Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The program information below was valid for the fall 2019 term (September 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.
The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.
Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.
academic
This program involves a combination of coursework, internships, and research.
Students must complete a total of 5 academic courses. All courses are for a numerical grade unless they are only offered Credit/Non-Credit (CR/NCR).
1 mandatory Statistics course from the following list:
PSYCH 630 Advanced Analysis of Variance
PSYCH 632 Multiple Regression
PSYCH 800 Psychometric Theory & Structural Equation Modeling
PSYCH 801 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling
PSYCH 804 Multi-Level Modeling Applications in Psychology
2 Developmental courses from the following list:
PSYCH 680 Special Topics in Child Behaviour and Development
PSYCH 701 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Basic
PSYCH 702 Foundations in Cognitive/Social Development: Social Cognitive Development
PSYCH 705 Foundations in Language Development: Basic Language Development
PSYCH 706 Foundations in Language Development: Pragmatics of Language
PSYCH 708 Reasoning about Ownership of Property
PSYCH 709 Reasoning about Beliefs and Desires
PSYCH 713 Theories of Pretence
2 elective courses from other research areas outside of Developmental.
Students have the option of taking courses in other areas of Psychology and other departments on campus as their elective courses. Check the Psychology course catalogue and the Graduate schedule of classes 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 the Administrative Coordinator Graduate Studies and the Director of the MASc program for final approval.
In addition, students must attend the weekly Developmental seminar each term (PSYCH 710).
Students complete two types of graduate studies internships (Community Practicum and Research Lab Internship). Each student will choose one of two tracks for how to complete these graduate studies internships: the Community Practicum Emphasis Track or the Research Emphasis Track, based on a discussion with their advisor. The main difference between the two tracks is that in the first option students complete 3 terms in a community practicum and have less research activities and in the second option students have 1 term in a community practicum and more formal research activities.
Community Practicum Emphasis Track: 3-term Community Practicum and 3-term Research Lab Internship
This option is likely to be of most interest to students seeking applied careers in areas such as speech-language pathology, early childhood education, and teaching.
Students following this track should sign up for the following practicum courses in addition to their academic courses:
Fall: PSYCH 820 Community Practicum I
Winter: PSYCH 821 Community Practicum II
Spring: PSYCH 822 Community Practicum III
Component 1: Community Practicum
This 3-term community practicum consists of one morning or afternoon (approximately 3.5-4 hours per week) and runs roughly from September to the end of June. Students will receive information by email about possible locations and placements for the community practicum.
All community practicums require submission of a police check and Tuberculosis (TB) test.
Component 2: Research Internship
Three-term research internship (fall/winter/spring term) in one of the research labs of one of the faculty members in the developmental division or a faculty member affiliated with the program. This research internship consists of approximately 10 hours/week from the beginning of fall term until the last day of lectures in spring term. The research project(s) to be completed by the student in this internship will be determined by the student and their advisor at the time of entry to the program.
Research Emphasis Track: 1-term Community Practicum and 3-term Research Lab Internship/Apprenticeship and Research Project
This second option is likely to be of most interest to students deciding on whether to pursue further doctoral (PhD) studies in an area related to Child Development. Students following this track should sign up for the following practicum and apprenticeship courses in addition to their academic courses:
Fall: PSYCH 820 Community Practicum I
Winter: PSYCH 823 Research Apprenticeship I
Spring: PSYCH 824 Research Apprenticeship II
Component 1: Community Practicum
This 1-term community practicum consists of one morning or afternoon (approximately 3.5-4 hours per week) and runs roughly 12 weeks starting in September or January. Completion in spring term is not permissible. Students will receive information by email about possible locations and placements for the community practicum.
All community placements require submission of a police check and Tuberculosis (TB) test.
Component 2: Research Lab Internship/Apprenticeship and Research Project
This expanded research lab experience option
includes:
Three-term research graduate studies internship (fall/winter/spring term) in one of the research labs of one of the faculty members in the developmental division or a faculty member affiliated with the program. This research graduate studies internship consists of approximately 10 hours/week from the beginning of fall term until the last day of lectures in spring term. The research project(s) to be completed by the student in this graduate studies internship will be determined by the student and their advisor at the time of entry to the program.
Research Apprenticeship: 84 additional hours of work in the same research lab to equate to the time otherwise completed within a community practicum.
A formally written Master’s Research Project is required. Prior to accepting entry into the program, students should confirm the nature of the research apprenticeship with the supervising faculty member.
Needles Hall, second floor, room 2201
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.