M.Psy. Information

Admissions applications will be available online as of April 15, 2011.
Abstract
Admission Requirements
Application Process
Application Results
Continuous Enrollment (See Leave of Absence – Continuous Enrollment)
Credit Transfers and Waivers
Dropping a Class (See Withdrawals and Refunds: Dropping a Class in Academic Calendar)
Dropping the Program (See Withdrawals and refunds: Dropping the Program in Academic Calendar)
Faculty Mentoring/Advising
Learning Coaching
Leave of Absence – Continuous Enrollment
M.Psy. Registration Agreement
M.Psy. Class Enrolment Process
M.Psy. Residency Requirement
Length of Program
Transferring from another Master’s Program

Abstract

Adler Graduate Professional School’s Master of Psychology (M.Psy.) degree is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to deliver competent, up-to-date, and ethical psychological services to the public. The M.Psy. degree is intended to train providers of psychological services. The 75-credit curriculum is guided by the academic and clinical criteria set forth by the College of Psychologists of Ontario for a master’s degree leading to the designation “Psychological Associate” in the practice areas of Clinical or Counselling Psychology. The degree is offered over two years full-time or four years part-time on weekends or weeknights.

• This program is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the period from 25 January 2011 to 24 January 2016. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g., acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions.)

• The Master of Psychology is a professional degree with an emphasis on clinical skills and knowledge. As with any practitioner-oriented degree, potential students who wish to pursue doctoral studies such as a Ph.D. in psychology should ensure that the M.Psy. meets entrance requirements for that program before enrolling in any AGPS degree.

• Whether or not to grant the designation “Psychological Associate” and membership in the College of Psychologists is entirely at the discretion of the College. Questions regarding qualifications should be directed to College personnel before making a decision to enrol in any program of study.

• Prospective students from outside Ontario may recognize that the standards set by the Ontario College of Psychologists are rigorous and match or exceed requirements in many other jurisdictions. However, it is the responsibility of any potential student who wishes to practice outside Ontario to inform herself/himself of the requirements for professional practice in the intended jurisdiction, and to ensure that the AGPS Master of Psychology degree matches those requirements before making a decision to enrol in the program.

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate baccalaureate degree with an overall “B” or better grade point average (3.0 on a 4-point scale) from an accredited college or university is a minimum requirement for admission to the Master of Psychology degree program offered by Adler Graduate Professional School.

Students whose undergraduate education occurred at an institution that is not approved by an accrediting body in North America may have their credentials examined for equivalency by the University of Toronto or another Ontario university educational assessment service.

Full admission

A four-year honours degree in psychology from an accredited postsecondary institution and a “B” or better grade point average (minimum 3.0 on a 4-point scale) are prerequisites to full admission to clinical or counselling psychology tracks. While relevant experience will be taken into account as indicating interest in and knowledge of the field of psychology, only formal educational experiences will be considered as fulfilling this prerequisite.

Applications from candidates whose formal education varies from the criteria above but who believe their academic background is equivalent may be reviewed for eligibility by the College of Psychologists of Ontario, but such candidates should have their degrees assessed for equivalence to Ontario standards through the University of Toronto or other Ontario university educational assessment services before submitting their credentials to the College.

Provisional admission

Applicants who have earned an undergraduate baccalaureate degree from an accredited postsecondary institution, a “B” or better grade point average (minimum 3.0 on a 4-point scale), and at least two full undergraduate psychology courses (12 credits) but who lack the full honours psychology prerequisites, may apply for provisional admission in order to complete a Transitional Diploma (48 credits) before full acceptance into the clinical or counselling tracks of the M.Psy. program.

Provisional admission is awarded applicants whose interests and academic background indicate they may be successful in pursuing a clinical or counselling master’s degree in psychology, but who have not completed a four-year honours degree in psychology or the equivalent 60 credits. Provisional students will be required to successfully complete the 48-credit Transitional Diploma in order to be granted full admission to the clinical or counselling tracks of the M.Psy. program.

