ADLER’s Master of Psychology degree has two distinct streams that lead toward different career paths:
- The Master of Psychology in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (MPsy-PSY)
- The Master of Psychology in Psychotherapy and Clinical Counselling (MPsy-PTH)
Both streams consist of 75 credits, including three “Capstones”: Major Research Project or Thesis; Practicum Placements (3x 300 hours); and a Master’s Comprehensive Examination. The degree may be completed in as few as two years of full-time study or up to a maximum of five years. The average completion time is 2.5 years, full-time, which can be longer if students have provisional conditions to their acceptance. Students in the program are required to complete all required components and provisional conditions of their acceptance to graduate.
Master of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (MPsy-PSY) – Program Description
ADLER’s Faculty of Psychology grants a Master of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (MPsy-PSY) degree to prepare students to provide psychological services in clinical counselling in a variety of situations such as schools, clinics, hospitals and private practice settings, for registration as Psychological Associates in the Province of Ontario, and for further study in professional psychology. This stream also meets the entrance requirements for ADLER’s Doctor of Psychology program.
To help enable students to balance work and studies, classes are scheduled on weekends or two days during the week over three trimesters per year (4 months each, including summers).
The 75-credit curriculum is designed to meet the educational 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.
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 deciding to enroll in any program of study.
Both streams of the MPsy meet the academic requirements for registration as a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Applicants and students are advised to familiarize themselves with the requirements for any professional regulatory body to which they plan to apply. Completion of any degree at ADLER does not guarantee registration with any regulatory body.
*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.)
Master of Psychology in Psychotherapy and Clinical Counselling (MPsy-PTH) – Program Description
ADLER’S MPsy-PTH stream is designed to fulfill educational requirements for registration as a “Registered Psychotherapist–Qualifying” with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) upon graduation. The MPsy-PTH requires undergraduate-level psychology preparation, and the CRPO accepts online courses at the graduate level. The MPsy-PTH blends the convenience of online learning, which can be done anywhere with internet access, with the effectiveness of in-person demonstration and feedback during intense three-to-five-day residencies three times per year. Mentoring and guidance are provided by qualified professionals throughout the year, as all courses are synchronous, meaning the instructor and students are present together during all scheduled course hours.
The 75-credit curriculum is designed to meet competency requirements of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) for designation as a Registered Psychotherapist (RP).
Whether or not to grant the designation “Registered Psychotherapist” and membership in the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario is entirely at the discretion of the College. Questions regarding qualifications should be directed to CRPO personnel before deciding to enroll in any program of study.
Applicants and students are advised to familiarize themselves with the requirements for any professional regulatory body to which they plan to apply. Completion of any degree at ADLER does not guarantee registration with any regulatory body.
*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.)
Consent
In Ontario, consent to offer post-secondary degrees is granted by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities. This is considered equivalent to regional accreditation in other jurisdictions. The Master of Psychology degree is offered by Adler Graduate Professional School under the consent of the Ministry, which requires the following notice:
**This program is offered under the written consent of the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities for the period from November 8, 2023 to November 7, 2028. 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).
From time to time, student work, including but not limited to essays, examinations, and other material, may be anonymized and made available to subject matter experts as part of the quality assurance process for academic degree programs.
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 further studies such as a doctorate in psychology should ensure that their MPsy stream meets entrance requirements for that program before enrolling in ADLER.
Potential 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 themselves of the requirements for professional practice in the intended jurisdiction and to ensure that the ADLER Master of Psychology degree matches those requirements before making a decision to enroll in the program.
The primary aim of ADLER’s Master of Psychology (MPsy-PSY and MPsy-PTH) Degree Program is to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to deliver ethical, equitable, and effective psychological services to the public.
The curriculum also includes electives to provide a foundation for additional competencies, such as specific applications of psychotherapy or assessment, according to the interests of students, the mental health needs of the public, and the development of the profession of psychology.
Members of the psychology and psychotherapy faculties are dedicated to providing a solid preparation in clinical and counselling practice. What sets the ADLER degree and training program apart from other graduate psychology or psychotherapy programs is a focus on the development of knowledge through practice, a focus that is designed to complement academic psychology. The curriculum is taught by actual practitioners who train students to bring a variety of assessment, diagnostic, and therapeutic resources to bear on the real-life mental health needs of individuals, groups, and families.
MPSY Admissions
MPsy-PSY and MPsy-PTH streams
Individuals who have completed an honours undergraduate degree in psychology or the equivalent from an accredited university and who have maintained a ‘B’ average overall in their undergraduate studies are eligible to apply for full admission.
