M.Ed. in Child Studies

The Department of Psychology and Human Development has a long tradition of research excellence regarding children, including pioneering investigations into how children develop, learn, and think. The master's program in Child Studies is designed to help you integrate the most current child development research and theory with effective practice in academic or professional settings.

The program offers classroom preparation and culminates in a capstone experience pertinent to your career development that allows you to gain direct experience in a child or family-oriented setting. The field experience can involve children, adolescents, families, schools, or related community services. Throughout this intensive experience, you will apply recently acquired theory, research, and skills to practical situations.

This program is also available to current and entering Vanderbilt students as a fifth-year master's program.

The 36-hour program consists of 18 credit hours of core curriculum classes and 18 hours of elective course work that are individually tailored to each student's personal interests and professional goals. Elective concentrations include but are not limited to: health care, developmental disabilities, early intervention services, early childhood, child advocacy, public policy, youth development, and arts and media.

Because of our program's small size—about fifteen students in any given semester—you will enjoy a great deal of access to our nationally recognized faculty, individual assistance with locating resources, and will have a voice in the program's decision making process and course offerings. While you can expect to study the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of children in the program, the M.Ed. in Child Studies is not a counseling degree.

For more information, please contact:

• Ann Williams, Program Coordinator
• Vicki Harris, Program Director
• Polly Case, Education Coordinator for Psych and Human Development