Master of Education in Counselling Psychology (Global Mental Health & Counselling Psychology Field)

Coursework

Students must complete 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

• APD1219H Ethical Issues in Professional Practice in Psychology and Psychotherapy (0.5 FCE).
• APD1228H Couples Counselling (0.5 FCE).
• APD1245H Brief Strategies in Counselling and Psychotherapy (0.5 FCE).
• APD1278H Cognitive Therapy (0.5 FCE).
• APD1282H Introduction to Global Mental Health and Counselling Psychology (0.5 FCE).
• APD1283H Peer and Video-Based Counselling with Practicum Field-Based Learning in Global Mental Health (0.5 FCE).
• APD1902H Theories and Techniques of Counselling in a Global Context (0.5 FCE).
• APD2293H Interpretation of Educational Research (0.5 FCE).
• APD5000H Special Topics in Applied Psychology and Human Development: Master's Level (0.5 FCE).
• In consultation with the program chair, students will take APD1268H Career Counselling and Development: Transitions in Adulthood, APD1291H Addictive Behaviours: Approaches to Assessment and Intervention, or another elective.

According to the application requirements for the Master of Education in Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy program, an academic reference is preferred, along with a professional reference, however, will two professional references be accepted instead of one academic and one professional reference?
Yes. For applicants several years from their undergraduate programs, a strong academic reference may be difficult to obtain.  The want is to have one of the practical referees speak to your scholarship too – perhaps critical thinking/writing, report writing, literature reviews, presentation skills, and all-around collegiality – in addition to what she/he can offer toward your practical skills.

Can you please confirm that this program does not have a research component?
The MEd degree programs do not have a research component.  Applicants do not need to identify professors of research interest, but can list courses of interest which they teach.

Does what programs we do for our undergraduate influence our chances of getting into the program?
The MEd Counselling and Psychotherapy program does not require a specific undergraduate major.  Any 4 year BA with a B+ or better in the last year is fitted.  Applicants will want to demonstrate their academic scholarship with their faculty questions and via their reference letters, such as critical thinking and writing.

Is a successful work experience not related to counselling field not recommended to apply?
Applicants are encouraged to elaborate only on  practical exposures relevant to mental health skills building and preparedness for a successful practicum placement.

For students who are in the process of completing their undergraduate degree, does the admissions committee look at just the 3rd year courses since the 4th year grades aren't released? Are there a certain number of courses they take to calculate an admissions average? 
For applicants applying during their final year of the undergraduate program, an application GPA is not calculated.   If an admissions offer is received in late March/early April, it will be conditional upon submitting proof of graduation and receiving a B+ or better GPA in the last 5 full-year equivalent degree course credits.

For the MEd in CP - Counselling and Psychotherapy what is the minimum numbers of courses you can take as full time student. Are courses offered over the spring and summer months? 
Full-time registration in the MEd program is typically 3 courses per semester. This is 6 in the first year, and the remaining 4 in the 2nd year, including the practicum placement. Summer courses are available. These are electives and are optional.

Would it be possible to apply as international student and change the status afterwards if permanent residency is granted after been accepted by the university? 
An applicant’s residency status would not affect the review of their application. When an offer of admission is received, in late March or early April, the applicant may update our OISE registrars’ office with their residency status at that time.

If I have just begun a volunteer position with a crisis line that I am committed to for one year, (meaning at the time of the application I will only have been in the position for a month), will this still be considered for relevant experience for September program start date.
Yes, the one year practical experience requirement is counted back from when an applicant would begin the program the following September.  We encourage applicants to consider when is the best year to apply, when familiar and glowing letters of reference can be secured.

Experiences beginning at the time of application will often not have substantial relationship-building for the referee to elaborate upon.

I am trying to get an idea of what the program looks like and I’m not having a lot of luck online. Do you happen to have an example schedule of what courses are offered and what your week would look like ? Also, does the program help to find you a placement and is the 250 hours direct or does that include all direct and indirect hours at placement? 
A representative course schedule is not available, but full-time registration is typically 3 courses per semester, which can be scheduled in 2 or 3 days - 9 hours of in-class time per week.   The 2nd year includes 4 more courses plus a two day a week practicum placement.   The minimum 250 hours is inclusive of indirect and direct client hours - the latter being a minimum of 25%.

This dual degree program creates a pathway between U of T's Master of Education (MEd) in Counselling Psychology, Global Mental Health and Counselling Psychology (GMHCP) field and China Medical University (CMU)'s Master of Medicine (MMed) in Psychiatry and Mental Health programs.

Students will gain both degrees in three years rather than the four years it would take to acquire the degrees independently.

Applicants must apply directly to both the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at U of T and the Department of Medical Psychology and Mental Health at CMU.

There are also dual degree programs with China Medical University (CMU)'s Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Psychology, and Zhejiang University (ZJU)'s Master of Applied Psychology (MAP) program.

See more details about the dual degree programs on the School of Graduate Studies Calendar.

Program Chair: Dr. Roy Moodley

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

Program Coordinator:
Caren Li
kl.li@utoronto.ca