Applicants who have at least a ‘B’ average but who lack the full 576 hours of undergraduate instruction in psychology prerequisite may apply for conditional acceptance to complete up to 48 credits (8 full university courses) in the Transitional Equivalency (TEQ) program. TEQ involves a “gap analysis” that compares an individual’s prior psychology and psychotherapy background with the current undergraduate requirements of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). For more information, see the Transitional Equivalency Program above
Applications from candidates whose formal education varies from the criteria above but who believe their academic background is equivalent may also be reviewed for eligibility by the College of Psychologists, 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.
Conditional Acceptance
Conditional Acceptance into the Master of Psychology is contingent on completion of the courses in the Transitional Equivalency Program identified on their Offer of Acceptance
Applicants completing courses in the Transitional Equivalency Program (TEQ) may be granted conditional acceptance to the Master of Psychology Degree Program but must complete all conditional requirements before beginning the course work in the Master of Psychology Program.
Conditional Admission may be granted to students with 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 75%) for all undergraduate course work. Candidates may complete undergraduate courses by attending an accredited undergraduate university or college. In addition, many universities offer fully accredited online psychology courses.
Provisional Acceptance
Provisional Acceptance into the Master of Psychology Program may also be considered under exceptional circumstances (undergraduate attendance more than ten years previous or substandard grades with mitigating factors). Students must achieve at a particular academic level for a period specified in their Offer of Acceptance.
Full Admission
A four-year honours degree in psychology from an accredited University program or the equivalent is necessary for full admission to the MPsy degree. 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 requirement. 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 a more recent indication of preparation to enter a graduate-level program. Ultimately, the College of Psychologists will determine whether a student’s coursework meets the requirements for eventual registration.
MPSY Application Process
Transcripts
All transcripts from all postsecondary schools must be sent directly to ADLER Admissions.
Admission Form & Letter of Intent
Complete the Admissions Form and Letter of Intention and send it directly to Admissions. Admissions Form and instructions are available on the ADLER website: www.adler.ca.
Letters of Reference
Provide three references, at least one from an individual familiar with the applicant’s academic work. If the applicant is a recent graduate (within two years), two references must be academic. Referees must complete the Reference Form. A link to the form will be sent to the addresses applicants provide.
Admission Fee
Pay admissions fee (see Psychology Fees).
Completed Acuity Insights Casper Admissions Assessments
Applicants must register for and complete the Casper for CSP-10201 – Canadian Professional Health Sciences: a 90-110 minute online, open-response situational judgment test from Acuity Insights.
- The use of the assessment is a complement to the admission documentation.
- Its intent is to add a further objective element to our selection process
Access https://acuityinsights.app/casper/ to create an account and for more information on important dates and requirements and to complete the Casper assessments
Optional
Results of a Graduate Records Examination (GRE) in Psychology may be submitted, at the applicant’s discretion. Information may be obtained from:
Telephone: +1 609 771 7670
Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 085441-6000
Admissions Interview
A personal interview in Toronto or by electronic communication with members of the Psychology Admissions Committee is required for applicants. Once the above materials have been received the Admissions Committee will determine whether to grant an interview. The interview will involve a conversation with Admissions Committee members regarding your professional interests, any personal experiences relevant to a career in professional psychology, and your plans for completing a degree and providing psychological services. Some applicants may be asked to provide additional written work or information after the interview. You will be notified of the results of your interview after a final review with the admissions committee.
Acceptance of Offer Of Admission
An email from the Director of Academic Admissions notifying you of the results of your application process will be sent within 14 days of your admissions interview. This will be followed by an email from the Registrar’s office with a formal Letter of Acceptance containing any conditions and next steps. You are asked to sign and return the Letter of Acceptance indicating that you accept the offer of admission within 14 days. Once the signed Letter of Acceptance is received, the Registrar’s Office will email a full registration package. If we do not receive all the requested signed documentation by the first day of the Registration period, we will assume that you have refused the offer. You may defer admission for up to one year without having to reapply if you submit a formal request to the Registrar’s Office. Deferral requests must be received by the Registrar’s office prior to the registration period.
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 Academic Policies: Credit Transfers and Waivers).
Transfer of credit reduces the number of remaining credits required for completion of the MPsy 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 that it replaces. No more than 25 credits may be transferred to the MPsy program. In no case shall the transferred credits reduce the Residency Requirement for MPsy students.
After consultation with a Faculty Mentor/Advisor, students direct written requests for transfer of credit or waivers to the Academic Standing Committee for the Faculty of Psychology. Include a letter indicating the course or courses for which you are requesting transfers or waivers, along with a detailed copy of the course syllabus on which the request is based. The Committee retains final authority for granting credit transfers or waivers.