Applicable coursework from a related field or insufficient coursework will be reviewed by the Psychology Admissions Committee to determine which credits may be transferable and/or what work or clinical experience may be considered relevant.

Admissions Committee

All applications and the results of Admissions Interviews will be reviewed by the Professional Psychology Program Admissions Committee. Final admission decisions are made by the Admissions Committee, which reviews and decides upon the academic and personal eligibility of each candidate. No single factor will determine admission; rather, the Committee will make a judgment as to the overall likelihood of successful completion of a rigorous graduate program and personal suitability for a professional position of public trust. Adler School of Professional Studies Inc. reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant.

Degrees that were awarded 20 years or more previous to the application may not be deemed as an appropriate prerequisite, in which case the Admissions Committee may require more recent indication of preparation to enter a graduate-level program. For students in clinical or counselling tracks, the College of Psychologists will determine whether a student’s coursework meets requirements for registration.

Application Process

Submit the following:

1. Transcripts from all postsecondary schools sent directly to AGPS Admissions showing

• For full admission: an earned four-year honours baccalaureate degree in psychology from an accredited university with a cumulative grade point average of ‘B’ or 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (approximately 85%) for all undergraduate course work. The honours psychology degree or equivalent coursework must be acceptable to the College of Psychologists of Ontario as undergraduate preparation for graduate training in professional psychology.
• For clinical or counselling psychology—provisional admission: An earned baccalaureate degree (three- or four-year) or the equivalent from an accredited university with a cumulative grade point average of ‘B’ or 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (approximately 85%) for all undergraduate course work. The applicant must also have
  

  at least two full (6-credit) courses in psychology with a grade of ‘B’ or 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (approximately 85%). These courses must include introductory psychology and may be for-credit on-line courses from accredited degree-granting institutions.

2. A completed Admissions Form and autobiographical essay. Admissions Form and essay instructions are available on the AGPS website: www.adler.ca.

3. Three letters of reference, at least one from an individual familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

4. Payment of admissions fee.

5. Optional:

Results of a Graduate Records Examination (GRE) in Psychology may be submitted, at the applicant’s discretion. Information may be obtained from http://www.gre.org/ or

Educational Testing Service Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 085441-6000

Telephone: 1 609 771 7670

Admissions Interview

A personal interview in Toronto with members of the Admissions Committee is required for applicants who meet basic admissions requirements. Once the above materials have been received, the Admissions Committee will determine whether to contact the applicant to arrange for an interview. Whether or not to grant an interview is entirely at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

The interview will include a short written exercise based on common questions and a conversation with Admissions Committee members regarding the applicant’s professional interests, any personal experiences relevant to a career in professional psychology, and her or his plans for completing a degree and providing psychological services.

If the Admissions Interview decides not to grant an interview, the applicant will be notified that his or her application has been denied.

Application Results

A letter notifying the applicant of the results of his or her application process will be sent within two weeks of the admissions interview.  An acceptance form and information about registration will accompany acceptance letters to successful candidates. Once the applicant’s signed acceptance form has been returned to the School, he or she is eligible to complete a Registration Agreement and enrol in classes according to the current class enrolment schedule.

Continuous Enrollment (See Leave of Absence – Continuous Enrollment)

Credit Transfers and Waivers

Where students believe course material may have been covered in prior educational experiences, they may apply to have previous credit transferred into the Program or have a required course or courses waived. For the M.Psy degree Program, no more than one-third of required credits may be transferred. In no case shall the transferred credits reduce the Residency Requirement (see Residency Requirement). Transfer of credit reduces the number of remaining credits required for completion of the degree. A waiver allows a student to substitute another course for one required in the degree. Requests for transfers or waivers will not be considered before a student has signed and returned a Registration Agreement.

