Our onsite and full-time MA program in Education Studies in the field of School and Applied Child Psychology is designed to help you succeed in your area of interest by supporting you with top-tier researchers and academics.
Many graduates from this program hold important roles in various sectors of education at the provincial, national and international levels.
The MA program also prepares students for advanced study and research at the doctoral level.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit our Faculty Research page for more information on the exciting research being conducted at the Faculty of Education.
Important note: When submitting an application to the Master of Arts in Education Studies program, applicants must indicate their preferred Thesis Supervisor in their Statement of Intent. Applicants are advised to review the Faculty Research page and contact faculty in their area of interest to confirm that this potential exists.
Below is a summary of the Thesis process. Students must consult the Master's Thesis Guide (PDF), Program Policies web page, and the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies' Thesis Regulation Guide for complete thesis guidelines and regulations.
Proposal:
Once a student completes their required courses they will complete their Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP). By the end of the semester in which a student completes the last required course they must decide on a topic for their thesis and submit the Individual Proposal Preparation (IPP) - Supervisor Approval Form (found on the Forms & Guidelines page).
The IPP provides a structure for the writing of a thesis proposal. An initial review of relevant research provides the background for the proposed study. The methodological framework and the method to be employed are studied and developed. Ethical considerations are investigated and, where appropriate, an ethical review document prepared. The IPP is not a course but a milestone and compulsory element for those writing a Thesis.
The IPP should be completed in one term. The IPP is completed when the proposal and ethical review (where required) have been submitted for approval.
The Thesis Supervisor after consulting with the faculty members concerned, will formally appoint a Thesis Advisory Committee. The Committee will consist of a Thesis Supervisor and at least one additional faculty member who will act as a Thesis Advisory Committee Member. The Thesis Supervisor must be a member of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies with Ph.D. supervisory status, as approved by the Credentials Committee of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
When the Thesis Supervisory Committee is satisfied with a student's written proposal, the student may submit the proposal for approval. The student submits one copy of their proposal and the MA Thesis Proposal Approval form to the Graduate Programs Office for approval by the Associate Dean, Graduate Programs.
If the proposed research involves human subjects, the student has to receive ethics approval from Western University Research Ethics Board before the research begins.
The student may proceed with their research and thesis preparation when all approvals have been obtained.
Thesis:
Only after all approvals have been obtained the student must start their Master's Thesis and may proceed with the research and the preparation of the thesis under the guidance and review of the Thesis Supervisory Committee. Please note that the Master's Thesis is not a course but a milestone.
When the thesis has been completed and approved by the Thesis Supervisory Committee, the student will submit the Application for Thesis Examination (found on the Forms and Guides page) to the Graduate Programs Office. The necessary arrangements will be made by the Graduate Programs Office for the examination of the thesis in accordance with the appropriate University regulations.
Students who started in September 2019 and later:
6 half courses: 5 expected to be completed in Year 1; 9811 in Year 2
- 9651 - Assessment and Evaluation in Regular and Special Education
- 9653 - Ethical and Professional Issues in School and Applied Psych
- 9705 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
- 9801 - Psychosocial Aspects of Schooling
- 9806 - Exceptionalities
- 9811 - Cognitive and Academic Interventions
- The thesis is mandatory for completion of the program
Students who start in September 2018:
6 half courses: 5 expected to be completed in Year 1; 9811 in Year 2
- 9550 - Ethics and Human Development
- 9651 - Assessment and Evaluation in Regular and Special Education
- 9705 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
- 9801 - Psychosocial Aspects of Schooling
- 9806 - Exceptionalities
- 9811 - Cognitive and Academic Interventions
- The thesis is mandatory for completion of the program
Students who started between September 2015 & September 2017:
6 half courses:
- 9802 - Brain, Mind & Education (cross-listed to PhD)
- 9801 - Psychosocial Aspects of Schooling (cross-listed to PhD)
- 9806 - Exceptionalities (cross-listed to PhD)
- 9705 - Quantitative Research Methods (cross-listed to PhD)
- 9504 - Evidence-Based Interventions in Schools (MA)
- The thesis is mandatory for completion of the program
Our PHD Students
Typically 1 male to 7 females, 24-40 years old at time of admission in 2022, 41% identify as diverse
Applications, Acceptances and Withdrawals
|
Criteria
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2015 - 2016
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2016 - 2017
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2017 - 2018
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2018 - 2019
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2019 - 2020
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2020 - 2021
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2021-2022
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2022-2023
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2023-2024
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2024-2025
|
|
Applied to our PhD program
|
17
|
20
|
19
|
18
|
19
|
30
|
28
|
17
|
19
|
23
|
|
We offered admission to
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
9
|
11
|
9
|
|
Accepted offer of admission
|
8
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
8
|
9
|
8
|
9
|
|
External applicants admitted to program
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
|
Withdrew from Program
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Our Graduates
Our program began in 2015. To date, 84% of our PhD graduates have either become registered psychologists or are currently on supervised practice within Ontario. Our graduates work in a variety of settings, including schools, independent practice, children’s/community mental health centers, and in youth justice. The job placements and career paths of the graduates from the SACP program’s first two cohorts demonstrate the program’s ability to train psychologists who work in both school and clinical settings. Psychologists are in high demand and our graduates had no difficulty obtaining employment upon graduation.
Our MA Students
Typically 1 male to 7 females, 17% identify as diverse
Applications, Acceptances and Withdrawals
|
Criteria
|
2019 - 2020
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2020 - 2021
|
2021-2022
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2022-2023
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2023-2024
|
2024-2025
|
|
Applied to our MA program
|
28
|
44
|
56
|
51
|
55
|
83
|
|
We offered admission to
|
12
|
15
|
14
|
15
|
12
|
14
|
|
Accepted offer of admission
|
6
|
8
|
8
|
10
|
10
|
9
|
|
Withdrew from Program
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Our combined MA/PhD program is designed to meet the requirements of the College of Psychologists of Ontario for registration as a Psychologist (PhD) and was accredited in 2023.
Office of Accreditation - Canadian Psychological Association
141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 702
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5J3
Phone: 1-888-472-0657 (toll free in Canada); (613) 237-2144
Email: accreditationoffice@cpa.ca
