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Master of Education in Developmental Psychology & Education

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Master of Education in Developmental Psychology & Education

Master of Education in Developmental Psychology & Education Overview

In the Masters of Education Developmental Psychology and Education program, Students have an opportunity to construct an overall perspective on developmental psychology and human development and their implications for practice with children in educational and other applied settings.

The Master of Education (MEd) program is designed for the reflective practitioner in developmental psychology education or other fields. This is a degree primarily designed for those working in applied settings and it does not require a research thesis.

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; program evaluation and mental health; advanced research methodology and evaluation; and early childhood policy and programs, including child care.

For detailed information about the program, please consult the .

At a Glance

Study Options
Full-time (4 sessions)
Part-time (10 sessions)
Coursework

Funding and Tuition
For current information about tuition fees, funding, and financial support, visit Tuition & Financial Support.  

Deadlines
Applications are now open for a Fall 2025 start. 
More information on Application Deadlines and Closing Dates.

Virtual DPE MEd Info Date: Jan 7, 2025 (6pm - 7pm EST Toronto Time)
Join us to learn more about the DPE MEd Program!

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Why I Chose Applied Psychology & Human Development

Chelsi Major
Chelsi Major (Master of Education 2018)

MEd, Developmental Psychology and Education

"My biggest-take away was the importance of building professional connections and establishing mentor relationships. During my time at OISE, I was able to explore different avenues of research with experts in the field."

Master of Education in Developmental Psychology & Education Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements

Please visit the OISE Â鶹´«Ã½ website for detailed information about the application process, including general minimum admission requirements and supporting documents. 

Program-Specific Information (Minimum Admission Requirements)

Minimum admission requirements for this program are:

  • An appropriate honours bachelor’s degree (4-year) in psychology or equivalent with standing equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better in the final year or over senior courses.
  • ​English Language Proficiency (if required)
  • Please see the  for more details.

We encourage equity-seeking groups to identify themselves in their application.


Required Supporting Documents

All applicants must submit: 

  • Transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended
  • Two letters of reference (one academic and one professional)
  • A résumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies
  • Applicants are asked to answer questions explaining your experiences and how they relate to the program during the application submission process.
  • View FAQ for other important application notes.

Additional Program Information

Coursework

Students must complete 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs), or 10 half courses as follows:

  • APD1200H Foundations of Human Development and Education (0.5 FCE).
  • APD2293H Interpretation of Educational Research (0.5 FCE).
  • 2.0 additional FCEs (4 half courses) must be selected from the department electives list located on the Applied Psychology and Human Development program guidelines.
  • The remaining 2.0 elective FCEs (4 half courses) may be taken from within or outside the department. Elective courses must be chosen in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. Students are asked to meet with their faculty advisor in the first session of their program.

Did you know you can choose your electives based on certain areas within DPE?

  • Mental Health & Education 
  • Education & Special Education
  • Mind, Brain, Development and Research in APHD

A list of the departmental electives available for students in the DPE MEd program.

Course Exemptions:
All course exemptions requests must be pre-approved from a DPE MEd Faculty Advisor. Once a course exemption has been approved by a DPE MEd Faculty Advisor and after the replacement course(s) is/are complete, students must fill in a course exemption form. This course exemption form should be forwarded to their DPE MEd Faculty Advisor for review and signature before it is submitted to the ROSE for final approval and processing.
 