Written requests for transfers or waivers should be directed to the Academic Standing Committee.  The following procedure will apply:

1.   The student completes a Request for Transfer or Waiver Form available from the Registrar. Neither transfer credit nor a waiver may be granted for any course in which the student earned less than a grade of B (or 3.0 on a 4-point scale).  The form asks for details regarding the course(s) the student completed elsewhere:

a.     The postsecondary institution, course title(s) and course number(s) and grade(s) as listed on the student’s transcript.

b.     A course outline that includes a description of course content, outline of topics covered, how performance in the course is evaluated, number of contact hours and credit awarded, and text or other reading and resources required and recommended.

c.      The course name(s) and course number(s) in the Master of Psychology program for which the student is requesting a waiver or transfer of credit.

2.   The student returns the completed form to the Registrar, who compares the information with the student’s transcript on file to ensure consistency and the required “B” grade. The Registrar then submits the Form and findings to the Chair of the Academic Standing Committee.

3.   In the case of inconsistencies between the transcript and the student’s Form, the Chair consults with the student to determine whether the inconsistency is an error that the student should be allowed to correct (and resubmit the form, beginning at step 1) or whether there has been an ethical breach that should be dealt with according to the Complaints, Grievances and Appeals procedures as presented in the Academic Calendar.

4.   In the case of consistency between the Form and the student’s transcript, the Chair presents the Request Form to the Committee, who may consult with a faculty member with expertise in the subject in order to determine whether the course is sufficiently similar in content and credit hours to that offered in the AGPS curriculum to justify awarding transfer credit or to allow the student to waive the course and to take another of equal credit in its place. Transfer of credit is for courses that are offered at the same degree level as the AGPS course. Courses may be waived when the content has been covered at a lower degree level, but never less than an upper-level baccalaureate.

5.   The Committee decides whether to grant any transfer or waiver request on the bases of fairness (awarding credit where credit is due), reasonableness (not awarding credit where none is due, including not giving credit twice for the same learning), and consistency.

6.   The Committee details its decision and the analysis on which it is based in writing to the Program Dean, in addition to communicating that decision and rationale to the student.

7.   The student has the right to appeal the decision of the Academic Standing Committee.

At least annually, the Program Dean will examine the Committee’s decisions to ensure that they are guided by above principles.

Dropping a Class (See Withdrawals and Refunds: Dropping a Class in Academic Calendar)

Dropping the Program (See Withdrawals and refunds: Dropping the Program in Academic Calendar)

Faculty Mentoring/Advising

During their first pre-session course, normally a five-day intensive, incoming Masters of Psychology students are assigned a faculty mentor/advisor to match their interest in clinical, counselling, psychotherapy, or coaching psychology. The mentor/advisor is a member of the M.Psy faculty. The mentor/advisor meets with the student at the beginning of each year to decide on a course sequence that matches the student’s professional goals and to sign a Registration Agreement. The mentor/advisor then serves as instructor in that student’s Portfolio Seminars throughout the Base Sequence of 500-level courses (the first year of a full-time Program or first two years of a part-time Program). Applied Sequence students in 600-level courses (second year full-time, third and fourth years part-time) may request a mentor/advisor for their Conspectus Seminar according to their professional interests.

Learning Coaching

Each incoming M.Psy degree student will be assigned a Learning Coach to assist him or her in clarifying goals, identifying options for maximizing learning experiences, and balancing academic and personal demands. Three one-on-one sessions with Adler Trained Coaches will be made available each trimester to students whose Information Resources fees are current.

Note: Coaches are not academic advisors or counsellors, nor are they necessarily experts in the field of study chosen by the student. They are trained to refer students to these experts as appropriate.

