This is a full-time one-year program offered within the Developmental Division of the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo. This program is designed to provide an intensive, applied research experience for serious students who have already built a strong background in Developmental Psychology or related field and desire to deepen their understanding of children’s cognitive and communicative development.
This one-year Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Developmental and Communicative Science (DCS) program offers advanced applied training with a specialization in cognitive and/or communicative development. This program will provide students with fundamental skills and knowledge related to the empirical analysis of cognitive, social-cognitive and communicative developments of both a qualitative and quantitative nature. The program will also provide students with in-depth opportunities to observe interactions between children in naturalistic settings and to develop skills related to empirical measurement such as transcription, development of coding strategies and statistical analysis.
The program aims to augment a student's preparation for admission into postgraduate programs such as developmental psychology, speech-language pathology, or teacher’s college.
Students with sufficient background to meet admission requirements will find opportunities for flexibility in their course of study. Students can tailor the 1-year course program to fit individual needs and interests. Indeed, each student's program should be structured to accommodate previous coursework and career interests.
Full-time students with the appropriate background knowledge can complete the program in one year. This program is not offered on a part-time basis.
MASc DCS students will include those seeking careers in early childhood education, teaching, speech-language pathology or careers in which a more intensive background of methodologies of study with children and an understanding of their cognitive, social, and communicative development will be an asset, such as social work, policy work, the law, journalism, and marketing. MASc DCS students will also include those who have not yet decided on a specific career or postgraduate doctoral studies, but who want to deepen their understanding of research and children's developing cognitive, social-cognitive and communicative abilities.
Academic Requirements
The academic requirements are 7.5 units of credit to be composed of the following combination of coursework, internships, and research project(s):
Coursework
All courses for a numerical grade unless they are only offered CR/NCR. Of the courses, required courses are:
- Developmental Seminar in Fall and Winter term (PSYCH 710 - CR/NCR) (2 x 0.50 units = 1.00 unit)
- One or, if available, two graduate level courses offered by the Developmental Division (such as PSYCH 680: Special Topics in Child Behaviour and Development). If only one course is available in the Developmental division, the other course must be a course offered in the Psychology Department (2 x 0.50 units = 1.00 unit).
- One statistics course offered by Psychology such as PSYCH 632 (0.50 unit)
- Two elective courses (see further details below) (2 x 0.50 units = 1.00 units)
Internships
Students have the choice of completing two types of internships during the year of the program:
Option 1:
- Community Practicum
0.50 course credits (0.50 credits per Fall, Winter OR Spring term) in a Community Practicum placement either in the ECEC or a community location such as an elementary school or a local speech language pathologist’s practice. Students will be encouraged to conduct this practicum during the Fall or Winter term. However, if a student chooses the Spring term (their start date will be 1 month in advance of the start of first day of lectures for Spring term to equate the number of weeks to 12 for all terms).
- Research Apprenticeship
1.00 course credits in a Research Apprenticeship with a faculty member in the Developmental Psychology division. The student will complete additional research work to equate to approximately 84 hours (3.5 hours x 24 weeks over 2 terms).
- Research Lab Internship
Milestone to be completed in Fall, Winter and Spring term in a Research Lab Internship with a faculty member in the Developmental Psychology division. Students spend 10 hours a week in this placement from the beginning of Fall term until the last day of lectures in Spring term.
Option 2:
- Community Practicum
1.50 course credits (0.50 credits per Fall, Winter & Spring term) in a Community Practicum placement
either in the Psychology Department’s Early Childhood Education Centre or a community location such as an elementary school or a local speech language pathologist’s practice. Students follow the placement with respect to start and end date for all placements (ECEC or other outside location), and spend one morning or afternoon per week in the placement which typically comprises about 3.5 hours each time.
- Research Lab Internship
Milestone to be completed in Fall, Winter and Spring term in a Research Lab Internship with a faculty member in the Developmental Psychology division. Students spend 10 hours a week in this placement from the beginning of Fall term until the last day of lectures in Spring term.
Seminars and Colloquia
Students are expected to participate fully in other academic seminars and colloquia as department members (no credit).
Two Elective Courses
Students are encouraged to take ownership of their program of study depending on their own interests and future goals. Information about the availability of courses may be obtained by contacting the department's Administrative Co-ordinator, Graduate Studies, Rita Cherkewski.
