Developmental Psychology & Education (DPE)
Program Chair: Michal Perlman
michal.perlman@utoronto.ca
DPE Program Secretary and Liaison: Marisa Freire,
marisa.freire@utoronto.ca
Program Mission
The DPE program provides an opportunity for students to construct an overall perspective on developmental psychology and human development and their implications for practice with children in educational and other applied settings. Students take foundation courses in human development and research methodology. Elective courses cover a range of areas including cognitive, social and emotional development; cognition and instruction (language, literacy and mathematics); special education and adaptive instruction; developmental neuroscience; advanced research methodology and evaluation; and early childhood policy and programs, including childcare.
The DPE program offers a full-time M.A. program, primarily for students who wish to pursue a career in research, university or community college teaching, and related activities; an M.Ed. degree program, usually taken on a part-time basis, designed primarily for students who are teaching in the school system or working in early childhood education settings, in community literacy programs or in settings with children or adults with disabilities; and a Ph.D. degree program, which emphasizes knowledge in disciplines related to theory and research in the area of developmental psychology and education. The Ph.D. program may be taken full-time or, by students working concurrently in a career related to the proposed field of study, on a flexible-time basis.
Admission
This program provides an opportunity for students to construct an overall perspective on developmental psychology and human development and their implications for practice with children in different applied settings. DPE offers three degrees, two of which are research oriented (M.A. and Ph.D.) and one of which is professionally oriented (M.Ed.)
i) The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in DPE is designed primarily for students with teaching qualifications and experience who are working in the school system or in early childhood education settings, and for professionals working in community literacy programs, special needs offices in postsecondary institutions, and in other settings with children or adults with disabilities. The program is intended to help students reflect on their practice and to further the development of their professional skills by integrating theory and practice.
Admission to the M.Ed. requires a preparation equivalent to a University of Toronto four-year bachelor's degree with standing equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better. Applicants normally possess a teaching certificate and have one year of relevant professional experience. Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation(one academic and one professional).
A detailed description of the program is available at: Degrees and Course Requirements
For application information and forms please visit the OISE/UT Registrar’s Office website at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ro/Graduate_Studies_In_Education/Applying_to_Graduate_Studies/index.html
ii) The Master of Arts (M.A.) in DPE is designed primarily for students who wish to pursue a career in research, university or community college teaching, and related activities.
Admission to the M.A. requires a preparation equivalent to a University of Toronto four-year bachelor’s degree with standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A- or better. Although most applicants have a degree in Psychology, applicants with a four-year bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Linguistics, or a helping profession such as Speech and Language Pathology, Nursing, Social Work, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy are also eligible to apply.
In addition to the required letters of recommendation, applicants are required to submit a second academic letter of recommendation.
A detailed description of the program is available at: Degrees and Course Requirements
For application information and forms please visit the OISE/UT Registrar’s Office website at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ro/Graduate_Studies_In_Education/Applying_to_Graduate_Studies/index.html
iii) The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in DPE emphasizes knowledge in several disciplines related to theory and research in the area of developmental psychology and education. It is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in university or community college teaching, and careers that require advanced skills in research and evaluation.
The Developmental Psychology and Education program offers both a full-time and a flexible-time Ph.D. program option (for working professionals interested in Early Childhood Learning). Applicants must declare the option for which they are interested in applying.
Admission to the full-time Ph.D. degree program requires preparation equivalent to a relevant University of Toronto four-year bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Developmental Psychology and Education, Cognitive Psychology, Applied Developmental Psychology or Child Study with standing equivalent to a University of Toronto A- or better (in the master's degree). Applicants with master's degrees in other disciplines may be eligible to apply for admission, but may have to complete additional courses to fulfill master's level requirements equivalent to the Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology and Education. Students who have not done a master's thesis will be required to submit a Qualifying Research Paper prior to final admission to the degree program. In addition to the required letters of recommendation, applicants are requested to submit a second academic letter of recommendation.
Applicants to the flexible-time Ph.D. option are accepted under the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time Ph.D. option. However, in addition, applicants to the flexible Ph.D. must include in their statement of intent that they are currently in a career related to the proposed field of study, have a desire to continue with their current career, and have the capacity to secure blocks of time to enable concentrated study (e.g., through the employer’s leave policy or study incentive system).
Full-time Ph.D. students must complete their degree within six years. Flexible-time Ph.D. students must complete their degree within eight years. Degree requirements for both programs are the same.
In addition to the required letters of recommendation, applicants are requested to submit a second academic letter of recommendation.
For application information and forms please visit the OISE/UT Registrar’s Office website at: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ro/Graduate_Studies_In_Education/Applying_to_Graduate_Studies/index.html
Degrees and Course Requirements
- Doctor of Philosophy Course Requirements
- Master of Arts Course Requirements
- Master of Education Course Requirements