Leave of Absence – Continuous Enrollment

Once enrolled, M.Psy degree students are expected to sign up for classes in every trimester until they complete their Program. If for any reason a student is unable to sign up for classes in any trimester, she or he must apply in writing and receive permission for a Leave of Absence from the Program Dean. In the absence of such permission, students who fail to register for two consecutive trimesters will be dismissed from their Program. Once permission has been obtained, the Leave of Absence form should be forwarded to the Registrar who will determine appropriate fees. Students not enrolled in classes must pay a fee per term to ensure Continuous Enrollment (See Schedule of Tuition and Fees).  Payment is due at the end of each trimester in which the student did not enroll in classes. Students who fail to submit Continuous Enrollment fees or who do not return to school at the time stated in their request for leave will be dismissed from the Program (see Dismissal from Program).

M.Psy. Registration Agreement

Students are required to sign a Registration Agreement at the beginning of each school year stating that they plan to enter or continue in the Program and that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by the Honour Code and all school policies and procedures, as amended from time to time.

Students may enrol in classes only after they have met with their Faculty Mentor/Advisor and secured his or her signature on the Registration Agreement indicating approval of course sequence. Normally, this occurs at the beginning of each academic year. The contract period for a student’s Registration Agreement is no more than one year. Any changes to the Registration Agreement within that year must receive approval of the Faculty Mentor/Advisor or the Program Dean (See Class Enrolment Process).

At their first registration, students will be issued a username for AdLearn Online, the e-collaboration system that provides ongoing class, program, and school information to and among students, faculty, and staff.

M.Psy. Class Enrolment Process

Registration for the AGPS Master of Psychology program consists of four steps:

1. Meet with Faculty Mentor/Advisor

Before their first registration and at the beginning of each subsequent academic year, students meet with their Faculty Mentor/Advisor to select courses. For the Master of Psychology Program, the Mentor/Advisor will be assigned according to the student’s selected track: clinical or counselling psychology, psychotherapy, or coaching. The Mentor/Advisor signs the Registration Agreement indicating his or her approval of the student’s selection of courses for that academic year. The approved Registration Agreement is then filed with the Registrar. Students are strongly advised to maintain copies of all school documents for their own files.

Students should remember that an approved Registration Agreement does not guarantee enrolment in any specific class during any trimester—tuition payments and other fees must be current. Students may pay tuition and enrol in courses during the period set aside for enrolment at the beginning of each trimester.

2. Pay trimester tuition to the Bursar

Tuition for pre-session classes must be paid no sooner than 30 days and no later than one business day preceding the class. Tuition for other courses and all applicable fees are due during the period set aside for enrolment at the beginning of each trimester. Any past due fees must be paid in full in order to enrol in classes.

Upon payment of any past due fees and confirmation of ongoing payment arrangements, students will be issued a receipt that will allow them to enrol in classes offered during the current trimester.

All tuition fees will be deposited in a Trust Fund until the student has completed at least two-thirds of any class. These measures are taken in response to student protection requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities.

3. Enrol in classes with the Registrar

There are three four-month trimesters in the school year (Fall—September through December; Winter—January through April; and Summer—May through August). Classes are offered on weekends, weeknights, or weekdays, depending on the program.  With a few exceptions (such as Practicum and Clinical Master’s Project), classes must be completed within the term in which they are offered.

In order to reserve a space in any particular class, students must present a receipt for tuition and fee payment to the Registrar’s office. No student may enrol in classes unless her or his tuition, Student Association, Learning Resources, and any administrative or other fees are current.

AGPS reserves the right to cancel classes that have a very low enrollment, for reasons of instructor unavailability or for other extenuating circumstances. Every effort will be made to ensure rescheduling of required courses so that students are inconvenienced as little as possible by any cancellations.

A Late Fee (See Schedule of Tuition and Fees) will be charged as an administrative cost for any enrolment after the scheduled class enrolment week.

Once it has been approved by the Registrar, the Class Enrolment Receipt will serve as verification of the student’s enrolment in a class. Class enrolment is on a “first-come, first-served” basis and is dependent upon class size.

4. Attend the first session of class

Because each session of a class represents one fifth to one quarter of total class hours, absence from the first session will be considered withdrawal from that class.

