School and Clinical Child Psychology

Program Description

The School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) professional psychological training program is based on a scientist-practitioner model. The specific mission of the SCCP program is to provide students with theoretical foundations, research, and professional training in preparation for a career involving research or professional psychological practice with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. The specific contexts in which graduates of the SCCP program may find themselves include schools, private practice, mental health facilities, community organizations, and academia.

To meet the professional goals of the program, students benefit from direct training, hands-on experience, and collaborative opportunities in clinic, classroom and lab environments. Through these experiences, students receive training in assessment, interventions, professional consultation, ethical issues, and prevention. To meet the research goals of the program, required coursework includes training in statistics, research methodology, and evaluation with emphasis on opportunities for application. In addition, faculty members provide a breadth of research opportunities ranging from community-based to experimental research in collaborative environments. From this integrated program delivery model, students are equipped with the skills necessary to be contemporary scientist-practitioners.

The School and Clinical Child Psychology MEd program is designed to prepare students for doctoral studies. It is highly recommended that students who complete the MEd program go on to apply for the PhD program to benefit from the full sequence of courses and practicum experiences. Please note that this program does not accept admission deferrals. It should also be noted that only the PhD program in School and Clinical Child Psychology is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association.

Accreditation

The PhD program in School & Clinical Child Psychology is accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). The program successfully completed the accreditation process in 2024. The current accreditation term is 5 years, and the next site visit is due in 2028-2029.

Canadian Psychological Association
141 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 702
Ottawa, ON
Canada, K1P 5J3
Telephone: 1-888-472-0657
You can also visit the CPA website.

Why choose the SCCP program at the U of A?

• Access to world-class Clinical Services Centre
• Opportunity to work with award winning researchers, instructors and supervisors
• Excellent career opportunities
• Cohesive and supportive learning environment