黑料社

Ph.D. School/Applied Child Psychology

Applied Child Psychologist grading child's tests

黑料社

Red Location IconProgram Location

Red Student IconStart Term
Fall Semesters

Red Book IconProgram Type
Thesis

Red Calendar IconSchedule
Full-Time

Red Clipboard IconCredits
60 Credits

Red Clock IconAverage Duration
5 Years

Red Student IconAdministered by
Educational & Counselling Psychology (ECP)

Want to make a real difference in the lives of children and youth? 黑料社鈥檚 PhD in School/Applied Child Psychology combines cutting-edge research with hands-on clinical training in schools, clinics, and community settings. Guided by 黑料社 experts, you鈥檒l gain the skills to support learning, development, and mental health while preparing for diverse careers in practice, research, and leadership. With mentorship, real-world experience, and a strong research foundation, this program equips you to create meaningful change in education contexts and beyond.

Accreditation

The PhD program in School/Applied Child Psychology is accredited by the and the .

Have questions?

ecpinfo.education [at] mcgill.ca (Contact a Student Affairs Coordinator)

Full Program Details from the Course Catalogue

School/Applied Child Psychology (Ph.D.)

Offered by: Educational & Counselling Psych (Faculty of Education)听听听
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The School/Applied Child Psychology program at 黑料社 prepares the next generation of school psychologists to provide state of the art educational and mental health services to children and adolescents from birth to 21 years old. Course work, clinical experiences, field and community service, and research activities are designed to enhance and develop the professional skills and the knowledge base of our students. In 黑料社鈥檚 scientist-practitioner training model, research supports and improves our clinical activities; and clinical activities support and inspire our research. 黑料社鈥檚 School/Applied Child Psychology faculty and students are among the most productive research units in North America. Professional school psychologists educated at 黑料社 become leaders in research and higher education, school-based practice, hospital-based positions, independent practice, mental health centres, and policy making roles.

For more information, see

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Comprehensive Exam

Course Title Credits
EDSP 701Comprehensive Examination.0

Comprehensive Examination.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

A comprehensive examination of a topic in school/applied child psychology, set by the program committee, that must be successfully passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.

Required Courses (60 credits)

24 credits:

Course Title Credits
EDPC 714Theory / Models: Family Therapy.3

Theory / Models: Family Therapy.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

For doctoral students in Counselling and School Psychology. Theoretical and therapeutic models in family therapy, core concepts and their relevance for application, intervention strategies, the child in family context, impact on school performance.

EDPE 712Neurological Bases of Behaviour Across Lifespan.3

Neurological Bases of Behaviour Across Lifespan.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Neurobiological changes specific to developmental, learning, psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions with clinical onset across the lifespan examined within environmental and psychosocial contexts. Uses of current neuromodulatory and pharmacological remediation discussed in addition to clinical/educational intervention.

EDSP 702Selected Topics in School/Applied Child Psychology 2.3

Selected Topics in School/Applied Child Psychology 2.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

A detailed examination of recent developments in specific topics of school psychology.

EDSP 705D1Practicum: School Psychology.3

Practicum: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Clinic experiences (a) conducting assessment batteries, (b) interpreting assessment findings, report writing and developing intervention plans, (c) providing academic and mental health intervention for specific learning domains, and (d) acquiring skills in group intervention techniques.

EDSP 705D2Practicum: School Psychology.3

Practicum: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

See EDSP 705D1 for course description.

EDSP 710Consultation in School Psychology.3

Consultation in School Psychology.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

A clinical course on the use of consultation in educational and school-related settings. Topics include: consultation theory, the process of evaluations of the consultation process and outcomes, critical study of relevant research and practice. Includes problem identification, problem analysis, treatment implementation and treatment evaluation.

EDSP 715D1Theory and Practice of Supervision.3

Theory and Practice of Supervision.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

An introduction to the theory and practice of clinical supervision. Objectives include providing trainees the opportunity to assimilate theoretical and empirical literature related to clinical supervision, obtain experience in individual supervision with trainees, develop observational and conceptualization skills needed to assess supervisee competence and fostering skills writing supervisory case meetings.

EDSP 715D2Theory and Practice of Supervision.3

Theory and Practice of Supervision.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

See EDSP 715D1 for course description.

听Field Placement (12 credits)

Course Title Credits
EDSP 721D1Field Placement 1: School Psychology.3

Field Placement 1: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Practicum experience supervised by faculty members and field supervisors working with children in a school or applied clinical setting. Class meetings in addition to onsite field experiences.

EDSP 721D2Field Placement 1: School Psychology.3

Field Placement 1: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

See EDSP 721D1 for description.

EDSP 722D1Field Placement 2: School Psychology.3

Field Placement 2: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Practicum experience supervised by faculty members and a field supervisor working with adolescents in a school or applied setting. Weekly class meetings in addition to onsite field experiences.

EDSP 722D2Field Placement 2: School Psychology.3

Field Placement 2: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

Practicum experience supervised by faculty members and a field supervisor working with adolescents in a school or applied setting. Weekly class meetings in addition to onsite field experiences.

听Internship (24 credits)

Course Title Credits
EDSP 725D1Internship: School Psychology.12

Internship: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Supervised internship (minimum 1600 hours) working with children and/or adolescents in a school or applied setting. Activities will include diagnosis and assessment, individual interventions, consultations, report writing, case conferencing and group work.

