OISE/UT Bulletin 2000/2001 -- University of Toronto Graduate Studies in Education
Human Development and Applied Psychology - School and Child-Clinical Program
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SCHOOL AND CHILD-CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

The School and Child-Clinical Psychology (SCCP) program provides theoretical and professional training in preparation for psychological work with children in school, clinic, private practice, and research settings. The program is designed to provide training in assessment, therapy and other psychosocial and instructional interventions, professional consultation and prevention. Opportunities are available for research and clinical work with infants, young children, adolescents, and families. The M.A. in SCCP is designed to meet the academic requirements of the College of Psychologists of Ontario for registration as a Psychological Associate. The Ph.D. in SCCP is designed to meet the academic requirements for registration as a psychologist.

The SCCP program at OISE/UT is guided by an understanding of the child based on four core factors. First, as children move from infancy to adulthood they undergo fundamental developmental changes that systematically influence the ways that they perceive and respond to their world, and the ways that their families, teachers, peers and others with whom they relate, respond to them. Second, the experiences of children throughout their schooling, including the ways that they are prepared for it and their reactions to it, profoundly affect their individual development. Third, the social experiences of children both within and outside of the family and the feelings that result from those experiences also have a major impact on their individual development. Fourth, children have diverse learning, social and emotional needs and differ considerably from each other in the ways that they approach their world. The faculty members associated with the SCCP program believe that an understanding of and intervention with children involves consideration of these four factors.

The curriculum of the SCCP program is designed to establish a strong foundation (or "trunk") of core knowledge and skills early in the program, with students free to specialize (or "branch out") later on. The program reflects a mix of courses and training opportunities. Some classes are specifically designed for students in SCCP; other classes are shared with students who are majoring in other aspects of human development and education. The program initially provides students with a solid foundation in developmental psychology, the education of exceptional learners, and child psychopathology. Consistent with our beliefs about the child, a systemic approach is the basis for the training we provide in assessment and intervention. We believe that the knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of school psychology and child clinical psychology overlap considerably, and that experience in each of school and child clinical settings enhances practice in the other. Therefore, over the course of the program, students are required to undertake practica in both school and child clinical settings. We recommend that the masters practicum be done in the school system and the doctoral practicum in a child-clinical setting. The intent of the SCCP program is to train scientist-practitioners, for whom practice informs research and research informs practice. From the outset, students are linked with a faculty mentor. Students are expected to become closely involved in the research of one or more faculty members of the department.

MASTER OF ARTS

The M.A. program is intended to meet the academic requirements for registration as a psychological associate. The focus of the program is applied, with a practicum experience of approximately 250 hours in the second year.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the M.A. program normally requires a preparation equivalent to a University of Toronto four-year bachelor's degree in Psychology, or its equivalent defined as six full courses in psychology, including one half-course in research methods and at least three full courses at the third and fourth year level. The usual admission standard is standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A- or better. Applicants who have at least three years of successful post-bachelor's relevant professional experience may be admitted with slightly lower standing if they can document to the satisfaction of the admissions committee that they can meet the standards of the program in terms of research and applied work. Applicants will have to document evidence of relevant professional experience. Applicants are requested to submit, in addition to the required letters of recommendation, a letter of recommendation from an applied setting.

Program Requirements

The M.A. program is comprised of 11 half-courses and a thesis, and is normally undertaken on a full-time basis. (Pending approval, the SCCP M.A. program has amended the total number of courses required and revised the sequencing of required courses.)