COURSE CODECOURSE TITLE
APD1205H*Ethical Issues in Applied Psychology
APD1206H
(formerly APD5012H)
Mind, Brain, and Instruction
APD1207HCounselling Topics in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Diversity
APD1210HYResearch Practicum (RM)
APD1211HPsychological Foundations of Early Development and Education
APD1212H
(formerly APD5021H)
Basics to Program Evaluation in Social Sciences
APD1213H
(formerly APD5001H)
Psychology and Education of Children and Adolescents with ADHD
APD1217HFoundations of Proactive Behavioural and Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention in Children
APD1222HApproaches to Psychotherapy-Lifespan
APD1229H (formerly APD5040H)Fostering Black Mental Health from Childhood to Emerging Adulthood through Anti-Racist Practices
APD1230H (formerly APD5008H)Well-Being & Education
APD1231H
(formerly APD5018H)
Mindful Self-Compassion for Educators
APD1233HCognitive Development and Applications
APD1235H (formerly APD5017H)Technology, Play, and Social Media in Adolescence
APD1236HDevelopmental Psychopathology
APD1249HSocial-Emotional Development and Applications
APD1250HProgram Evaluation Practicum
APD1251HReading in a Second Language
APD1256HChild Abuse: Intervention and Prevention
APD1257H (formerly APD5010H)Child Development & Personal History
APD1260H*Family Therapy
APD1271HPerspectives of Executive Functions in Education: From Theory to Practice
APD1272HPlay and Education
APD1273H (formerly APD5024H)Psychology & Education of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
APD1274H (formerly APD5020H)Learning to Learn: Bridging Theory and Practice
APD1276H (formerly APD5034H)Maximizing Learning: Understanding How Individuals and Groups Learn Best
APD1279HPreventative Interventions for Children at Risk
APD1280HSymbolic Development and Learning
APD1281H
(APD2280H if completed prior to 2019)
Education Exceptionalities, Special Education, and Adaptive Instruction
APD1285HPsychology and Education of Children and Adolescents with Learning Disabilities
APD1286HFoundations of Literacy Development for School Age Children
APD1290HIndigenous Healing in Counselling & Psychoeducation
APD1291H*Addictive Behaviors: Approaches to Assessment and Intervention
APD1292HInstrument Design and Analysis
APD1294HTechnology, Psychology, and Play
APD1295HAdolescent Mental Health: An Examination of Risk and Resilience
APD1296HAssessing School-Aged Language Learners
APD1297HMental Health in the Classroom: How to Help Our Most Vulnerable
APD1298HImagination, Reasoning and Learning
APD1299HLanguage Acquisition and Development in Early Childhood
APD2252HIndividual Reading and Research in Human Development and Applied Psychology - Master's Level
APD2275HTechnology for Adaptive Instruction and Special Education
APD2296HReading and Writing Difficulties
APD3201HQualitative Research Methods in Human Development and Applied Psychology [RM]
APD3202H*A Foundation of Program Evaluation in Social Sciences (Research Methods)
APD3204H*Contemporary History and Systems in Human Development and Applied Psychology
APD3209H* (formerly APD5044H)Applied Machine Learning (RM)
APD3305H*Systems and Organizational Change
APD3221H*Cross-cultural Perspectives on Children's Problems
APD3286H*Developmental Neuropsychology
JOI1287HIntroduction to Applied Statistics (RM)
JOI1288HIntermediate Statistics and Research Design (RM)
JOI3228HMixed Methods Research Design in Social Sciences (RM)
Special Topics Courses. These courses count as DPE MEd Department Electives but may not be offered frequently. Please check course schedules for offerings. 
APD5013HSpecial Topics: Master’s Level Teaching English Language Learners
APD5022HSpecial Topics: Masters Level Math Learning and Teaching in the Early School Years
APD5023HSpecial Topics: Masters Level Teaching in the 21st Century: Diversity, Technology, and Professional Identity
APD5026HSpecial Topics: Masters Level Motivation and Its Role in Learning
APD5027H*Special Topics: Masters Level All My Relations: Indigenous Social and Relational Theories in Education and Applied Psychology
APD5029HSpecial Topics: Masters Level Response to Intervention
APD1258H (formerly APD5035H)Spatial Thinking and STEAM Education
APD5036HSpecial Topics: Masters Level Online Pedagogy in Practice
APD5038HSpecial Topics: Personality Development and Education
APD5039HSpecial Topics: Privilege, Power, and Oppression: Implications for Psychology and Education
APD5041HSpecial Topics: Multiliteracies: Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century
APD5043HSpecial Topics: Neuroscience of Reading and Reading Disorders
APD5046HSpecial Topics in Applied Psychology and Human Development: Master's Level Exploring AI and its Implementation in Education
APD5047HSpecial Topics in Applied Psychology and Human Development: Master's Level Cultivating Natural Curiosity in Environmental Education with Elementary Students
APD5048HSpecial Topics in Applied Psychology and Human Development: Master's Level Creating Accessible & Neurodiversity-Affirming Classrooms
APD6006H*Special Topics: Doctoral Level Influencing Organizational and System Change


For course descriptions and schedules, please see the  and the OISE Registrar's Office Course Information and Schedules.

