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Program Overview
The Child Studies Master's program offers two track options: the Applied Professional Track and the Clinical and Developmental Research Track. Uniquely suited for specific career paths and interests, both tracks prepare students to work as practitioners, researchers, or interventionists with expertise in skillfully applying developmental research to real-world problems. The Child Studies Master's program has a more than twenty-year history of placing graduates in child service positions in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, and educational learning centers, or in competitive doctoral programs and research positions in areas of psychology and clinical science.
Through the program, you'll select a primary focus between one of two tracks:
- Applied Professional Track- designed for students whose academic and professional goals include preparation for careers working directly with children and families, this program option offers students opportunities for scholarly didactic and in-depth, supervised professional experiences in child and family service organizations. Students are matched with relevant agencies and organizations within the community to gain hands-on experiences in practicum settings. These experiences are complemented by foundational coursework, wherein students have flexibility to design their program of study around areas of substantive interest and relevant career paths.
- Clinical and Developmental Research Track - designed for students whose academic and professional goals include preparation for further graduate study, such as doctoral studies in clinical, developmental, or educational psychology, or positions in research, this program option is designed to strengthen students' backgrounds for success in these settings. Students are matched with a faculty mentor and provided opportunities to participate on a research team in an area of substantive interest. Research methods and statistics coursework and completion of an independent research project appropriate for submission for publication are further requirements; areas of concentration allow focus in clinical and developmental psychology and other related fields of interest.
Careers
Of job-seeking Child Studies graduates, 97% were employed or attending graduate school within four months of graduation. A sample of careers includes:
- Child Life Specialist, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Family Counselor, United Methodist Family Services, Richmond, Virginia
- Ph.D. Candidate, Clinical Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
- Ph.D. Candidate, Education Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Registered Behavior Technician, Advance Beyond Autism, Nashville, Tennessee
Program Facts
Program Directors: Vicki Harris, Ph.D. (Applied Professional Track),
Nina Martin, Ed.D. (Clinical and Developmental Research Track)
Admissions Coordinator: Ally Jacobs
Admission Term: Summer
Credit Hours: 36
Priority Application Deadline: January 3
Program Curriculum
The 36-hour program consists of 12-18 credit hours of Core Curriculum Coursework and 18-24 credit hours of Elective Coursework that are individually tailored to your personal interests and professional goals.
In addition to the required courses, you'll integrate child development research and theory with effective practice through a range of field experiences. Through these experiences, you will develop expertise as consumers and producers of scholarly research.
Concentrations and Practicum
Coursework
Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The Child Studies M.Ed. recognizes and respects differences across students' backgrounds, circumstances, and personal and social identities and understands that our concept of diversity and what constitutes an inclusive climate will evolve as we welcome new students. We are committed to creating academic experiences that address issues of justice and equity, working within our classrooms and program to increase the participation and contributions of persons who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the pursuit of knowledge.