Students are not considered enrolled in classes until they have completed all four of the above steps. AGPS will grant credit ONLY for those classes for which students have correctly enrolled.

Students are not to contact instructors regarding availability of space in a class. The Registrar or Registrar’s delegate(s) are the only persons who may enrol students for classes. If a class is full, students will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if and when space becomes available.

If a student and her or his Faculty Mentor/Advisor decide to change any part of the Registration Agreement, the student must submit an approved revision to the Registrar before enrolment week for the applicable trimester. Students must pay the current Continuous Enrollment fee for any term in which they have been granted a Leave of Absence and are taking no classes (see Leave of Absence—Continuous Enrollment and Schedule of Tuition and Fees ).

M.Psy. Residency Requirement

Students are required to be resident for one full-time year of study (three consecutive trimesters) or two part-time years of study (six consecutive trimesters). Leaves of absence do not count toward residency. Residency consists of in-person participation in courses, seminars, and practica, with face-to-face contact with faculty and other students.

M. Psy. Sequence—Full-Time (two years) Full-Time Base Sequence (year one)
Pre-Session I (5-day intensive)	Credits	Totals
500-Professional Development I: Motivation and Values	3
		3
Once each month throughout School Year
505-Colloquia	0
Trimester 1
501-Portfolio Seminar	0
511-Professional Development II: Interviewing and Alliance	3
521-Statistics & Research Methodology	3
531-History and Systems of Personality & Psychotherapy	3
541-Psychopathology I: Anxiety-Based & Personality Disorders	3
		12
Trimester 2
502-Portfolio Seminar	0
512- Professional Development III: Ethics & the Law	3
532-Fundamentals of Psychometric Assessment	3
542-Psychopathology II: Cognitive, Psychotic & Affective Disorders	3
552-Transtheoretic Foundations of Psychotherapy	3
		12
Trimester 3
503-Portfolio Seminar	0
513-Professional Development IV: Pre-Practicum & Self-Care	3
523-Human Change Processes	3
533-Assessment of Intellect & Cognition	3
543-Psychodiagnostic Case Formulation & Report Writing	3
		12
year 1 total credits		39
Full-Time Applied Sequence (year two)
Pre-Session II (5-day intensive)
600-Professional Development V: Group Psychotherapy	3
		3
Once each month throughout School Year
605-Colloquia	0
Trimester 1
601-Conspectus Seminar	0
612-Major Project I	3
651-Practicum	3
661-Practicum Seminar	2
691-Elective(s)	3
		11
Trimester 2
602-Conspectus Seminar	0
632-Psychopharmacology	3
652-Practicum	3
662-Practicum Seminar	2
692-Elective(s)	3
		11
Trimester 3
603-Conspectus Seminar	0
613-Major Project II	3
653-Practicum	3
663-Practicum Seminar	2
693-Elective(s)	3
year 2 total credits		11 36
Total credits for degree		75
M.Psy. Sequence—Part-Time (4 years)
Part-Time Base Sequence (years 1 & 2)
Pre-Session I (5-day intensive)	Credits	Totals
500-Professional Development I: Interviewing & Alliance	3
		3
Once each month throughout all Trimesters
505-Colloquia	0
Trimester 1a  (year 1)
501a-Portfolio Seminar	0
511-Professional Development II: Motivation and Values	3
521-Statistics & Research Methodology	3	6
Trimester 2a
502a-Portfolio Seminar	0
512-Professional Development III: Ethics & the Law	3
532-Fundamentals of Psychometric Assessments	3
		6
Trimester 3a	0
503a-Portfolio Seminar
523-Human Change Processes	3
533-Assessment of Intellect & Cognition	3
		6
Trimester 1b (year 2)
501b-Portfolio Seminar	0
531- History and Systems of Personality and Psychotherapy	3
541-Psychopathology I: Anxiety-Based & Personality Disorders	3
		6
Trimester 2b
502b-Portfolio Seminar	0
542-Psychopathology II: Cognitive, Psychotic & Affective Disorders	3
552-Transtheoretic Foundations of Psychotherapy	3
		6
Trimester 3b
503b-Portfolio Seminar	0
543-Psychodiagnostic Case Formulation & Report Writing	3
513-Professional Development IV: Pre-Practicum & Self-Care	3
		6
Base Sequence total credits (years 1&2)		39
Part-Time Applied Sequence (years 3 & 4)
Pre-Session II (5-day intensive)
600-Professional Development V: Group Psychotherapy	3
		3
Once each month throughout all Trimesters
605-Colloquia	0
Trimester 1a (year 3)
601a-Conspectus Seminar	0
651-Practicum	3
661-Practicum Seminar	2
		5
Trimester 2a
602a-Conspectus Seminar	0
632-Psychopharmacology	3
692-Elective(s)	3
		6
Trimester 3a
603a-Conspectus Seminar	0
653-Practicum	3
663-Practicum Seminar		2
		5
Trimester 1b (year 4)
601b-Conspectus Seminar	0
611-Major Project I	3
691-Elective(s)	3
		6
Trimester 2b
602b-Conspectus Seminar	0
652-Practicum	3
662-Practicum Seminar	2
		5
Trimester 3b
603b-Conspectus Seminar	0
613-Major Project II	3
693-Elective(s)	3
		6
Applied Sequence total credits (years 3 & 4)		36
Total credits for degree		75

