Master of Arts School/Applied Child Psychology (Project)

School/Applied Child Psychology (Non-Thesis) (M.A.) (60 credits)

Offered by: Educational & Counselling Psych (Faculty of Education)    
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 60

Program Description

The MA in School/Applied Child Psychology (SACP) is a research-based, non-thesis degree that requires completion of a research project per program guidelines. SACP at McGill prepares the next generation of school psychologists to provide state of the art educational and mental health services to children and adolescents from birth to 21 years old. Coursework, clinical experiences, field and community service, and research activities are designed to enhance and develop the professional skills and the knowledge base of our students. In McGill's scientist-practitioner training model, research supports and improves our clinical activities; and clinical activities support and inspire our research. McGill's School/Applied Child Psychology faculty and students are among the most productive research units in North America. Professional school psychologists educated at McGill become leaders in research and higher education, school-based practice, hospital-based positions, independent practice, mental health centres, and policy-making roles.

Typically, students entering the M.A. program choose to apply to the Ph.D. in School/Applied Child Psychology program which builds upon the foundation gained in the M.A. degree. Upon completion of the M.A. and Ph.D. programs, students are eligible for licensure as Psychologists with the Ordre des psychologues du Quebec (OPQ).

Required Courses (60 credits)

It is not required to secure a supervisor prior to applying to the program; however, you will be asked to name of up to three (3) potential supervisors as part of your application. Click the button below to review the list of potential supervisors. Note that you should review these professors' profile pages to see if they are accepting students in the upcoming application period, as indicated in the Graduate Supervision field (at the bottom of each page).

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

1. Possess an undergraduate degree.
2. A minimum CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 over the final two years of full-time study. International applicants can look up grade equivalencies on McGill’s Future Graduate Students website.
3. A completed Pre-Admission Checklist including 42 discipline-specific credits at the university level in specific Psychology domains. At the time of application, applicants can be missing up to 6 credits of courses from their Pre-Admission Academic Checklist; however, admitted students are required to have all pre-admission course requirements completed by the beginning of their degree. Please consult the Pre-Admission Domain Guide that provides added details and instruction for the checklist.
4. Proficiency in English. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, or from a recognized institution in Canada or the US (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English. 

All applications are done through McGill's Graduate Applicant Portal. The application steps and instructional video are on the University's Future Graduate Students website. The following documents must be part of your application: (Note that all uploaded documents to the portal must be in PDF format.)

1. A complete application form (accompanied by your application fee payment).
2. A copy of your unofficial transcripts from all previous university-level studies (undergraduate and graduate).  Official transcripts are required to be submitted by those who gain admission to the program. (Instructions on sending official transcripts will be sent upon acceptance.)
3.  A completed Pre-Admission Checklist. (Please consult the Pre-Admission Domain Guide to assist you in completing the checklist.)
4. The McGill ECP School/Applied Child Psychology Curriculum Vitae Form.
5. Letters of Reference: Within the online application, applicants must provide valid institutional e-mail addresses for three (3) references. McGill University will contact the referees directly to submit their letters of reference.
6. Personal Statement (3-page maximum, double-spaced) in APA style. Please include the following information:
   • Research experience: Describe your past and current research experience, outlining the research projects you have been involved with. Include the title and supervisor, a description of participants, and provide specific details about research skills that you acquired through these experiences. For at least one of these studies, provide a summary of the theory, methodology, and your interpretations of the findings. (1 page.)
   • Career objectives: Why are you applying to this program? How do program training standards match your general career objectives? Which skills would you like to gain? (1/2 page.)
   • Research supervision: Concisely outline your proposed area(s) of research interest(s), should you be admitted to this program. List the name(s) of up to three (3) School/Applied Child Psychology program supervisors in order of preference. Provide a brief rationale for selecting each supervisor and ensure your preferred supervisor has listed expertise in your chosen area. (1/2 page.)
   • Optional topics: Your personal trajectory, personal challenges along your scholastic journey, experiences or challenges you've encountered related to identity. Note that students who identify as being part of a minority group are encouraged to self-identify to facilitate access to any applicable financial aid and/or awards, as part of McGill's Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) mandate. All personal data submitted will be kept confidential and used only for operational decision-making.
7. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) (if applicable/optional): Please arrange for test scores for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) - both general and the psychology subject tests, to be sent directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the McGill University institution code: 0935.
8. English Language Proficiency Test Score (if applicable): Please arrange for test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) to be sent to McGill directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the McGill University institution code: 0935.

• Fall Admission: December 1

Recommended candidates will receive a "Recommendation of Acceptance" email by April, confirming that their application has been reviewed and is being transmitted to McGill's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Successful candidates will be contacted via email with an official offer of admission. Candidates are then required to confirm their acceptance via their Graduate Applicant Portal. Kindly note that acceptance deferrals are not typically granted except under extraordinary circumstances.