Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour - Mental Health Specialization (B.Sc.)

Admission Notes

1. Completion of CHEM 1A03  and one of BIOPHYS 1S03, PHYSICS 1A03 , 1C03 , 1V03  is required by the end of Level II, however, at least one of BIOPHYS 1S03, CHEM 1A03 , PHYSICS 1A03 , 1C03 , 1V03  is required for admission. It is recommended that both CHEM 1A03  and one of BIOPHYS 1S03, PHYSICS 1A03 , 1C03 , 1V03  be completed in Level I. Concepts from PHYSICS 1CC3  are particularly useful for understanding neuroscience, mathematical modelling, and perception. Students interested in these areas are encouraged to take PHYSICS 1C03  and 1CC3 .
2. Either PSYCH 1FF3  or 1XX3  is required for admission, however PSYCH 1XX3  is recommended. Completion of either PSYCH 1F03  or 1X03  is required by the end of Level II but PSYCH 1X03  is recommended in Level I.
3. When completed together, BIOLOGY 1A01  and 1A02  serve as a substitute for BIOLOGY 1A03 . These courses should be completed in the same term. If completed, both BIOLOGY 1A01  and 1A02  would be required for admission.

Admission

Enrolment in this program is limited and possession of the published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Selection is based on academic achievement but requires, as a minimum, completion of any Level I program with a Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 including:

Program Notes

1. The Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program allows students to choose courses that reflect their own interests in psychology, neuroscience and/or animal behaviour. Students are encouraged to discuss their course selections with a Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Academic Program Advisor.
2. Students in the Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program are eligible to complete a library study, independent research, and/or a thesis. Students wishing to complete undergraduate research are expected to (a) find their own research supervisor and (b) complete the appropriate application/permission forms by the deadline specified on the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour website (https://pnb.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate/experiential-opportunities/research-2/).
3. A thesis is recommended for students who wish to pursue graduate research.
4. Students who enter the program in September 2026 or later, may count a maximum of 6 units from PNB 3Q03 A/B S , 3QQ3 A/B S , 4Q03 A/B S , 4QQ3 A/B S  towards the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Course List.

Capstone Course List

• PNB 4D06 A/B - Senior Thesis
• PNB 4E03 - Topics in Social Diversity
• PNB 4J03 - Inquiry in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
• PNB 4Q03 A/B S - Senior Independent Library Study
• PNB 4QQ3 A/B S - Senior Independent Research
• PNB 4QQ6 A/B - Senior Independent Research
• PNB 4SC6 A/B - Science Communication in the Behavioural Sciences
• PSYCH 4R03 - Special Topics in Animal Behaviour
• CMTYENGA 4A06 - Semester at CityLAB: Design and Dialogue Inquiry and CMTYENGA 4A09 - Semester at CityLAB: Applied Project Experience 
• SUSTAIN 4S06 A/B - Leadership in Sustainability
• HTHSCI 4D06 A/B S - Senior Project in Engaging the City

Mental Health Course List

• HUMBEHV 3MD3 - Research Methods for Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour
• PNB 2A03 - Python for PNB
• PNB 3A03 - Neuroimaging
• PNB 3EE3 - Perception Laboratory
• PNB 3EV3 - Evolutionary Psychology Lab
• PNB 3I06 A/B
• PNB 3L03 - Neurodevelopment & Plasticity Lab
• PNB 3MM3 - Cognitive Neuroscience Lab
• PNB 3QM3 A/B S - Independent Research in Mental Health
• PNB 3QQ3 A/B S - Intermediate Independent Research
• PNB 3S03 - Animal Behaviour Lab
• PNB 3V03 - Human Memory Lab
• PSYCH 3AB3 - Adolescent Psychology
• PSYCH 3AC3 - Human Sexuality
• PSYCH 3AG3 - Aging
• PSYCH 3BA3 - Positive Psychology
• PSYCH 3CC3 - Forensic Psychology
• PSYCH 3EV3 - Evolution and Mental Health
• PSYCH 3F03 - Evolution and Human Behaviour
• PSYCH 3H03
• PSYCH 3JJ3 - Socio-Emotional Development
• PSYCH 3M03 - Motivation and Emotion
• PSYCH 3T03 - Behavioural Ecology
• PSYCH 3VV3 - Human Memory
• SOCPSY 3M03 - Counselling & Psychotherapy

Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Course List

• BIOLOGY 3P03 - Cell Physiology
• BIOLOGY 4T03 - Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
• HTHSCI 4BB3 - Neuroimmunology
• HUMBEHV 3MD3 - Research Methods for Applied Psychology in Human Behaviour
• LIFESCI 3BB3 - Neurobiology of Disease
• LIFESCI 3E03 - Reproductive Endocrinology
• LIFESCI 3K03 - Neural Control of Human Movement
• LINGUIST 2PS3 - Psycholinguistics
• LINGUIST 3C03 - Child Language Acquisition
• LINGUIST 3NL3 - Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• MUSICCOG 2MP3 - Introduction to Music Cognition
• all Level III and IV MUSICCOG courses
• NEUROSCI 3J03 - Visual Neuroscience
• NEUROSCI 3MN3 - Computational Models in Neuroscience
• NEUROSCI 3SN3 - Neural Circuits
• PNB 2A03 - Python for PNB
• PSYCH 2MP3 - Introduction to Music Cognition
• all Level III and IV PNB courses
• all Level III and IV PSYCH courses

Requirements

120 units total (Levels I to IV), of which no more than 48 units may be Level I

Requirements for Students Who Entered in September 2024 or Prior

120 units total (Levels I to IV), of which no more than 48 units may be Level I

Requirements (Effective September 2026)

120 units total (Levels I to IV), of which no more than 48 units may be Level I