Focus on the child and putting research into practice.
2 Years
(5 Terms)
Become an elementary school teacher (K-6)
22 half-courses, teaching placements, and a (well-supported) research project.
Program highlight: Housed at UofT’s Laboratory School
Full-time enrollment only. In-class instruction.
Our Master’s program qualifies graduates to teach from JK to Grade 6 in Ontario schools. We are located at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, about a 10-minute walk from OISE.
We believe successful teaching involves understanding child development theories and learning a range of effective, research-informed teaching strategies anchored in inquiry.
Classes are taught by world-renowned faculty, many of whom began their careers as teachers.
Our unique program offers practicum placements in Toronto public, Catholic and independent schools, as well as in our on-site Laboratory School. In Laboratory School placements, students benefit from working with experienced teacher-researchers. This variety in teaching opportunities informs and improves your teaching practice in diverse learning environments. Your practice teaching experiences will include an extensive 13-week internship in the second year with opportunities to further your understanding of children and how they learn.
In the first year, students are in placements in the morning and classes in the afternoon. This schedule provides a daily opportunity to reflect on your developing teaching practice within our MA CSE community, fostering growth and support. Note that in Year 2 of the program, you will teach two full days and three mornings per week during your internship.
Practicum placements provide the opportunity to work across a diverse variety of schools, neighbourhoods and different grade levels in classroom settings. They take place in Toronto, within 45 minutes of Jackman ICS by public transit.
Teacher Candidates are assigned to practicum placements in:
The MA CSE program has a unique model for practice teaching. The structure is immensely beneficial as students learn to be teachers:
First year students are required to complete three 8-week teaching blocks throughout the year.
Second year students complete a full-time teaching internship in oneof the terms (fall or winter). The other term is an academic term.
YEAR 1 Â COURSES
APD2200Y Â Â Child Study: Observation, Evaluation, Reporting, and Research
APD2201Y Â Â Childhood Education Seminar
APD2210Y Â Â Introduction to Curriculum I: Core Areas
APD2220Y Â Â Teaching Practicum
APD2280Y Introduction to Special Education and Adaptive Instruction
All students must all take three half-course electives in their first year.
Students in the PBI field must also complete the following course: APD1226H Foundations in Inquiry and Data-based Decision-Making.
Students in the RIT field must also complete the following course: APD1209H: Research Methods and Thesis Preparation in APHD.
Students without undergraduate courses in child development must take APD1201H (Child and Adolescent Development) as one of their electives.
Students who wish to teach in the Roman Catholic Separate Schools of Ontario are required to take a religious education course in addition to their regular electives (fee applies). Students interested in this option should contact the Continuing and Professional Learning Department at OISE.
YEAR 2 COURSES
Registration in the second year is contingent upon successful completion of all first year work.


Academic Term:
APD2211H   Theory and Curriculum I: Language and Literacy

APD2212H   Theory and Curriculum II: Mathematics

APD2214HÂ Â Curriculum and Pedagogies for Cross-Curriculum Teaching
Internship Term:
APD2202H   Childhood Education Seminar II: Advanced Teaching

APD2221Y Â Â Advanced Teaching Practicum (full course)
Students in the PBI field must also complete the following courses in year 2 of the program:
APD 2222H Professional Practice Project: Role A
APD 2223H Professional Practice Project: Role B
Students in the RIT field must also complete APD2001Y: Major Research Paper in Year Two of the program. The MRP must be completed by the end of the winter term in order to graduate.
In addition, all students in our program must demonstrate knowledge of the acts and regulations respecting education in Ontario.
Our department offers elective courses related to areas of emphasis in our program. Offerings may vary slightly each year.
Students may focus in one area or explore a range of interests.
1. Practice-Based Inquiry (PBI) in Psychology and Educational Practice
This field of study is for those who wish to become classroom teachers and acquire the skills to continuously grow, improve and lead. PBI was created to match what leaders in education across Ontario report that they want to see in schools: 1) Inquiry 2) Collaboration 3) Continuous Improvement.
Note that our new EdD program may be an eventual option for PBI graduates interested in doctoral education.
2. Research-Intensive Training (RIT) in Psychology and Education
Applications to the RIT field of study will not be accepted for the fall of 2021.
This competitive field of study (only a few admitted) provides a unique opportunity for future teachers interested in elementary certification and research in psychology and education. Students accepted into the Research-Intensive Training (RIT) field of study must complete a major research paper (MRP) in order to graduate. RIT students have a strong research background and are interested in the possibility of further graduate study. They may be knowledgeable about research methods/data analysis, have written a thesis or have been involved in a research lab.
For more information on research in the CSE program, please see Research at JICS.
The program is completed on a full-time basis:
Registration in the second year is contingent upon successful completion of all first-year work.
Application opening and closing dates for the MA in Child Study & Education program can be found on the Office of the Registrar and Student Services website.
Applications usually open in late September and close in mid-November. We admit approximately 60 students each year. The academic school year for this program begins in September.Â
For more information, please see Preparing to Apply.
Questions? Contact the MA-CSE program liaison at cse.program@utoronto.ca