General information
Educational Psychology is the scientific study of how people learn, including the different ways individuals acquire, process, and retain knowledge. The discipline examines the biological, cognitive, emotional, and social factors involved in learning, assessment, and intervention in typical and atypical populations. It drives the development of effective and innovative teaching methods and learning environments and explores factors that can enhance or hinder educational success.
The program is designed to address the unique needs of students pursuing careers in areas such as psychometry, guidance counseling, school social work, and education for individuals across all ages and mental health diversities. The curriculum immerses students in the theories, research, and applications of work on cognition and development across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on learning theories, assessment practices, inclusive education, and technology-enhanced learning environments.
Students will have the opportunity to obtain additional specializations within one of five subject areas:
- Aging and Learning in an Era of Technology
- Developmental Science and Learning
- Inclusive Educational Studies
- Mental Health and Special Education
- Learning Sciences and Technology
To achieve a specialization, students will be required to take a minimum of four course credits, as described in more detail below.
Admission requirements
Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria, including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.
Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U and/or 4M credits, including English (ENG4U). All other applicants should refer to admissions for the requirements for their specific category of admission.
Practicum
A limited number of fourth-year students are granted an opportunity to participate in a learning experience with a community organization. The Practicum course consists of 100 hours of fieldwork, in-class seminars, a set of academic assignments and a major research paper and poster. As part of the pre-practicum process, students will be required to acquire a Vulnerable Sector check. For additional information, please refer to the course description for SSCI 4098U .
Internship
This program offers students who have successfully completed three years of study with a cumulative 2.7 GPA an opportunity to engage in a work-integrated learning partnership with organizations locally and globally. The internship program not only gives students an opportunity to apply classroom concepts to the challenges of organizational life, but also helps them to gain valuable and relevant work experience to promote networking and life-long career success.
The internship program placement equates to a minimum of 280 hours of paid or unpaid field experience. The intern’s wages, where applicable, are paid by the sponsoring organization over a contracted period. The faculty may provide links to various internship placement opportunities or a student may secure an internship opportunity that meets the criteria as prescribed by the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. Successful work placement completion and both a verbal and written final project will result in the intern receiving a mark and three credits toward the Honours Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
Admission to the internship program is competitive. While students are participating in an internship program, they may enrol in up to two additional courses (six credits) per semester. These courses must not interfere with the internship schedule outlined by the employer. For additional information, please refer to the course description for SSCI 4103W .
Work-integrated learning courses
Students are free to enrol in the following experiential learning courses (as electives) from the Frazer Faculty of Education :