Child Studies Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Program Prerequisites

Applicants to the M.Ed. program should have taken these courses or their equivalents during their undergraduate program or prior to application for the M.Ed. in Child Studies.  Graduate course requirements for Vanderbilt 5th-year students and external Master's applicants are identical.

• Psychology 1630 (Developmental Psychology), or equivalent (3 hrs)
• Psychology 2101 (Introduction to Statistical Analysis), or equivalent (3 hrs)

Core Curriculum for the Child Studies Program:

• PSY 3600 Applied Child Studies (3)
• PSY 3610 Advanced Applied Child Studies (3)
• PSY 3900 Child Development Practicum / Field Placement (6)
• An advanced course in developmental theory and content (3)
• An advanced course in research methodology or statistics (3)

You will be encouraged to enroll in courses which will strengthen your competitiveness for professional positions upon graduation including course work in grant writing, cultural diversity, ethics for human development professionals, and consultation in human service settings.

The remaining 18 credit hours are individually tailored to meet your professional and academic goals. Courses are selected from various departments and schools (including the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and the Owen Graduate School of Management.)

Individual programs of concentration include, but are not limited to: health care, developmental disabilities and early intervention services, early childhood, child advocacy and public policy, youth development, and arts and media.