Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Psychology - Developmental and Communication Science

The program information below was valid for the winter 2024 term (January 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024). 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.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Length of program 
  • 3 terms (12 months)
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Research
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Master's Research Paper
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • 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.
  • A 80% overall standing in the last two years, or equivalent, in a four-year Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
  • Applicants whose ultimate goal is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) should apply directly to the PhD program.
  • Students accepted to the MASc in Psychology - Developmental and Communication Science 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 materials 
  • Personal statement
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Students complete two types of graduate studies internships (Community Practicum and Research Lab Internship). Each student will choose one of two tracks to complete these graduate studies internships: the Research Emphasis Track (for students in the Master’s Research Paper study option) or the Community Practicum Emphasis Track (for students in the coursework study option), based on a discussion with their advisor. The main difference between the two tracks is that in the first option students have 1 term in a community practicum and more formal research activities and in the second option students complete 3 terms in a community practicum and have less research activities.

Master's Research Paper option:

This 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.

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 8 courses. All courses are for a numeric grade unless they are only offered Credit/No Credit. No degree candidate can fulfil more than half of the minimum department course requirements by Credit/No Credit courses.
• When taking a course during the MASc that is extra-to-degree (i.e., not taken to meet the MASc requirements), students need to complete a course drop/add form and identify the course as extra-to-degree.
• Use of a course not listed in the course requirements below to meet a degree requirement and other course substitutions are permitted but require departmental permission. Students should confirm the appropriateness of the course substitution with their advisor and have it approved by the Area head, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology.
  • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
    • 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 Psychology courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
    • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
    • 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
    • PSYCH 810 Directed Studies (on departmentally approved topics)
  • 2 elective courses from other graduate research fields outside of Developmental (e.g., not from the list of core Developmental courses above) or an approved substitute.
    • 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.
  • PSYCH 820 Community Practicum I (Fall)
  • PSYCH 823 Research Apprenticeship I (Winter)
  • PSYCH 824 Research Apprenticeship II (Spring)
  • Students must also take PSYCH 710 Current Issues in Developmental Psych Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 710 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.

Link(s) to courses

• Psychology (PSYCH) courses

Graduate Studies Internship

• Research Emphasis Track: 1-term Community Practicum and 3-term Research Lab Internship/Apprenticeship and Research Project
• 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.  
    • Prior to accepting entry into the program, students should confirm the nature of the research apprenticeship with the supervising faculty member.

Master’s Research Paper

• A formally written Master’s Research Paper is required. The student’s supervisor and one additional reader must assess and approve the Master’s Research Paper.

Coursework option:

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.

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Students must complete the following 8 courses. All courses are for a numeric grade unless they are only offered Credit/No Credit. No degree candidate can fulfil more than half of the minimum department course requirements by Credit/No Credit courses.
• When taking a course during the MASc that is extra-to-degree (i.e., not taken to meet the MASc requirements), students need to complete a course drop/add form and identify the course as extra-to-degree.
• Use of a course not listed in the course requirements below to meet a degree requirement and other course substitutions are permitted but require departmental permission. Students should confirm the appropriateness of the course substitution with their advisor and have it approved by the Area head, and Associate Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology.
  • 1 statistics course from the following list or an approved substitute:
    • 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 Psychology courses from the following list or an approved substitute:
    • PSYCH 640 Special Topics in Psychology (on departmentally approved topics)
    • 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
    • PSYCH 810 Directed Studies (on departmentally approved topics)
  • 2 elective courses from other graduate research fields outside of Developmental (e.g., not from the list of core Developmental courses above) or an approved substitute.
    • 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.
  • PSYCH 820 Community Practicum I (Fall)
  • PSYCH 821 Community Practicum II (Winter)
  • PSYCH 822 Community Practicum III (Spring)
  • Students must also take PSYCH 710 Current Issues in Developmental Psych Seminar in the Fall and Winter terms for a minimum of 2 years unless departmental permission is provided otherwise, or the student completes the program early. Note: PSYCH 710 is a 0.00 unit weight credit/no credit course.

Link(s) to courses

• Psychology (PSYCH) courses

Graduate Studies Internship

• Community Practicum Emphasis Track: 3-term Community Practicum and 3-term Research Lab Internship
• 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.