Dr. Susan Birch

Associate Professor

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Biography

Dr. Susan Birch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on social perspective taking and its development across the lifespan. Specifically, she explores children's abilities to understand the perspectives of others, including the ability to infer what someone knows, feels, or intends. Dr. Birch investigates how cognitive biases and source monitoring difficulties can limit these perspective-taking abilities, and how these limitations affect various aspects of development. Her line of inquiry includes examining the influence of children's perspective-taking skills on their learning processes, such as making inferences about the credibility of sources of information. Additionally, she explores the relationship between social perspective taking and social-emotional health throughout development.

Research Interests

Social Perspective Taking Theory of Mind Cognitive Biases Developmental Psychology Social-Emotional Health

Experience

Associate Professor

— Present

University of British Columbia • Vancouver, BC, Canada

Teaching and researching social perspective taking and development.

Requirements for University of British Columbia

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:21
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy or related field 3 credits in formal logic 6 credits at the upper level in history of philosophy 3 credits at the upper level in ethics or value theory 6 credits at the upper level in metaphysics, epistemology, or philosophy of science
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • Application fee
  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample (15-20 pages)
  • Statement of intent
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
Specialization Notes

Offers course-only and thesis routes. Focus areas include philosophy of science, mind, ethics, and Asian philosophy.