*These courses require permission of instructor for enrolment by DPE MEd students.

Learn about the Research Practicum Course (APD1210HY)

Learn about the Academic & Language Foundations Course APD1274H (formally APD5020H).

DPE MEd students will be able to choose the Program Evaluation Emphasis. The Program Evaluation (PE) emphasis will encourage an exploration of program evaluation used in education, psychology, and social sciences. PE is a systematic analysis of the process, effectiveness, and outcomes of programs. 

Learn more about the Program Evaluation Emphasis.

Is there a date to start this program for the winter term? 
No, the DPE MEd program only starts in the Fall term, there’s no winter start date. 

Is there a part-time option for this program?
Yes, students can choose part-time or full-time registration status and choose maximum course load based on your registration status. See OISE Office of the Registrar and Student Services for maximum course load.

How do students gain supervisors?
The DPE MEd program is a non-thesis degree so you do not have a supervisor that you work one on one with. Instead you have a Faculty Advisor that you can speak with if you have questions regarding program requirements, course selection etc.

Do you need to have a degree in Psychology?
No, the minimum admission requirements for this program is an appropriate honours bachelor’s degree (4-year) in psychology or equivalent with standing equivalent to a University of Toronto mid-B or better in the final year or over senior courses.

If unable to provide an academic reference, would two professional ones work instead? 
While a minimum of two letters of reference – one academic and one professional – should be included in your application, sometimes applicants experience difficulty obtaining a letter of reference. For example, if you graduated many years ago and have since not been active in an academic setting you may be unable to call upon a university instructor with whom you studied. You're strongly encouraged to obtain one academic and one professional letter of reference, but you may submit an alternative combination such as two reference letters from a professional source. Tip: for two professional letters direct the most suitable referee to include comments pertaining to your intellectual abilities and potential. 

Is the MEd for teachers only?
No, you do not need be a certified teacher to apply. We have many of our students who do not have a teaching degree applying to the DPE MEd program.

How does the funding work for the MEd program?
The DPE MEd program is a non-funded degree. You pay your registration based on the registration status you choose; either full-time or part-time registration. 

Can you switch to PT or FT half way?
Yes, you can request to change your registration status from PT to FT or FT to PT. You must contact your Registration Specialist in the OISE Office of the Registrar and Student Services and make the request to change your registration status. Please keep in mind that changing your registration status will affect your registration fees; contact your Registration Specialist of details: oise.registration@utoronto.ca.

What is considered PT course load and what is the approximate length of time it would take to take this program part-time, if full-time is 1.5 years. DPE MEd Program Length 4 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F); 10 sessions part-time.

Program Chair: Dr. Anne-Claude Bedard & Dr. Michel Ferrari

Program Faculty: Dr. Esther Geva; Dr. Angela Pyle; Dr. Chloe Hamza; Dr. Eunice Jang; Dr. Kaja Jasinska; Dr. Lisa Dack; Dr. Michel Ferrari; Dr. Patricia Ganea; Dr. Zachary Hawes; Dr. Alexandra Makos; Dr. Rhonda Martinussen; Dr. Michal Perlman; Dr. Tracy Solomon; Dr. Richard Volpe; Dr. Mahshid Azimi-Bolourian; Dr. Kang Lee; Dr. Anne-Claude Bedard; Dr. Linda Iwenofu; Dr. Earl Woodruff; Dr. Cynthia Waugh; Dr. Becky Chen; Dr. Mark Wade; Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Dr. Todd Cunningham; Dr. Steven Katz; Dr. Yiola Cleovoulou

Questions? Please email us at oise.aphd@utoronto.ca

Program Coordinator:
Anna Mullatagirov
anna.mullatagirov@utoronto.ca

 

Ready to join one of the world’s top universities?

Take the next step in your academic journey and start your application to graduate studies at OISE.