Students have the option of taking courses in other areas of Psychology and other departments on campus as their elective courses. For example, students might want to consider courses related to linguistics or second language acquisition provided by the Germanic and Slavic Studies department; Sociology courses related to survey administration; and courses related to cognitive and computer science provided by the departments of Computer Science and Philosophy. Students should note that the majority of Clinical courses in Psychology are only open to students in the Clinical PhD program. Check the course catalogue for further information. When selecting a course outside of the Psychology department, students should check their selection with their advisor as to its suitability and then with Rita Cherkewski and Dr. Daniela O’Neill for final approval. We do encourage students to consider cross-disciplinary courses if appropriate, and so such requests are generally approved.
Who Can Apply?
Applications for admission are open to individuals who will have completed an Honours Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related, approved equivalent (e.g., Linguistics, Computer Science) by the time of entrance to the program.
The program is limited in size and admissions are highly selective. Students must have a minimum average in their major course of studies of 85% and a minimum overall of 83% (Students within 1-2% of the 85% requirement may apply if extenuating circumstances apply and students should note these circumstances in their Personal Statement that is part of the application for admission).
Students can apply up to a maximum of 2 years in advance. Thus, students in their 3rd year of undergraduate studies can apply to enter the program following completion of their 4th year of studies and the receipt of their B.A. degree. Such admissions would be contingent on students maintaining an average in their major course of studies of 85% and a minimum overall of 83% in their final 2 years.
Who Should Not Apply?
Applicants whose ultimate goal is a PhD. (i.e., Developmental and Clinical) should directly apply to the PhD program.
Students accepted to the MASc DCS program cannot transfer to the PhD program in any of the divisions of the Psychology Department; they must reapply on the same basis as other PhD applicants and in competition with each other. Graduate Record Examination results are required when applying to the PhD program.
Application Requirements
Note: Applicants do NOT need to submit Graduate Record Examination results.
Applying to the MASc DCS program entails the same procedure as applying to all our graduate programs, except that MASc DCS applicants do NOT need to submit Graduate Record Examination results. To apply to the MASc DCS program, students should read the General Admission Requirements and follow the detailed Application Procedure instructions found on the Department of Psychology website.
Application Deadline
The deadline for receipt of applications is January 15th but applications will be considered beyond this date. Contact Rita Cherkewski, Administrative Co-ordinator Graduate Programs, if you would like to submit a late application.
Police Check and TB Test
In order for students to be able to complete the internship in the Early Childhood Education Centre or Westmount Public School, it is required by law that students undergo a police check and Tuberculosis (TB) test. This must be completed prior to admittance in September. As each of these requirements can take 4-6 weeks, students must set up appointments with their local Police Department and doctor or health centre during the summer prior to admittance.
Financial Information
Students accepted into the MASc DCS program will receive funding in the amount of $12,000 for the year of the program if their overall average in the last two years of study is over 80%. This $12,000 funding package is made up a combination of funds from the university and the Department of Psychology that includes one Teaching Assistantship that is accompanied by a Graduate Experience Award.
Beyond this, depending on availability in the department, students may be able to receive (beyond the $12,000 funding package) one further Teaching employment position in the amount of $4033 per course for one of the remaining two terms in the year.
As undergraduates, students can also apply in their final year for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, NSERC PGS-M or SSHRC Master's scholarship tenable for graduate study in the MASc DCS program at the University of Waterloo. For more information, students should contact the graduate programs officer in the institution they are currently attending.
Core and Affiliated Faculty
In the Department of Psychology:
Developmental Division
Dr. Ori Friedman (friedman@uwaterloo.ca)
Dr. Mathieu Le Corre (mlecorre@uwaterloo.ca)
Dr. Daniela O'Neill (doneill@uwaterloo.ca)
Dr. Katherine White (white@uwaterloo.ca)
Cognitive Neuroscience Division
Dr. Myra Fernandes (mafernan@uwaterloo.ca)
Clinical Division
Dr. Elizabeth Nilsen (enilsen@uwaterloo.ca)
Dr. Tara McAuley (tmcauley@uwaterloo.ca)
If a student is interested in working with a faculty member not listed here, please contact the Director of the MASc DCS program, Dr. Daniela O'Neill.
More information
For more information about the Developmental Psychology Division faculty, developmental research labs, and the Early Childhood Education Centre, visit the Department of Psychology website.
For program information, contact:
Adminstrative Co-ordinator, Graduate Studies
Rita Cherkewski
519-888-4567 x 32043
rcherkew@uwaterloo.ca
This information is subject to change without notice.