EDSP 725D2Internship: School Psychology.12

Internship: School Psychology.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

See EDSP 725D1 for course description.

Complementary Courses (3 credits)

3 credits from the following:

Course Title Credits
EDPE 684Applied Multivariate Statistics.3

Applied Multivariate Statistics.

Terms offered: Fall 2025

Principal methods, models, and hypothesis-testing procedures for the prediction and analysis of patterns, structure, and relationships in multivariate data (e.g., factor and path analysis, structural equation modeling, multi-level modeling). Applications oriented toward education and educational and counselling psychology. Provides experience with data analysis tools.

EDPE 687Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology.3

Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology.

Terms offered: Winter 2026

The logics of design and selection of phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study and mixed design methods with emphasis on data analysis in light of issues of research purpose, epistemology, reliability and validity.

p>

Graduate Supervision
Click the button below to reveal a list of potential supervisors.
(Note that individual supervisors may list further details, such as when they are taking new students and application instructions in the Graduate Supervision section at the bottom of their individual profile pages.)

Eligibility (Admission Criteria)

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

  1. Possess a听Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, School/Applied Psychology听(or recognized equivalent). Students without a graduate studies background in School/Applied Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology,听or a related discipline may听have additional program requirements upon admission.
  2. A听minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or higher.听International applicants can look up听grade equivalencies on 黑料社鈥檚 Future Graduate Students website.
  3. A completed Pre-Admission Checklist including 42 discipline-specific credits at the university level in specific Psychology domains. At the time of application, applicants can be missing up to 6 credits of courses from their Pre-Admission Academic Checklist; however, admitted students are required to have all pre-admission course requirements completed by the beginning of their degree. Please consult the that provides added details and instruction for the checklist.
  4. Proficiency in English.听Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, or from a recognized institution in Canada or the US (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English.听

Application Process & Required Documents

All applications are done through听. The application steps and instructional video are on the University's听Future Graduate Students website. The following documents must be part of your application: (Note that all uploaded documents to the portal must be in PDF format.)

  1. A complete听application form听(accompanied by your application fee payment).
  2. A copy of your听unofficial transcripts听from all previous university-level studies (undergraduate and graduate).听 Official transcripts are required to be submitted by听those who gain admission to the program. (Instructions on sending official transcripts will be sent upon acceptance.)
  3. A听completed听Pre-Admission Checklist. (Please consult the听听to assist you in completing the checklist.)
  4. The听黑料社 ECP School/Applied Child Psychology Curriculum Vitae Form.
  5. Letters of Reference:听Within the online application, applicants must provide valid institutional e-mail addresses for听three (3) references. 黑料社 will contact the referees directly to submit their letters of reference.
  6. Statement of Research Interest and Preferred Supervisor(s): Within the online application, applicants are required to concisely outline their proposed area(s) of research interest should they be admitted to this program听(500-word maximum). Applicants will also be required to list the names听of up to three (3) School/Applied Psychology听supervisors, in order of preference, who they would like to supervise their area of research interest(s). Applicants should ensure their preferred supervisor has listed expertise in their chosen area of research interest.
  7. Personal Statement听(3-page maximum, double-spaced) in APA style. Please include the following information:
    • Research experience: Describe your past and current research experience, outlining the research projects you have been involved with. Include the title and supervisor, a description of participants, and provide specific details about research skills that you acquired through these experiences. For at least one of these studies, provide a summary of the theory, methodology, and your interpretations of the findings. (1 page.)
    • Career objectives: Why are you applying to this program? How do program training standards match your general career objectives? Which skills would you like to gain? (1/2 page.)
    • Research supervision: Concisely outline your proposed area(s) of research interest(s), should you be admitted to this program.听List the name(s) of up to three (3)听School/Applied Child Psychology program supervisors听in order of preference. Provide a brief rationale for selecting each supervisor and ensure your preferred supervisor has listed expertise in your chosen area. (1/2 page.)
    • Optional topics:听Your personal trajectory, personal challenges along your scholastic journey, experiences or challenges you've encountered related to identity. Note that students who identify as being part of a minority group are encouraged to self-identify to facilitate access to any applicable financial aid and/or awards, as part of听黑料社's Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) mandate. All personal data submitted will be kept confidential and used only for operational decision-making.
  8. Writing sample听(e.g., paper for a course, MA thesis, publi颅cation).
  9. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) (if applicable/optional): Please arrange for test scores听for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) - both general and the psychology subject tests, to be sent directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the 黑料社 institution code: 0935.
  10. English Language Proficiency Test Score (if applicable):听Please arrange for test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) to be sent to 黑料社 directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the 黑料社 institution code: 0935.

Application Deadlines
Complete applications must be received by the date indicated below.
  • Fall Admission: December 1

As the deadline is firm, please make sure you start your application process early, leaving yourself with enough time to secure the essential components needed for your submission, in particular the transcripts, references, and test scores which can take several weeks to obtain.

What to Expect After Submitting your Application

Recommended candidates will receive听a "Recommendation of Acceptance" email by April, confirming听that their application has been reviewed and is being transmitted to 黑料社's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Successful candidates will be contacted via email with an official offer of admission.听Candidates are then required to confirm their acceptance via their听. Kindly note that acceptance deferrals are not typically granted except under extraordinary circumstances.

Back to top