Degree Courses in Child Psychology

Child psychology is a specialized field that addresses physical, mental and social development of children. While dealing with children can at times be heartbreaking, it can also be very rewarding. There are many schools that offer programs in child psychology and the job opportunities are good after graduation.  

Undergraduate Degrees

These degrees take three to four years to complete according to your schedule. The prerequisites for an undergraduate degree are introductory psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, research and statistics. There are a number of specialized courses that need to be taken including child psychology, child psychopathology and behavior analysis. It is possible that an internship in a clinic will be required to complete the program.

Master’s Degree

Several schools offer a program to get your master’s degree in child psychology. An undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field is required for admission with a 3.0 GPA.

Courses that will need to be taken are child and adolescent psychology, research and statistics among others. A written thesis or other project will also be required. There will also be on hands work in a professional counseling or education setting.

Doctorate Degree

There are a wide variety of doctorate programs available for students who want to specialize. These programs combine advanced coursework with a major independent research project and a dissertation on a topic to be chosen by you and your advisor.

The final exam for a doctorate degree is an oral examination. Graduates are prepared for jobs in such fields as academic research and teaching.