic Methods in Aging Research
        • PSYCH 789 Mind-wandering and Inattention
        • PSYCH 790 Case Studies in Neuropsychology
        • PSYCH 792 An Introduction to Methods in Computational Neuroscience
        • PSYCH 794 Cognitive Neuroscience of Face Perception
      • Maximum 1 breadth course from other graduate research fields outside of Cognitive Neuroscience (e.g., not from the list of core Cognitive Neuroscience courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 707 Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 707 is a 0.0 unit weight credit/no credit course.
      • Students in Cognitive Neuroscience must take all courses for a numeric grade unless they are only offered Credit/No Credit.
    • Students pursuing the Cognitive Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses:
      • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
      • Minimum 1 core Cognitive Psychology course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • COGSCI 600 Seminar in Cognitive Science
        • PSYCH 758 Applied Practicum in Cognitive Psychology
        • PSYCH 759 Research Practicum in Cognitive Psychology
        • PSYCH 769 Causal Reasoning
        • PSYCH 770 Basic Issues in Cognition
        • PSYCH 771 Basic Visual Processes
        • PSYCH 774 Visual Cognition
        • PSYCH 775 Consciousness and Cognition
        • PSYCH 776 Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making
        • PSYCH 777 Human Memory
        • PSYCH 778 Attention
        • PSYCH 779 Language and Reading
        • PSYCH 650 Special Topics in Cognition and Perception
        • PSYCH 810 - Directed Studies (on approved topics in cognitive psychology)
      • Maximum 2 courses from other graduate research fields outside of Cognitive Psychology (e.g., not from the list of core Cognitive Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 747 Cognitive Psychology Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 747 is a 0.0 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students pursuing the Developmental Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses:
      • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • 2 core Developmental Psychology courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 680 Special Topics in Child Behaviour and Development
        • PSYCH 701 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Basic
        • PSYCH 702 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Social Cognitive Development
        • PSYCH 705 Foundations in Language Development: Basic Language Development
        • PSYCH 706 Foundations in Language Development: Pragmatics of Language
        • PSYCH 708 Reasoning about Ownership of Property
        • PSYCH 709 Reasoning about Beliefs and Desires
        • PSYCH 713 Theories of Pretense
        • PSYCH 810 - Directed Studies (on departmentally approved topics)
      • 1 breadth course from other graduate research fields outside of Developmental Psychology (i.e., not from the list of core Developmental Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 710 Current Issues in Developmental Psych Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 710 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.
    • Students pursuing the Social Psychology Graduate Research Field must complete the following courses:
      • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
        • PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
        • PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
        • PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
      • Minimum 2 core Social Psychology courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
        • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
        • PSYCH 704A Social Psychology
        • PSYCH 870 Research Design & Methods
        • PSYCH 743 Advanced Intergroup Relations
        • PSYCH 744 Personality in Social Context
        • PSYCH 745 Close Relationships
        • PSYCH 746 Culture and the Mind
        • PSYCH 749 Wisdom
        • PSYCH 748 Self-Regulation and Motivation
        • PSYCH 690 Special Topics in Social and Personality
      • Maximum 1 breadth course from other graduate research fields outside of Social Psychology (i.e., not from the list of core Social Psychology courses above) or an approved substitute.
      • Students must also take PSYCH 714 Social Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 714 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Thesis
    • A formally written Master’s Thesis is required.
    • A Graduate Research Field is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed research concentrated in the area of the Graduate Research Field. The Department, represented by the student’s supervisor and reading committee must assess whether a student’s completed research warrants the field designation at the time of degree completion. To obtain the Graduate Research Field designation, a student must also complete the requirements associated with the MA degree.

    Master's Research Paper option:

    Note: students must receive special permission from the Department to enter the Master’s Research Paper option. The Research Paper option is not available in the Clinical Psychology Graduate Research Field.

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • Course requirements are determined by the Graduate Research Field to which the student is admitted.
    • Students must complete a minimum of 8 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses (or equivalent) accepted for graduate credit by the Department of Psychology. These are minimum requirements only. Students may be required to take more courses.
    • Students must complete all of the required courses of their Graduate Research Field articulated in the Thesis study option section above.
    • Students must complete an additional 4 one-term (0.50 unit weight) courses. 2 of these courses must be in their Graduate Research Field and 2 must be from other Graduate Research Fields or approved substitutes.
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology may also be considered. Departmental permission is required. Note: when selecting a course from outside of the Department of Psychology, students should check with their advisor about its suitability.
    • Transfer credits may also be considered. The acceptance of transfer credits from prior registration at another university will be determined in individual cases by the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) of the Faculty at the time of admission to the program. Transfer credits must be "unused" credits (i.e., they must not have been credited towards an earlier acquired degree or other academic credential). Transfer credits must be specified in writing at the time of departmental recommendation for admission. A minimum of 70% (University of Waterloo converted grade) is required for transfer credit.
    • Courses from outside the Department of Psychology and transfer credits can usually count for no more than 1 one-term credits toward breadth requirements.
    • Use of a course not listed in the course requirements below to meet a degree requirement and other course substitutions are permitted but require
      departmental permission. Students should confirm the appropriateness of the course substitution with their advisor and have it approved by the Area head, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology.
    • No degree candidate can fulfil more than half of the minimum department course requirements by Credit/No Credit courses.
    • Where applicable courses taken to meet the core and statistics requirements must be taken for numeric grade unless departmental permission is provided to take the course for Credit/No Credit.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Research Paper
    • A formally written Master’s Research Paper is required. The student’s supervisor and one additional reader must assess and approve the Master’s Research Paper.
    • A Graduate Research Field is a University credential that is recognized on the student’s transcript and is intended to reflect that a student has successfully completed research concentrated in the area of the Graduate Research Field. The Department, represented by the student’s supervisor and one additional reader must assess whether a student’s completed research warrants the field designation at the time of degree completion. To obtain the Graduate Research Field designation, a student must also complete the requirements associated with the MA degree.
Department of Psychology website
Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology future students program page