Practicum in Psychological Science I
This practicum is designed to provide students with an immersion in the methods of
psychological research. Students may be exposed to a broad range of research
perspectives and approaches, including opportunities to become familiar with various
research skills and instruments in labs and research facilities outside the student's core
research area of interest. This course is required for all M.A. students in the
Psychological Science Field.
General Overview
Psychological science students are required to take practicum courses as part of their
graduate training. The first practicum is required for the M.A. and the second is required
for the Ph.D. The practica are meant to form a pedagogical progression with students,
developing new research skills in the first practicum placement that they may then
consolidate and develop further in the second practicum. The first practicum may either
be an internal or external placement and the second practicum will typically be an
external placement.
Types of Placement:
The internal placement involves placing a student in the lab of a member of the Ryerson
Psychology Department. This experience will typically involve the acquisition of a new
research skill or exposure to a new research method or tool to provide some depth in
their research experience. Students also may be placed in up to four different labs for
“brief immersion” research experience. This experience will involve the acquisition of
several research skills or exposure to several new research methods or tools to provide
for greater breadth in their research experiences.
The external placement involves placing a student in a field setting, such as a hospital,
mental health clinic, university research lab outside of Ryerson, government agency, or
business. The external practicum allows students to engage in applied or translational
research that has specific real-world aims. A diversity of practicum settings will be
available, including areas such as community and health psychology, program
evaluation, cognitive ergonomics/human factors, and psychology and law.
As best as possible, the placement will be tailored to the individual needs of the
students and to their interests and goals for skill acquisition. Students may select a
placement from a list of “approved” sites, or they may pursue one of their own choosing
(as long as it meets the department requirements for a practicum placement).
Setting
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The practicum will be completed in a research laboratory or field setting such as
hospital, government agency, company, or mental health clinic.
The student will be involved in learning a new research method, technique, or skill or
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in a definable project that can be completed to defined outcomes (i.e., “the
deliverables”) within the period of the practicum.
The host site must be able to designate a person who can provide supervision. This
person shall possess the necessary authority to implement the practicum and the
necessary knowledge to facilitate the project. This person will often be a Ph.D.-level
researcher, though this is not a necessary requirement.
Timing
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The practicum will typically occur in the 2nd year of study, but may occur as early as
the summer at the end of the 1st year.
The practicum will consist of no less than 120 hours of placement.
Practicum Agreement
A formal practicum agreement will be negotiated between the student and the site
supervisor, but may also involve the faculty supervisor.
Purpose of the Agreement
 Contentious issues discussed up front.
 Offers ways to accept or reject a project.
 Provides a forum for communication among all parties.
A Sample of Essential Points to be indicated in the Agreement
 Parties to the contract, including students, supervisors, and organizations.
 Roles and responsibilities of each party.
 Objectives/purpose of applied training objectives.
 Plan to ensure the objectives/purpose will be accomplished.
Supervision
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The practicum will be supervised by a site supervisor. The student should meet with
the site supervisor once a week to ensure that the placement fulfills the practicum
objectives. As well, regular seminar meetings will be held by the Psychological
Science Practicum Coordinator with all currently placed practicum students.
Upon completion of their placements, students will receive performance feedback
from their site supervisors based on the Student Evaluation Form.
Evaluation
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Students must complete the minimum hours in the field placement to pass the
practicum requirement.
At the end of the semester in which the practicum is completed, The Practicum
Placement Coordinator will make a recommendation to the Curriculum Committee of
a “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” grade, based on the Student Evaluation Form.
Student Feedback
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Students will complete a Placement Evaluation Form describing the practicum
placement and submit the form to the Psychological Science Practicum Coordinator.
Forms
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A Practicum Interest Form must be completed by the student prior to beginning the
practicum.
August, 2008