Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour - Music Cognition 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 III, 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. 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.
3. MUSIC 1A03  or 1AA3  is required for admission, however, both are required for degree completion. Students who have completed Grade 3 History (or History 1, now Level 9 History) or Grade 5 History (or History 3, now ARCT History) from the Royal Conservatory of Music, with a grade of at least 70%, are not required to complete MUSIC 1AA3 , and those students who have similarly obtained at least 70% on RCM Grade 4 History (or History 2, now Level 10 History) are not required to complete MUSIC 1A03  either for admission to the Music Cognition Specialization or to fulfill their degree requirements. If one or both course requirements are waived, it is recommended these units be replaced with other MUSIC courses.
4. 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.
5. Completion of MUSIC 1CR3  is required by the end of Level II, however, it is recommended the course be completed in Level I. Students who have completed Advanced Rudiments (or Grade 2 Rudiments) from the Royal Conservatory of Music (a grade of 80% or above, within the last two years) or a grade of 70% or above on a qualifying music theory exam administered by the School of the Arts (SOTA) are not required to complete MUSIC 1CR3 . If the course requirement is waived, it is recommended these units be replaced with other MUSIC courses. Appointments can be made with SOTA to write the qualifying music theory exam on specific dates between February and May. The content of the exam is summarized at: https://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/.

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. Completion of MUSIC 1CR3  is required by the end of Level II, however, it is recommended the course be completed in Level I. Students who have completed Advanced Rudiments (or Grade 2 Rudiments) from the Royal Conservatory of Music (a grade of 80% or above, within the last two years) or a grade of 70% or above on a qualifying music theory exam administered by the School of the Arts (SOTA) are not required to complete MUSIC 1CR3 . If the course requirement is waived, it is recommended these units be replaced with other MUSIC courses. Appointments can be made with SOTA to write the qualifying music theory exam on specific dates between February and May. The content of the exam is summarized at: https://sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca/.
2. The Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour - Music Cognition Specialization allows students to choose courses that reflect their own interests. Students are encouraged to discuss their course selections with a Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Academic Program Advisor
3. Students in the Honours Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour - Music Cognition Specialization 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 indicated on the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour website (https://pnb.mcmaster.ca/undergraduate/experiential-opportunities/research-2/).
4. A thesis is recommended for students who wish to pursue graduate research. 
5. Both MUSIC 1A03  and 1AA3  must be completed for degree completion.
6. Students are encouraged to complete PSYCH 3A03  as part of the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour Course List requirement.
7. 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

• MUSICCOG 4D06 A/B - Thesis in Music Cognition
• MUSICCOG 4QQ3 A/B S - Experimental Laboratory in Music Cognition II
• 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

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
• MUSIC 2MT3 - Introduction to the Practice of Music Therapy
• MUSIC 3MT3
• MUSICCOG 3QQ3 A/B S - Experimental Laboratory in Music Cognition I
• NEUROSCI 3J03 - Visual Neuroscience
• NEUROSCI 3MN3 - Computational Models in Neuroscience
• NEUROSCI 3SN3 - Neural Circuits
• PNB 2A03 - Python for PNB
• 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