Most Affordable Masters Program in Developmental and Child Psychology

Graduate Degrees and ProgramsToggle Graduate Degrees and Programs.

The Master of Arts in Child Development is a 35-39-unit, evening program designed to provide students with an in-depth background in child growth and development.

The Child Development Program has offered a Masters of Arts degree since 2000. This program provides training in core areas of child development, including development of the whole child from birth through adolescence, family studies, and research design and methodology. This program has a uniquely applied focus and integrates many areas relevant to child development, such as early childhood education, special education, counseling, and social work. Students exiting this program take with them skills that are marketable under current and expected socioeconomic conditions.

In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:.

A brief statement describing the applicant preparation for graduate study, goals of graduate study, and professional aspirations, to be submitted to the department .

Satisfaction of the following prerequisites: a. One class in Child Development. One class in statistics, and c. One class in research methodology.

At the end of the spring semester, all first year graduate students will be evaluated to determine whether or not they will be advanced to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree. Students will be reevaluated each quarter until they are either advanced to candidacy or declassified.

Successfully completed 12 units of course work in the program and maintained a 3.0 ( B ) grade point average in the course work .

Satisfied the Writing Requirement for Graduate Candidacy (WRGC) .

A minimum of 35 semester units of approved graduate-level work, with at least 23 semester units completed in residence at this university .

A grade point average of at least 3.0 ( B ) in all courses taken to satisfy the Master of Arts degree, grades of B (2.7) or better in each required course in the program, and grades of C (2.0) or better in each elective course .

Completion of the Program degree requirements within seven years of admission to the program .

The Graduate Writing Assessment Reqirement is met upon successful completion of PSYC 6640 with a grade of B-or higher .

Also note that students in classified status who fail to register for at least one course in the MACD program each semester will be automatically declassified. PSYC 6990-6996 Continuous Enrollment for Graduate Candidacy Standing may be taken if all mandatory coursework has been completed and another course is not taken during a given quarter.

Students will be required to become familiar with the literature in one or research areas and to become skilled in certain specialized research methods which will pertain to their abilities to gather data for a thesis. Examples of such activities could include gathering pilot data to acquire interview skills, knowledge of survey procedures, assessment skills, advanced statistical skills, understanding of content analysis, skills to work with a special population, or advanced physiological measurement skills.

The Developmental Psychology graduate sequence focuses on the scientific study of stability and change in biological, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning across the life span. This focus on development is a distinctly ecological and interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum offers in-depth exposure to developmental theories, methodologies, and applications. Students may choose a pre-doctoral focus designed to prepare them for advanced graduate study and academic careers or an applied focus for careers in a diverse array of community settings that provide human services.

The master degree can be completed with two years of full-time enrollment on campus.

The Developmental Psychology graduate sequence focuses on the scientific study of stability and change in biological, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning across the lifespan. This focus on development is a distinctly ecological and interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum offers in-depth exposure to developmental theories, methodologies, and applications.

Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.

A student applying to a master program must:.

Have earned a four-year bachelor degree or its equivalent from a college or university prior to fall admission.

Admission is offered only for the fall semester and is very competitive. Admission offers are sent in February. The Council for Graduate Schools stipulates that an applicant has until April 15 to accept or decline an admission offer. Some admission offers may be delayed until applicants notify the department that they are declining admission.

The GRE is not required for applicants and will not be used to evaluate applicants. The GRE may be submitted to establish math proficiency.

Nature of the experiences that are relevant to being admitted to the graduate sequence.

How your interests and goals fit with this graduate sequence.

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of . They are intended as a way to facilitate a student progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Be admitted as a degree-seeking student to a graduate program.

Be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 graduate credits) during the fall or spring semesters.

The department awards graduate assistantships to applicants who accept admission. Graduate assistantships are subject to verification of employment eligibility under U.S. immigration laws and the receipt of anticipated state funding by the University.

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.

Educational Psychology Track.

This 36-credit hour program teams you with nationally known researchers exploring motivation, learning, social development of children, aggression and bullying in schools, and family influences on child development. It also includes a strong emphasis on statistical analysis, assessment, and inquiry methodology.

Educational Psychology Track Requirements.

Learn the variety of fellowships and assistantships available to graduate students.

Consult your employer the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a 90-quarter unit professional degree program that fulfills the educational requirements for the state of California Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license.

The program mission is to provide the state of California with highly competent master-level clinicians trained to counsel individuals, couples, families, and groups in a multicultural society. Graduates are often employed by County Mental Health, Social Services, inpatient and outpatient community mental health centers, and other nonprofits. Many graduates also build successful private practices. Approximately fifteen percent of our graduates pursue doctoral studies in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.

