The Music Cognition specialization within the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University is unique within all North America universities, providing students with a double background in cognitive neuroscience and music, thus preparing them for interdisciplinary research into the cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience of music.
The coursework required for the degree involves not only a strong curriculum in music (including music history, harmony, and music analysis) but an equally strong curriculum in psychology, including specialized core courses in 1) Music Cognition, 2) Neuroscience of Music Cognition, and 3) Cognitive Development and Music Education.
The Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour offers a wealth of research opportunities to explore many aspects of music processing, including brain imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography), development, cognition, evolution, and even cross-cultural aspects of world musical styles. The research covers both perceptual and motor aspects of music cognition. A listing of department faculty can be found here.
Students in the Music Cognition specialization also have access to the activities organized by the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind, which puts together symposia, journal clubs, and joint lecture/concerts related to numerous aspects of music.
Students in Psychology are admitted to the Music Cognition program during Year 2, after having successfully completed the first-year admission requirements.
Note that entrance into the first-year Harmony course (MUSIC 1CC3) requires Grade 2 Rudiments from the Royal Conservatory of Music (a grade of 80% or above) within the last 2 years, or a grade of 65% or above on a qualifying music-theory exam administered by the School of the Arts (SOTA). Appointments can be made with SOTA to write the exam on specific dates between February and May. The content of the exam is summarized atwww.humanities.mcmaster.ca/audition/index.html
For further information about the Music Cognition specialization, please contact Ann Hollingshead (
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) for Psychology inquiries, or Dr. Andrew Mitchell (
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) for Music inquiries.
Honours Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (Music Cognition Specialization)
This is a Limited Enrollment Program. Selection is based on academic achievement but requires, as a minimum, completion of Level I admission requirements with a Cumulative Average of at least 6.0 (equivalent to a C+ at many universities).
Core courses in Music Cognition are shown in bold.
LEVEL I: 30 UNITS: ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
6 units Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PSYCH 1X03 or 1AA3) and Foundations of Psychology Neuroscience & Behaviour (PSYCH 1XX3 or 1A03) with a grade of at least B- in each.
3 units MUSIC: Introduction to the History of Music I (MUSIC 1A03) AND/OR Introduction to the History of Music II (MUSIC 1AA3). NOTE: Both courses must be completed by the entry to Level IV
3 units MATH: Calculus for Science I (MATH 1A03) OR Mathematics for the Life Sciences (MATH 1LS3)
6 units BIOLOGY: Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOLOGY 1A03) and Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity (BIOLOGY 1M03 or 1AA3)
3 units CHEMISTRY: Introduction to Chemistry I (CHEM 1A03) OR PHYSICS: Mechanics and Waves (PHYSICS 1B03) OR Physics of Living Systems (PHYSICS 1L03)
6 units from the Life Sciences I Course List
3 units Electives
LEVEL II: 30 UNITS
3 units Music Cognition (PSYCH 2MA3 / MUSICCOG 2A03)
6 units Research Design and Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences I (PSYCH 2RA3); Research Design and Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences II (PSYCH 2RB3)
3 units Neuropsychology (PSYCH 2D03) OR Fundamentals of Neuroscience (PSYCH 2F03)
9 units Sensory Processes (PSYCH 2E03); Human Learning and Cognition (PSYCH 2H03); Animal Behaviour (PSYCH 2TT3)
3 units MUSIC: Harmony (MUSIC 1CC3)
0-3 units If not completed in Level I: CHEMISTRY: Introduction to Chemistry I OR PHYSICS: Mechanics and Waves OR Physics of Living Systems
3-6 units Electives
LEVEL III: 30 UNITS
6 units Neuroscience of Music Cognition (PSYCH 3MA3 / MUSICCOG 3A03); Cognitive Development and Music Education (PSYCH 3MB3 / MUSICCOG 3B03)
6 units MUSIC: Analysis (MUSIC 2H03); Harmony (MUSIC 2CC3)
6 units from the Psychology Course List
3 units from the Psychology Lab Course List
9 units Electives
LEVEL IV: 30 UNITS
6 units from the Psychology Course List
9 units 6 units from the Capstone Course List OR Thesis in Music Cognition (MUSICCOG 4D06) and 3 units from the Psychology Course List; OR Senior Honours Thesis in Psychology (PSYCH 4D09)
15 units Electives
NOTE: Students who have completed Grade 5 History (also known as History 3) from the Royal Conservatory of Music with a grade of 70% or better are not required to complete Music 1A03 or 1AA3 for consideration for the Music Cognition Specialization. Students having completed Grade 4 Theory (Harmony 4) from the Royal Conservatory of Music with a grade of 70% or better can receive advanced credit for MUSIC 1CC3 (Harmony I).
Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (Music Cognition Specialization)
This is a Limited Enrollment Program. Selection is based on academic achievement but requires, as a minimum, completion of Level I admission requirements with a Cumulative Average of at least 6.0 (equivalent to a C+ at many universities).
Core courses in Music Cognition are shown in bold.
LEVEL I: 30 UNITS: ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
6 units Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PSYCH 1X03 or 1AA3) and Foundations of Psychology Neuroscience & Behaviour (PSYCH 1XX3 or 1A03) with a grade of at least B- in each.
3 units MUSIC: Introduction to the History of Music I (MUSIC 1A03) AND/OR Introduction to the History of Music II (MUSIC 1AA3). NOTE: Both courses must be completed by the entry to Level IV
3 units MATH: Calculus for Science I (MATH 1A03) OR Mathematics for the Life Sciences (MATH 1LS3) OR Calculus for Business, Humanities and the Social Sciences (MATH 1M03; must have a grade of at least C- in this course)
0-3 units BIOLOGY: Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOLOGY 1A03) OR Biodiversity, Evolution and Humanity (BIOLOGY 1M03 or 1AA3) OR Introductory Biology (BIOLOGY 1P03 or 1K03) OR Grade 12 Biology U
15-18 units Electives
LEVEL II: 30 UNITS
3 units Music Cognition (PSYCH 2MA3 / MUSICCOG 2A03)
6 units Research Design and Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences I (PSYCH 2RA3); Research Design and Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences II (PSYCH 2RB3)
3 units Neuropsychology (PSYCH 2DO3) OR Fundamentals of Neuroscience (PSYCH 2F03)
9 units Sensory Processes (PSYCH 2E03); Human Learning and Cognition (PSYCH 2H03); Animal Behaviour (PSYCH 2TT3)
3 units MUSIC: Harmony (MUSIC 1CC3)
6 units Electives
LEVEL III: 30 UNITS
6 units Neuroscience of Music Cognition (PSYCH 3MA3 / MUSICCOG 3A03); Cognitive Development and Music Education (PSYCH 3MB3 / MUSICCOG 3B03)
6 units MUSIC: Analysis (MUSIC 2H03); Harmony (MUSIC 2CC3)
6 units from the Psychology Course List
3 units from the Psychology Lab Course List
9 units Electives
LEVEL IV: 30 UNITS
6 units from the Psychology Course List
9 units 6 units from the Capstone Course List OR Thesis in Music Cognition (MUSICCOG 4D06) and 3 units from the Psychology Course List; OR Senior Honours Thesis in Psychology (PSYCH 4D09)
15 units Electives
NOTE: Students who have completed Grade 5 History (also known as History 3) from the Royal Conservatory of Music with a grade of 70% or better are not required to complete Music 1A03 or 1AA3 for consideration for the Music Cognition Specialization. Students having completed Grade 4 Theory (Harmony 4) from the Royal Conservatory of Music with a grade of 70% or better can receive advanced credit for MUSIC 1CC3 (Harmony I).
For inquiries into the Music Cognition specialization in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, please contact Ann Hollingshead (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
).
For inquiries into the Music Cognition specialization in the School of the Arts, please contact Dr. Andrew Mitchell (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
).