Required courses (to be taken in the first year of the program) are:

HDP1209 Research Methods and Thesis Preparation in Human Development and Applied Psychology
HDP1215 Psychological Assessment of School-Aged Children
HDP1216 Psychoeducational Assessment
HDP1219 Ethical Issues in Applied Psychology HDP1220 Introduction to School and Child-Clinical Psychology
HDP1285 Psychology and Education of Children with Learning Disabilities

Required courses (to be taken in the second year of the program) are :

HDP1218 Seminar and Practicum in Assessment.
HDP1222 Approaches to Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan
HDP1236 Psychopathology for School and Child-Clinical Practice

HDP1250 Normative and Individual Patterns of Development

In addition, students are required to take in their first year one course from the Assessment and Intervention in the School and Child-Clinical Psychology menu (see the Program Guidelines). For students who have not taken a previous child development course in their undergraduate program, HDP1201 (Child and Adolescent Development) must be taken. For students who have not taken a third or fourth year statistics course as part of their undergraduate program, CTL2004 (Elements of Statistics) must be taken.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Like the master's program above, the Ph.D. program is intended to prepare the student for psychological work with children in schools, clinics, and research settings. Graduates of this program would assume positions of greater professional and administrative responsibility than would graduates of the master's program. They would be engaged in activities that put a premium on the knowledge of psychological principles and the ability to use them in a systematic way. The Ph.D. program is intended to meet the academic requirements for registration as a psychologist.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Ph.D. program normally requires a University of Toronto four-year bachelor's degree in Psychology or its equivalent and an OISE/UT M.A. in School and Child-Clinical Psychology or its equivalent. The usual admission standard is standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A- or better (in the master's degree). A limited number of outstanding applicants holding equivalent bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology from elsewhere may be considered. However, if the master's program was not equivalent to the OISE/UT M.A. in School and Child-Clinical Psychology, the student may be required to take additional courses to receive equivalent training.

Note that continuation from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program is not automatic; graduates from the M.A. program are considered each year in a pool with all other applicants to the program.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. program is comprised of eight half-courses (including a practicum course), a comprehensive examination, a doctoral dissertation and an internship, and is normally undertaken on a full-time basis. Students are expected to complete the comprehensive examination by the end of their required period of full-time study. Students should consult the Clinical Director of the School and Child-Clinical Psychology program to arrange their practicum placement and internships. Students shall refer to the Practicum and Internship Policy and Placement Handbook for a description of the evaluation processes and criteria for practicum and/or internship placements. To complete the Ph.D. program students must undertake one of their practicum placements in a school setting and one in a clinical setting. The required courses (to be taken in the first year of program) are HDP3241 (Seminar and Practicum in Assessment and Intervention with Children), and HDP3200 (Research Proseminar on Human Development and Applied Psychology). In addition, students will take one course from each of the following menus (see the Program Guidelines for course lists).

• Psychosocial Intervention

• Instructional Intervention

• Advanced Assessment

• Social Foundations of Psychology

• Advanced Research Methods

• Biological Foundations of Psychology

Students who have not had an advanced undergraduate or graduate course on history and systems of psychology should take HDP3204 (Contemporary History of Systems in Human Development and Applied Psychology). Students will take HDP1201 (Childhood and Adolescent Development) if they have not taken a child development course at the undergraduate level. Please consult your faculty advisor for more information.

 

The College of Psychologists of Ontario and Preparation for Professional Practice

Students whose plans include preparation for professional practice in psychology should note the following:

The practice of psychology in the province of Ontario is regulated under the Statute Law of Ontario. Graduation from a doctoral or master's program or from any graduate program in psychology does not in itself qualify a person to practice as a psychologist or a psychological associate. Professional practice of psychology in Ontario is regulated by the College of Psychologists of Ontario. The College examines candidates for registration as psychologists and psychological associates in Ontario. The M.A. in School and Child-Clinical Psychology is designed to meet the academic requirements for registration as a psychological associate. The Ph.D. in School and Child-Clinical Psychology is designed to meet the academic requirements for registration as a psychologist. At the discretion of the College, courses other than those required by the program may be required for certification.

For more information contact:

The Registrar
College of Psychologists of Ontario
1246 Yonge Street, Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1W5
Telephone: (416) 961-8817
Fax: (416) 961-2635
E-mail: cpo@cpo.on.ca
Website: www.cpo.on.ca

OISE/UT Bulletin 2000/2001 -- University of Toronto Graduate Studies in Education
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