Master of Science (MSc)

The Master of Science in School and Applied Child Psychology is an on-campus, thesis-based program. In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies admission requirements, GPE requirements include:

(a) Honours degree in Psychology (or equivalent) is preferred, with a grade point average of 3.0 (equivalent to a B or 70% in many universities) over the courses taken during the last two years of study;

(b) Normally, a minimum of 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) in Educational Psychology or Psychology. This must include:

1. One undergraduate course in statistics
2. One senior undergraduate Psychology or Educational Psychology course in cognitive-affective bases of behaviour.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “B-” or above.

(c) Two letters of reference, one of which is normally from the undergraduate honours supervisor, if applicable.

(d) A completed Pre-admission Academic Checklist, including details of courses completed, practicum experiences, awards and scholarships, scholarly work, research experience, and employment and volunteering.

(e) Curriculum Vitae - include the following items as applicable:  Educational history, awards and scholarships, presentations and publications, employment, research experience, volunteering, and professional development.

(f)  A short statement of intent (approximately 500 words) of your research and professional interest in school psychology (e.g., expected contribution to the field; understanding of school psychology) indicating your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate work in this degree.  Applicants are encouraged to list one or more SACP faculty members they feel best align with their research interests. 

(g) Proficiency in the English language is essential for the pursuit and successful completion of graduate programs in the Werklund School of Education.  Prior to admission to Graduate Programs in Education, an applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement for academic purposes in one of the following ways:

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt) score of 97.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0.
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) score of 70 (no less than 70 in each section).
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) score of A- in each course.

A Graduate Program Director may exempt an applicant whose first language is not English from the ELP requirement if they meet the following criteria:

The student has completed

• a Bachelor’s Degree (minimum of 3 years in length), or
• a Graduate Degree

in an institution where the sole language of instruction and examination is English.

Eligible institutions must be listed as providing English language instruction in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Please remember, even if you have a degree from an institution included on this list, exemption from ELP requirements remain at the discretion of Graduate Program Directors. 
Search for eligible institutions

(h) Prior to admission, the most promising applicants will be interviewed to evaluate their understanding of and motivation for entry into the field of School and Applied Child Psychology.

Note:  Official transcripts are required from all post-secondary institutions you have attended. Original documents or certified true copies of each of your official transcripts and degree certificates, in the original sealed envelope, must be sent directly from the issuing University.

If original documents are not in English:
Original documents or certified true copies of each of your official transcripts and degree certificates in the original language, in the original sealed envelope, sent directly from the issuing University, and an English translation from the issuing University or a notarized word-for-word English translation of a duplicate copy of that original.

Official transcripts are due to the Graduate Programs in Education office on or before December 1.

Successful applicants will need to produce the results of a Criminal Record Check before they will be permitted to participate in practicum or internship experiences associated with the program.

Offers of admission are valid only for the term to which applications are made. Graduate Programs in Education will not grant deferrals of admission. Students unable to take up an offer will be required to submit a new application.

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 651 Disorders of Learning and Behaviour
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 an interim supervisor is normally appointed at the time of admission.  Students are responsible for initiating discussions with potential permanent supervisors and are expected to have finalized supervisory arrangements by their second annual registration.

Practicum are completed in our Integrated Services in Education (ISE) clinic and in the field. The mission of ISE is to provide psychological and counselling services to individuals in the community. ISE 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 (Educational Psychology 662 and 663).

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 (WSE), and should not be submitted to WSE. 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)