Child Studies (MA)
Master of Arts (MA)
Program overview
The MA in Child Studies investigates child cognition, emotion, social functioning, language, literacy, numeracy, moral development, special needs learners, and play. Education researchers also consider the critical role that families, peers, teachers, schools, inclusive practices, communities and culture play in development. They examine factors that shape children’s development using quantitative, mixed method, and qualitative approaches (including arts-based methodologies). Students also have access to our Observation Nursery to document children’s learning processes. Faculty members offer individualized mentorship and support, allowing students to link theory to practice while completing an internship project or thesis. Montreal provides numerous settings in which students can work with children and families in both English and French, including Quebec’s universal childcare system, preschool programs, diverse schools (including French immersion and alternative schools), after-school programs, two children's hospitals, and community services.
Program Details
- Undergraduate degree with a minimum of a B average and a significant concentration in child studies, education or related discipline.
- Minimum one year of professional experience in the field of child care, education or related areas is desirable.
- Bilingualism is an asset, but not a requirement.
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions.
Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.
MA with Thesis
15 credits – Core Courses
CHST 600 - Advanced Child Development (3 credits)
CHST 603 - Seminar: Issues in Child Studies (3 credits)
CHST 605 - Quantitative Methods of Inquiry (3 credits)
CHST 606 - Qualitative Methods of Inquiry (3 credits)
9 credits minimum – Elective Courses
CHST 610 - Applied Cognition and Learning (3 credits)
CHST 614 - Social Processes (3 credits)
CHST 618 - Childhood Settings (3 credits)
CHST 620 - Children’s Play: From Theory to Practice (3 credits)
CHST 622 - The Family (3 credits)
CHST 624 - Curriculum Models in Childhood Settings (3 credits)
CHST 630 - Issues in Education: Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Scientific Reasoning (3 credits)
CHST 632 - Issues in Inclusive and Special Education (3 credits)
CHST 640 - Special Topics in Child Studies (3 credits)
CHST 650 - Directed Study (3 credits)
Chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
21 credits – Thesis Proposal, Research, and Thesis
CHST 697 - Thesis Proposal (3 credits)
CHST 698 - Research and Thesis (18 credits)
MA with Internship
15 credits – Core Courses
CHST 600 - Advanced Child Development (3 credits)
CHST 603 - Seminar: Issues in Child Studies (3 credits)
CHST 605 - Quantitative Methods of Inquiry (3 credits)
CHST 606 - Qualitative Methods of Inquiry (3 credits)
CHST 608 - Field Observations (3 credits)
12 credits minimum – Elective Courses
CHST 610 - Applied Cognition and Learning (3 credits)
CHST 614 - Social Processes (3 credits)
CHST 618 - Childhood Settings (3 credits)
CHST 620 - Children’s Play: From Theory to Practice (3 credits)
CHST 622 - The Family (3 credits)
CHST 624 - Curriculum Models in Childhood Settings (3 credits)
CHST 630 - Issues in Education: Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Scientific Reasoning (3 credits)
CHST 632 - Issues in Inclusive and Special Education (3 credits)
CHST 640 - Special Topics in Child Studies (3 credits)
CHST 650 - Directed Study (3 credits)
Chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
18 credits – Internship Seminar and Field Placement
CHST 695 - Internship Seminar and Field Placement (9 credits)
CHST 696 - Internship Report (9 credits)
Students may choose to apply to one of two options in their pursuit of this degree:
- Option A (Thesis Option): Students will pursue a particular area of interest, conduct their own research, and report the research in a thesis.
- Option B (Internship Option): Students will complete 200 hours of fieldwork in a setting serving children or youth, and will write a comprehensive internship report based on this experience.
In both options, students are supervised by a faculty member with mutual interests. Thesis and internship students also take many of the same courses, allowing for rich exchanges amongst students with various professional, research, and personal experiences.
Consult the graduate calendar for complete degree requirements.
Prior to applying, please email us to request the Child Studies program booklet.