Some courses are taught by mental health professionals from the community.

Graduate classes are small, and students receive much individual attention in our on-campus practicum training clinic and community traineeship sites.

There are approximately 40 fully matriculated students in Cal Poly M.S. Psychology Program.Graduate courses are scheduled so that full-time students carrying 12-16 quarter units can secure their degree in two years or two years plus two quarters. Because of the program extensive clinical training, student work, family, and other obligations, it may take some students longer to complete the program. Courses are held in the day and evening and are offered only once a year.

Students will gain an understanding for and appreciation for the various forces that shape human development across the lifespan. A particular emphasis will be placed on the interplay of biological, psychological and contextual factors in shaping development over time.

As an area of inquiry, Developmental Psychology concerns the emergence of behavior and knowledge in individuals and groups. The Developmental Psychology graduate program at UCLA represents the breadth of the discipline, ranging from infancy to adolescence. Students receive training in graduate level Cognitive, Social, Language, and Emotional Development.

For a complete list of Required Courses please see Section 12 of the Psychology Handbook.

This guide provides tools to help you explore careers related to this specialization. Use this information to start researching this field and the opportunities in it. This research can help you make a transition into positions related to this field. Start by gaining an of this program and learning the field, jobs, and employment settings that are related.

Specialization topics include prenatal, child, and adolescent development physical and mental health and social and educational issues related to child and adolescent development.

Research and evaluate sources of knowledge, theory, and best professional practices within child development.

Critically analyze and evaluate the scientific and practical merit of research and literature pertaining to child and adolescent development.

Effectively communicate knowledge, theory, and best professional practices within child and adolescent development.

Apply ethical and best professional practice principles to the provision of services and programs for children, adolescents, and their families.

APA Division 54 Society of Pediatric Psychology.

National Institute of Child Health Human Development.

In addition to exploring the field, take some time to research specific jobs and employment settings related to this program. Consider how these jobs and settings fit with your experience, skills, interests, and values. This is a sample list of job titles and employment settings related to this field. Spend time researching your industry and prospective employers to decide whether this type of degree will help advance your career.

These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.

Society for Research in Child Development Career Center.

I hold a BS from Bushnell University (2016) and MS Ed. in Special Education from Western Oregon University (2018). After two years of research work at Oregon Social Learning Center, I began graduate studies at VCU in the fall of 2020.My research interests focus on how schools can act as prevention for violent behavior and substance use in adolescents. I am particularly interested in promotion of positive youth development and prevention of juvenile justice involvement.

National and Northcentral have merged, and this program is now offered by NU.

The Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology program helps prepare you for a career with or advocating for, children, adolescents, and their families.

The MS in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology program seeks to expose students to a deep understanding of physical, cognitive, gender, and socioemotional development that is acquired through critical analysis of research, as well as the theories of development that have arisen from this research. Students will also learn child and adolescent psychopathology and get an in-depth understanding of ADHD, as well as autism spectrum disorders.

Online Masters in Child Adolescent Developmental Psychology Course Listings.

The Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology program can be completed in 30 credits.

All Master of Science programs require the foundation course to be completed prior to enrolling in specialization courses. If students choose the capstone, this course will be completed as the last course in the degree program.

This course is an introduction to graduate studies in child and adolescent development. In this course, current and historical theories, major developmental principles, and research in child and adolescent development will be explored. Students will complete the course with a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations.

Prenatal and early childhood development comprises multiple processes, including physical and biological, cognition and language, and socioemotional development. During this course, students will trace the development of each of these processes throughout the prenatal and early childhood periods. Using discipline related research skills students will analyze the latest research in the field, and will emerge with a grounding not only in classic theory but also in current research directions. The diverse social context in which development occurs will also be critically examined, including how the role of family, school, and peers impacts development.

This course focuses on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development from childhood through adolescence. Students will gain an understanding of the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development that occurs during childhood and adolescence, guided by theories of human development and scholarly literature. Diverse factors that protect, promote, and pose risks to development will be considered. This course will provide students an opportunity to strengthen their information literacy skills, build upon their academic writing skills, and reflect on interventions that promote development for children and adolescents.

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of gender development in children and adolescents. Students will explore theoretical explanations of gender development and the latest research on this topic. They also will learn how cognitive, social, biological, and cultural influences impact gender development, identity, and perception into adolescence.

