Master of Science (MSc)

Through research, academic, and clinical activities, the School and Applied Child Psychology Program emphasizes the inherent strengths of all learners and strives to develop optimal outcomes for children, youth, families, educators, communities, and society.

The Master of Science (MSc) in School and Applied Child Psychology program is based on the scientist-practitioner model of training that prepares students to pursue academic or clinical careers. Our graduates create new scientific knowledge and engage in evidence-based practices that enhance the lives of children, families, school, and allied personnel. Graduates of our program are positioned to serve as educational leaders in the effective application of educational and psychological principles to the learning environment at both the individual and systems levels. To achieve these goals, our program cultivates students who are theoretically- and scientifically-informed critical thinkers who demonstrate excellence as providers of high-quality, evidence-based prevention, assessment, intervention and research services. 

The program consists of 12 half-courses and 2 practica, with core content in the topic areas of psychological foundations, assessment, intervention, consultation, school psychology practice and development, and statistics/research methods. In addition, students complete a thesis research project under mentorship from a faculty supervisor. The program requires two years of full-time study to complete, at minimum. Maximum completion time is four years. Typically, students take between two to three years to complete the MSc program.

NOTE: The program provides for school-based practicum experiences in sites located throughout Calgary and surrounding communities. Students are responsible for securing their own transportation to these sites.

Program Details

Admission into the program is highly competitive due to limited space, so many excellent applicants who meet or exceed the minimum requirements are not admitted each year.

The MSc in School & Applied Child Psychology requires a minimum of two years of full-time study, on-campus to complete.

Police Information Check

Please see Practicum Information section below.

Core Courses:
The following core courses (14 half-course equivalents or 42 credit hours) are considered to be central to the MSc program in School & Applied Child Psychology. Students must complete all of the requirements outlined below:

There are two practicum courses in the School and Applied Child Psychology program (EDPS 662 and 663). Each practicum consists of 200 hours of practicum work.

Program Plan

Year 1:

Fall term
EDPS 609 Research Design and Statistics II
EDPS 614 Professional Ethics in Educational Psychology
EDPS 653 Professional Practice of School Psychology
EDPS 665 Cognitive Assessment and Intervention

Winter term
EDPS 687 Developmental Psychology
EDPS 654 Neurobiological and Developmental Bases of Learning
EDPS 669 Social-Emotional Assessment and Intervention
EDPS 685 Child and Adolescent Counselling


Spring term
EDPS 659 Academic Assessment and Intervention
Thesis*

Summer term
Thesis*

Year 2:

Fall term
EDPS 618 Multivariate Analysis
EDPS 662 Practicum I in School Psychology (Clinic Based)
EDPS 683 Consultation in School Psychology
Thesis*

Winter term
EDPS 663 Psychology Practicum II (School Based)
EDPS 650 Family and Social Bases of Behaviour

Thesis*

Spring term
Thesis*

Summer term
Thesis*

*Thesis - The Masters thesis is the focus of the degree program. In consultation with the supervisor, the student should formulate an appropriate thesis topic as early as possible because the nature and type of proposed research will affect the time needed to complete the program.

GPE Thesis Rubric and the Student Guide to the Thesis Oral.

Please note: Ethics approval is required for all research projects involving the use of human subjects before data collection begins. Prior to submitting an ethics application, students are required to complete the TCPS 2 tutorial and upload the certificate of completion into their Researcher Profile in IRISS. Do NOT upload in the documentation section of a study. Register on theTCPS 2 website https://tcps2core.ca/register. When registering, be sure to use your institution email address (name @ucalgary.ca)

To initiate the ethics approval process, the student’s supervisor must submit an application to either the Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board or the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board. The application is typically completed in conjunction with the student. Applications to the CFREB or CHREB are created and submitted online using IRISS. There are no paper application forms.

Summary of Program Requirements:

  • 14 half courses including 400 practicum hours
  • Thesis
  • Two Years full-time study
  • Completion within 4 years

 

As a Graduate Student you are expected to devote the time, effort, and energy necessary to engage in scholarship.  As a graduate student, you will determine the specific milestones and requirements of your program of study in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar and with your graduate supervisor. 

An integral part of the masters experience is working closely with a supervisor on the development and completion of a research project.  A graduate supervisor mentors graduate students through regular meetings and research training aimed at research, scholarship, teaching and professional development. Graduate supervisors support students in the timely completion of their programs.  As a Graduate Student, you are expected to meet with your graduate supervisor on a regular basis.  While each student-supervisor relationship is unique, graduate supervisors can assist graduate students in a number of ways: advising on course selection, applying for awards and scholarships, obtaining research funds, applying for teaching assistant and sessional teaching opportunities, developing track records in refereed publications and conference presentations, getting involved in leadership and service, and encouraging and supporting apprenticeship in a research community of practice (collaborative review of papers, grants, academic writing, and data analysis). 

In the MSc program a supervisor is appointed at the time of admission.

Practicum are completed in Centre for Wellbeing in Education clinic and in the field. The mission of the Centre is to provide psychological and counselling services to individuals in the community. The clinic was awarded the CPA Foundation (CPAF) Access to Innovative Psychological Services in 2009.  Field-based experiences are normally completed in schools.

Police Information Check

All successful applicants to the Werklund School of Education School MSc School & Applied Child Psychology program are required to provide a current and clear Police Information Check which includes a Criminal Record Check and a Vulnerable Sector Search. Students must apply for a Police Information Check through their nearest police service or RCMP detachment in the area where they reside.

The original Police Information Check must be presented to and accepted by the administration in the Graduate Program Office in the Werklund School of Education, dated within timelines as directed by the Placement Coordinator.

Students will be required to request a Police Information Check upon admission and each subsequent year that they go on placement.

A current and clear Police Information Check is required for all placements. Failure to present a clear and current Police Information Check may result in the student being unable to begin their program and/or go on placement. Successful completion of all placements is required for graduation.

Intervention Record Check

In addition, it is strongly recommended that students obtain an Intervention Record Check (IRC) in each year that they participate in a practicum. Even if your site does not specifically require this check, it is to your advantage to have an IRC done so as to prevent a potential issue should there be a last minute change in your placement site.

NOTE: IRCs are not required by the Werklund School of Education and should not be submitted to the Werklund School. Results should be kept in your personal records, and shown to your practicum site should they request to view them.

Practicum Schedule

  • EDPS 662 (2nd year of program): On Campus - Centre for Wellbeing in Education (Fall term)
  • EDPS 663 (2nd year of program): Off Campus – Community based (Winter term)
  1. Funding

    The Werklund School of Education provides funding opportunities for full-time MSc students for the first 2 years in program.

  2. Awards and Scholarships

    Current students are required to apply for internal and external scholarships (e.g., Tri-Council awards including SSHRC, CIHR), for which they are eligible to be considered for program funding for the following academic year.


Contact Us

GPA

Graduate Program Administrator

Cheryl Ohly

Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox

Academic Program Coordinator

Dr. Gabrielle Wilcox, Professor

Photo of people walking in a hallway

Complete Program Details

Student-athlete receives an Eyes High Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship

Being part of the Werklund School academic community will allow me to develop my clinical skills and achieve my goal of becoming a psychologist. Werklund houses highly esteemed scholars and is connected to a broad network of service providers for practicum experiences. I am grateful to have found the SACP program.

Jessica Baraskewich