Doctor of Philosophy in Developmental Psychology & Education

Coursework

Students must complete 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

• APD3200H Research Proseminar in Human Development and Applied Psychology (0.5 FCE).
• 0.5 FCE in statistics and research methods from an approved menu.
• 1.0 FCE in electives (2 X 0.5 FCE).
• The 2.0 FCEs are normally completed in Year 1 and should be chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor. Students who have an insufficient background in developmental psychology may have to complete additional courses.

Comprehensive Examination

The purposes of the comprehensive examination are threefold:

• To demonstrate the student’s ability to work independently within an area of concern in human development.
• To gain knowledge of a new area, a new technique or method in a specified area in human development.
• To demonstrate the ability to integrate information at the accepted standard for a PhD student.

Students have two options when fulfilling their PhD comprehensive requirements:

• Option 1: Empirical Research Paper or
• Option 2: Internship.

Thesis and Doctoral Final Oral Examination

Students must register continuously and pay the full-time fee until all degree requirements have been fulfilled.

Students cannot transfer between the full-time and flexible-time PhD options.

Collaborative Specializations provide students with a the opportunity to explore a novel interdisciplinary area or special development that crosses a number of disciplines. 

Collaborative specializations are available with the PhD in Developmental Psychology & Education with the following program:

• Neuroscience
  • For graduate students and doctoral fellows who would like to increase their versatility for career development through the scientific study of the nervous system.

Emphasis: Early Learning

[Admissions to this emphasis have been administratively suspended]

Students interested in the Early Learning emphasis should consult with the Graduate Coordinator.

• Students wishing to complete the emphasis in Early Learning will include the following courses (2.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]) in their overall PhD program:

  • APD3200H Researching Proseminar in Human Development and Applied Psychology (0.5 FCE).

  • APD3273H Researching Early Learning (0.5 FCE): an overview course of quantitative and qualitative methodology which meets the requirements of an intermediate or higher-level statistics course required of all Developmental Psychology and Education students).

  • APD1211H Psychological Foundations of Early Development and Education (0.5 FCE).

  • APD3274H Early Learning and Thesis Development (0.5 FCE).

What is a Qualifying Research Paper (QRP)?
In addition to the standard application process, students who completed a master’s degree that did not require a thesis must submit a Qualifying Research Paper (QRP). 

• This paper provides evidence of the ability to identify a research or development program, to design and conduct a study or project, and to report the findings or results in a rigorous manner.
• The QRP is not required prior to being accepted into the Doctoral Program, but acceptance will be conditional upon it’s suitability. It must be completed before the beginning of classes and approved by members of the departmental admission committee.
• The QRP requirement can be fulfilled by submitting individually-authored research that the applicant has conducted previously, often as part of work responsibilities. Alternatively, applicants can submit a fully-documented research proposal (supervised by an assigned faculty member in the counselling program) which demonstrates the ability to conceptualize and plan a research project.

What questions will be asked during the application process?
The faculty questions is one of the most important parts of your application. It is your opportunity to describe your past experiences related to the program to which you are applying and how those experiences led to your current interests in graduate studies in this area.

Applicants are asked to answer the following questions as part of the admissions application process:

• DPE PhD
  • What is your total months of research experience.
  • Is this program is your first choice.
  • Who is the supervisor you would like to work with?
  • What field of research you are interested in?
• ​DPE PhD Flex:
  • Are you a practicing professional?
  • What is your total months of research experience.
  • Is this program is your first choice.
  • Who is the supervisor you would like to work with?
  • What field of research are you interested in?
  • Please complete the SGS SGS-standard Current Employment Status application page.

Is there a difference to the application when applying for the flexible-time option?
Flex-time PhD students are accepted under the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time PhD option. However, in addition to the standard application process, students applying to the flex PhD-DPE must include a statement of intent that they:

• are currently in a career related to the proposed field of study
• have a desire to continue with their current career
• have the capacity to secure blocks of time to enable concentrated study (e.g., through the employer’s leave policy or study incentive system). 

Program Chair: Dr. Michal Perlman

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. Rosalina De Sa; Dr. Cynthia Waugh; Dr. Becky Chen; Dr. Mark Wade; Dr. Laurie Faith; Dr. Jennifer Jenkins

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

Program Coordinators:
Puja Variawa (DPE PhD)
puja.variawa@utoronto.ca

Anna Mullatagirov (DPE PhD Flex)
anna.mullatagirov@utoronto.ca