M.Psy. Standards for Successful Completion

Admission to any course or program does not guarantee its successful completion.  The determination of a student’s performance is not limited to classroom assignments, but includes all factors in the student’s academic and clinical progress and professional development. Evaluation of student performance in regular classes is indicated by letter grades A+ (exceptional), A (superior), A- (excellent), B+ (above average), B (good), B- (satisfactory), C+ (acceptable), C (marginal), C- (below average), D+ (inadequate), D (insufficient), F (failure). Successful completion is indicated by an overall evaluation that meets expectations (grade of B).

To be recommended by the Faculty for the conferral of the Master of Psychology degree, a student must have met all of the following criteria:

1.     Full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees.

2.     Satisfactory completion of 75 credit hours, including all required courses.

3.     Satisfactory completion of 9 credit hours of practicum plus 6 credit hours of practicum seminars with a passing grade indicating minimum “competent” level in Clinical Relationship, Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, and Professional Expectations and Ethics.

4.     A cumulative grade point average of “B” or 3.0 or higher and no more than two grades of “C+” or lower.

5.     Successful completion of the Master’s Project requirement with a passing grade indicating a minimum “competent” level in Research and Evaluation.

6.     Submission of a Conspectus indicating integration of academic and applied skills, knowledge, and professional attitudes and a plan for ongoing professional education.

7.     Successful completion of the M.Psy. Comprehensive Examination indicating minimum “competent” level of Foundational Knowledge.

Length of Program

Candidates have a maximum of five years to complete all requirements for graduation from the M.Psy. program. Candidates who exceed this time limit must re-apply according to the procedures outlined in the Academic Calendar current at the time of their re-application and, if accepted, fulfill requirements as listed in that Calendar.

Transferring from another Master’s Program

Students who have completed a portion of another psychology program may apply to have credits transferred only after they have been admitted and enrolled (see Credit Transfers and Waivers in Academic Calendar for procedure).

Transfer of credit reduces the number of remaining credits required for completion of the M.Psy. degree and is granted only when the previous credit is from an accredited degree-granting institution for substantially the same subject matter offered at the same degree level as the course which it replaces. No more than 25 credits may be transferred to the M.Psy Program. In no case shall the transferred credits reduce the Residency Requirement for M.Psy students.

After consultation with a Faculty Mentor/Advisor, students should direct written requests for transfers to the Academic Standing Committee. They should include a letter indicating the course or courses for which transfers or waivers are requested, along with a detailed copy of the course outline on which the request is based. The Committee retains final authority for granting transfers and waivers.