Your completed application will include:
- Application form and Fee
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three Letters of Reference and assessment form. Two academic references are required and one should be professional
- Statement of purpose (500 words or less) that includes:
- reasons for choosing the M.A. Child Studies program
- current academic and professional goals and how they relate to your past experience
- relevant achievements or contributions in academic, professional, or community contexts
- if you wish, indicate the names of one or more faculty members you might like to work with to complete a thesis or internship project
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- Applicants whose primary language is not English, are required to submit official language test scores, unless exempted.
Please apply online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures.
| DEGREE |
FALL (September) |
WINTER (January) |
SUMMER (May/June) |
| Child Studies | MA | Dec. 1 | Aug. 1 | n/a |
Core courses include:
- Advanced Child Development
- Issues in Child Studies
- Quantitative Methods of Inquiry
- Qualitative Methods of Inquiry
- Field observations
Elective courses cover a range of topics including:
- Social Processes
- Children’s Play
- Curriculum Models
- Inclusive Education
Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of current courses.
Master’s students are eligible for a variety of scholarships and fellowships, Research assistant and Teaching assistant positions, conference travel awards and other funding opportunities.
Consideration for Entrance Awards is automatically part of the admissions process for all new students. Awards that are available for Master’s students include:
- Faculty of Arts and Science Fellowships ($7,000)
- Concordia Merit Scholarship ($10,000)
- Hydro-Quebec Graduate Award ($5,000)
- Arts and Science Fellowship in Ethnic Studies and Social Diversity ($7,500)
- Out-of-Province Fee Remission Awards ($6,000)
Students are also regularly invited to apply for awards once in the programs (in-course awards). These opportunities are announced to graduate students by the Department of Education.
We encourage students seeking admission to our program to apply for funding from external sources in the final year of their undergraduate studies (e.g., FRQSC, SSHRC).
Please also consult Concordia’s graduate funding page and Financial Aid and Awards for additional information.
Our faculty members are a diverse group of educators committed to excellence in teaching, research, and community service. They are well known for their strong research profiles that inform their teaching and afford graduate students the opportunity to work on cutting edge research.
Faculty research interests include:
- children's peer and sibling relationships
- children's play
- historical and international perspectives on childcare
- curriculum and instruction
- inclusive practices and education
- popular culture of children and youth
- teaching, teacher education, and teacher identity
- gender issues
- family
- moral development
- learning and cognition in relation to mathematics
- language development and literacy
Students who select the Internship Option work in conjunction with a faculty member to determine a placement site and identify an issue to be explored at the site. Past students have worked in settings such as community agencies, childcare centres, schools, and hospitals.
Internships typically take place during the program’s second year. Students first propose an issue to explore (for example, child development, family relationships, teaching quality, curriculum development, service delivery), then complete the internship and write a comprehensive report of the internship experience.
The Graduate Child Studies Association represents all students in our program and is responsible for organizing a number of social events throughout the academic year.
The Graduate Symposium in the Department of Education (GSDE) is an annual event that invites students across Canada to present their research. The GSDE is a student-run conference and offers you the opportunity to learn more about grant applications and event planning.
Graduate students are also encouraged to present their research findings at various regional, national, and international conferences. Past students have presented papers at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, the Canadian Education Researchers’ Association, the American Educational Research Association, the Society for Research in Child Development, and the International Association for the Study of Child Language.
See what our students are working on. Review an inspiring list of thesis topics.
Our alumni are highly sought after by school boards, childcare providers, governments, and community agencies. Recent graduates can be found working as teachers, pedagogical consultants, curriculum developers, administrators of childcare or early intervention programs, and research coordinators. Others are pursuing doctoral degrees in education or various branches of psychology (e.g., school, clinical, or developmental).
Examples of companies and institutions our alumni have gone on to work for include:
- Accueil aux Immigrants de l’Est de Montréal
- Air Canada Vacations
- Alberta Health Services
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind
- Centre de la Petite Enfance Duluth
- Collège de comptabilité et de secrétariat du Québec
- Commission Scolaire Marie-Victorin
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute
- English Montreal School Board
- Florida Center for Reading Research
- Lester B. Pearson School Board
- Mackay Rehabilitation Centre
- Peel District School Board
- Rico Technologies Limited
- Service d'Adaptation et d'Intégration de Montréal
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board
- St. Monica Elementary School
- The Epstein School
- Vanier College
- West Montreal Readaptation Center
- Westmount High School
