Experimental and Applied Psychology (MSc, PhD)

Program Overview

The University of Regina's graduate programs in experimental and applied psychology emphasize rigorous training in research methods and statistics. Students engage in hands-on research, mentored by renowned faculty, and gain exposure to diverse settings, including traditional laboratory and community-based environments. Graduates pursue careers in academia, research, and other fields, making a significant impact in the psychological field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The University of Regina's experimental and applied psychology graduate degree programs (MSc and PhD) are designed to prepare students for high-impact careers in psychological research within academic, industry, or public-sector settings. The program emphasizes hands-on research experience, encouraging students to participate in faculty research programs and present findings at conferences.

Key Objectives:

• Rigorous training in research methods and statistics: The program focuses on developing technical skills, particularly data analysis and computer programming.
• Exposure to diverse research settings: Students gain experience in traditional laboratory settings as well as community-based settings like law enforcement agencies and schools.
• Faculty mentorship and guidance: Students are challenged and mentored by faculty conducting renowned, impactful, and high-quality research.
• Development of research skills: Students learn to plan and execute experimental and applied psychology research using various equipment and tools, including Hexoskin vests, Biopac physiological recording equipment, eye-tracking equipment, and programming languages like Python, Matlab, E-Prime, R, and SPSS.

Assessment:

• Thesis: Both the MSc and PhD programs require the completion of a faculty-supervised thesis.
• Comprehensive Exams: The PhD program also requires comprehensive exams.
The format of these exams is flexible and can include:
• Writing a mock research grant proposal
• Completing a research practicum with a community partner
• Developing a new applied psychology or experimental psychology course

Teaching:

• Faculty Expertise: The program boasts a faculty of renowned researchers who provide mentorship and guidance to students.
• Collaboration with Other Disciplines: Students benefit from insights and instruction from faculty in business administration, kinesiology and health studies, and external researchers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
• Guest Lecturers: Additional professors from other universities, including Thompson Rivers University and the University of Guelph, contribute to the program.

Careers:

• Academic Positions: Recent PhD graduates have secured faculty appointments at universities in Canada and abroad.
• Research Positions: Graduates have also found research positions with the Saskatchewan government, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
• Other Opportunities: MSc graduates are employed in various settings, including:
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Depot
• Government of Canada
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice
• Saskatchewan Ministry of Education
• Ontario Trillium Foundation

Other:

• Research Areas: The program focuses on high-impact research areas, including:
• Cognitive psychology (attention, perception, memory, misinformation, visuospatial attention, applications for policing and investigative interviewing)
• Developmental psychology (childhood learning and development, forensic psychology, eyewitness testimony reliability, law enforcement decision-making)
• Neuroscience (neural correlates of emotion expression and interpretation, sex differences in cognitive and visuomotor skills, attention and visuospatial biases, prenatal hormone exposure and its effects on behavior)
• Social psychology (healthcare decisions about reproductive health, debriefing in social psychology research, justice system decision-making)
• Funding: The University of Regina offers scholarships, awards, and graduate teaching assistant positions to eligible students.
Faculty also provide support through their own grant funding, including research assistantships and stipends.
• Admission Requirements: Typically, applicants need an Honours degree in psychology with a faculty-supervised thesis.
However, other degrees with a combination of coursework and research experience may be considered.