Upon the completion of this course, you will develop an understanding of the strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research design. As a result of this newfound knowledge, you will become a educated and discerning consumer of the existing published research. In addition, you will be informed on effectively and ethically use these different research methods when designing research studies.

This course explores the etiology of child and adolescent behavior disorders. Students will examine the sociobiocultural influences on abnormal child and adolescent development. Theoretical underpinnings and classifications of abnormal child and adolescent development including familial attributes will be explored.

This course provides you with an opportunity to apply the Ethical Principles specifically in the setting of Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. You will develop an understanding of basic ethical concepts in the framework of Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology. This course also emphasizes the importance of knowing state laws and regulations, which may differ from the ethics standards established by the American Psychological Association or other national organizations. You also will assess the impact of culture and personal values on professional behavior in the area of Child and Adolescent Psychology.

This course introduces the graduate student to the calculation, use, and interpretation of descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis. The emphasis of this course is on providing a working knowledge of basic statistical concepts and helping students to understand statistical methodologies used in psychology, and, generally, to develop a working knowledge of statistical usage in everyday life.

This course evaluates two prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that present in Child and Adolescent Developmental psychology settings. You will examine theoretical underpinnings and research in ADHD and ASD. You also will examine various diagnostic approaches, their origins, and interventions as applied to each disorder. You also will learn the combined effects of ADHD and ASD.

The Capstone course in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology is an opportunity to demonstrate a range of professional competencies and communication skills, reflecting the knowledge, critical thinking, sensitivity to ethics and diversity, and appreciation of research that has been acquired during the MS program. The Capstone course culminates in a review of the evidence based practices related to a specific issue of interest to the student in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology.

The Master of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology requires a total of 30 credits for completion.

Graduation requirements for the MS in Child Adolescent Developmental Psychology vary according to specialization selected.

A minimum of 18 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through the University.

Completion of subject area competency requirements for the graduate program.

All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma or degree posted transcript.

And although you attend class online, you still receive the personal support and guidance you deserve thanks to our one-to-one learning model. We also have no residency requirements, no GRE GMAT requirements, and no group projects. This offers the flexibility you need to fit higher education into your busy schedule.

MS in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology Learning Outcomes.

Synthesize theories and principles applicable to the field of child and adolescent developmental psychology through written communication.

Appraise research methods and data analysis applicable in the framework of child and adolescent developmental psychology.

Investigate empirically supported interventions for research, administration, or practice of child and adolescent developmental psychology.

Employ ethical principles of psychology in academic and professional matters of child and adolescent developmental psychology.

Examine diversity issues in the context of child and adolescent developmental psychology.

Students in the MS in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology program may choose a non-clinical internship.

Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.

Our course structure is built to make earning your degree accessible and achievable by offering a rigorous, yet flexible program that works with your schedule.

We know your life may not happen on a 9-5 schedule, so we offer courses online or on-site at locations across California.

Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Depending on where you reside, many positions may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met. Any data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee that completion of any degree program will achieve the underlying occupation or commensurate salary.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), The median annual wage for all psychologists was $81,040 in May 2021. Working in different industries, practices, and states will also affect the potential median annual wage.

An MA in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology is a graduate program that focuses on the application of psychological principles and theories to children and adolescents. The program typically covers topics such as child development, psychopathology, assessment and diagnosis, and evidence-based interventions. Graduates of the program can work in a variety of settings, including schools, clinics, hospitals, and community organizations.

Not exactly. Although both fields study human development, they have different areas of emphasis.

Child and adolescent psychology focuses on the psychological growth of young people. It examines mental health, behavior, and well-being of children and adolescents.

On the other hand, developmental psychology is a extensive field that examines human development across the lifespan, starting from infancy to old age. It covers topics such as cognitive development, social and emotional development, and aging.

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state country.

Program availability varies by state. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and or licensing authority.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.

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The concentration in applied developmental psychology is concerned with enhancing developmental processes and preventing developmental disorders in individuals and families across the life span. This program provides basic knowledge normal development, skills for assessing developmental level, and techniques for planning and evaluating programs that foster optimal development.

Graduates of the Master Program are prepared for employment at agencies concerned with educational and health programs for children, enrichment programs for infants and preschoolers, and education programs for parents.

in Applied Developmental Psychology requires 30 hours of graduate credit, including either a practicum or thesis. The program prepares students for employment in government and private agencies that deal with educational and health programs for children, agencies that conduct research on child welfare and human development, enrichment programs for infants and preschoolers, parent education, the media, daycare and after school child care programs, etc. It also accepts students who wish to prepare for doctoral work in Developmental, Clinical, Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. This program does not provide training in clinical skills.