Child Study & Education (CSE)
MA PROGRAM AT THE INSTITUTE OF CHILD STUDY
Program Chair: Dale Willows
dwillows@oise.utoronto.ca
Program Secretary and Liaison: Vanessa Dane
vdane@oise.utoronto.ca
Welcome to the Master of Arts Program in Child Study and Education at the Institute of Child Study. This program combines a Master of Arts degree with elementary teacher certification. Housed in historic McCarthy House, our program admits only 45 students each year who want to pursue a career in teaching elementary school children with graduate training that may lead to a doctoral degree.
Our program is truly unique in the world. In addition to combining teacher education and graduate studies, our program offers intensive practicum placements in our on-site Laboratory School as well as in public school settings; you can also choose to concentrate in the areas of special education and/or early childhood.
Our distinguished faculty make significant contributions to research in the areas of child development and education and encourage students to participate in their active research projects. When you are admitted to our program, you will become a graduate student in the Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology at OISE, where you can work with and learn from faculty members in a variety of fields such as school and clinical child psychology and developmental psychology and education.
Each year outstanding graduates leave the Institute of Child Study prepared to make a difference in the lives of children. Over the last 3 years, the employment rate of our graduates in the elementary schools has been above 90% in comparison with the typical 30% employment rate in other programs.
How to apply [Link to Application Information]
For admissions, please go to http://ro.oise.utoronto.ca and click on Graduate Studies on the sidebar. From here click Admissions and you will be directed to the new Registrar’s Office site for Graduate Studies Admissions.
Master of Arts Course Requirements
The two year M.A. offers a unique, research-based teacher education program. Eligible graduates are recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers for a Certificate of Qualification, which qualifies the holder to teach in the primary and junior divisions of Ontario schools. During their first year of study, students will complete four six-week placements in kindergarten/early childhood, grade 1-3, and grade 4-6 classrooms. A fifth placement is optional for those who would like more experience. In their second year of study, students will complete a thirteen -week internship in the ICS Lab School or in another elementary classroom.
Depending on their career goals students may wish to select courses and placements to focus on particular areas:
Special Education
Students planning a career in special education may include a six-week placement in a special education setting in their first year of study. In their first or second year of study, they may elect HDP2280H, Introduction to Special Education and Adaptive Instruction. In their second year, they may elect HDP2292H Assessment for Instruction, HDP2296H Reading and Writing Difficulties, or another special education course.
Early Childhood
Students interested in kindergarten and early childhood programs may take their internship in an early years setting in their second year, in addition to the required six-week early years placement in first year. They may also take electives in first and second year in early childhood from among: HDP1211H Psychological Foundations of Early Development and Education; HDP1241H Outcomes of Early Education and Child Care; HDP1272H Play and Education.
Qualifying Research Paper
Students planning further graduate study at OISE/UT in the near future are advised to undertake a Qualifying Research Paper (QRP). To do this, they may elect HDP1209H Research Methods and Thesis Preparation in HDAP in their first year, usually in the second term. The QRP proposal should be complete by the end of the second term and an ethics form submitted.
In the second year, students working on a QRP may elect HDP2252H Individual Reading and Research. Students who have not studied statistics at the undergraduate level are expected to take HDP1287H Introduction to Applied Statistics or an equivalent course.
Successful completion of a QRP does not guarantee enrollment in a doctoral program within HDAP. Students must submit an application for the doctoral program.
First Year Required Courses
HDP2200Y Child Study: Observation, Evaluation and Reporting
HDP2201H Childhood Education Seminar
HDP2210Y Introduction to Curriculum I: Core areas
HDP2220H Teaching Practicum
Two elective half courses.
Note: Students without an undergraduate course in child development must take HDP1201H Child and Adolescent Development as one of their electives.
Second Year Required Courses
Registration in year two is contingent upon successful completion of all year one work.
Academic Term:
HDP2211H Theory and Curriculum I: Language and Literacy
HDP2212H Theory and Curriculum II: Mathematics
HDP2214H Introduction to Curriculum II: Special Areas
One elective half course.
Internship Term:
HDP2221Y Advanced Teaching Practicum
HDP2202H Childhood Education Seminar II: Advanced Teaching
One elective half course.
In addition, students must demonstrate knowledge of the acts and regulations respecting education in Ontario (addressed in HDP2201).
Recommended Elective Courses
Students may elect any HDAP or other OISE/UT course for which they are eligible. However, the following are especially recommended:
HDP1209H Research Methods and Thesis Preparation in HDAP
HDP1211H Psychological Foundations of Early Development and Education
HDP1237H Cognitive Development, Learning and Instruction
HDP1241H Outcomes of Early Education and Child Care
HDP1259H Child and Family Relationships - Implications for Education
HDP1272H Play and Education
HDP2280H Introduction to Special Education and Adaptive Instruction
JPX1001Y Parenting: Multidisciplinary Perspectives (offered jointly by the departments of HDAP, Nursing Science, Psychology and Social Work)
The following electives should only be taken by second year students:
HDP1284H Psychology and Education of Children and Adolescents with Behavior Disorders
HDP1285H Psychology and Education of Children with Learning Disabilities
HDP2283H Psychology and Education of Gifted Children and Adolescents
HDP2292H Assessment for Instruction (Pre-requisite: HDP2280, Introduction to Special Education and Adaptive Instruction)
HDP2296H Reading and Writing Difficulties
Qualifying Research Paper (QRP)
Students with no prior background in empirical research will find completing a QRP within the two regular sessions of the program very difficult.
Students should identify a supervisor and a second reader by the end of the first year. Each full-time member of the ICS staff is committed to supervising two QRPs per year. Other HDAP staff (and other graduate school staff at OISE/UT) can also supervise QRPs, but they have no obligation to do so. A list of HDAP faculty members’ research interests is available on the HDAP website.
Students with prior background in empirical research (including statistics, measurement, and research design) should begin to identify a research question in the fall of their first year. Students are encouraged to attend the research groups of HDAP faculty whose research interests them and to select a research topic that relates to one of these areas of on-going research.
Students who wish to complete both the QRP and Special Education options should consult with their advisor.
One-Year MA Program
This program is offered only to students who hold a two-year Diploma in Child Study with a specialization in Childhood Education or Early Childhood Education from the University of Toronto and who already hold a teaching certificate. Teaching certification may not be obtained through the one-year program. The one-year M.A. program is intended to further develop an academic inquiry oriented approach to children and learning and to prepare students for further graduate study.
A total of eight half courses are required and may be undertaken on a full or part-time basis. At least four half courses must be within HDAP.
The following courses are required unless they were taken as part of the student’s original CSE program:
HDP2211 Theory and Curriculum I: Language and Literacy
HDP2212 Theory and Curriculum II: Mathematics
Students who intend to pursue further graduate study should take courses in research design and measurement and complete a QRP.