Prospective Students

Applicants will be required to meet the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies:

• An Honours bachelor's degree or the international equivalent from an accredited university

• B+ average (77-79%, equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 grade point average) in the final year of undergraduate study

• Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language, as outlined in the Graduate Calendar. Similar to several other graduate programs, a minimum acceptable TOEFL (iBT) score  will be 92 overall with a minimum of 22 for reading 24 for speaking, 24 for listening and 22 for writing. Alternately an overall minimum IELTS score of 7.0 will be required.

For admission to the MSc in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care program, an applicant must also meet the criteria listed below to ensure the appropriate background and success of our learners.

• Qualifications as a health professional; e.g. nurse, child life specialist, physician

Meeting the above minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission. Limited space will be available, and the admission process is expected to be competitive.

• Demonstrate comprehension of research methods and the ability to critically evaluate the validity of key assumptions and evidence
• Demonstrate ability to apply theoretical knowledge and patient and family-centered care principles to diverse pediatric health and community settings
• Apply concepts of pediatric psychosocial assessment incorporating child, family and healthcare variables
• Utilize effective communication strategies and documentation of pediatric psychosocial assessment and interventions to advocate for the diverse needs of infants, children, youth and families

• Demonstrate critical analysis and advanced practice skills through exposure to specialized topics
• Exhibit the ability to evaluate and recommend systems to improve delivery of quality psychosocial care in pediatric settings

Stream 2 Full-Time Students (12 months - 27 units) Sample Schedule

Required Online Modules

Online modules must also be taken by all graduate students; Students may not graduate or register in a subsequent academic term without having successfully completed these:
• SGS 101/ Academic Research Integrity and Ethics
• SGS 201/ Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities act (AODA)

The School of Graduate Studies SGS 101 and 201 courses must be completed in the Year 1 Fall term

Stream ​2 ​Part-Time Students (24 months - 27 units) Sample Schedule

 *Required Online Modules

Online modules must also be taken by all graduate students; Students may not graduate or register in a subsequent academic term without having successfully completed these:
• SGS 101/ Academic Research Integrity and Ethics
• SGS 201/ Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities act (AODA)

The School of Graduate Studies SGS 101 and 201 courses must be completed in the Year 1 Fall term

Course Listing

Required Online Modules

Online modules must also be taken by all graduate students; Students may not graduate or register in a subsequent academic term without having successfully completed these:

• SGS 101/ Academic Research Integrity and Ethics
• SGS 201/ Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities act (AODA)

The School of Graduate Studies SGS 101 and 201 courses must be completed in the Year 1 Fall term

In addition to fulfilling the Masters in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care program's Admissions Requirements, please review the complete application checklist here.

An online application is required to be filled out through the School of Graduate Studies at McMaster University. Please visit the "How to Apply" section of the School of Graduate Studies for more information.  When you are ready to begin the application process, click here

Every applicant will receive a MacID. This does not imply acceptance to the program, but is required to log into McMaster's Mosaic system. If you already have a MacID, please use this when applying.

To begin the online application process, you will need to select the stream you are applying to so you can be directed to the appropriate page. Some application components will be received through the online application portal, and others will be sent to our program directly by mail or email. Please refer to the application checklists above for instructions.

Please monitor Mosaic for updates regarding the status of your application. Our program will update your application checklist in Mosaic to confirm when components have been received.

Following successful submission of an online application, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received by the department.

Please visit the McMaster University Tuition and Fees page for up to date information.  Scroll down the page and click on "Professional Based Programs" for fees related to our MSc program.