A master's degree program in the psychology of child development will likely be found in a psychology department. Possible specialization areas may include developmental psychology with a focus on child development, child and adolescent psychology and child psychology. Psychology students specialize by choosing their specific courses and writing a thesis on a particular area related to their career goals. So, if a child psychologist wanted to work with adolescents, he might write a thesis on the psychology of learning in adolescent students. The thesis is the full-length, scholarly final paper graduate level students write to complete their degree.
Other master's degree programs might be found in child and family science, human development and early childhood education departments. Scholars in these multidisciplinary degree programs may focus their coursework in psychology. Students in these fields might specialize in child psychology via their thesis topic.
Courses in child developmental psychology will teach students about the special developmental needs of children, including they way they learn, how they learn behaviors, how they respond to punishment and develop aggressive behaviors and morals. Courses may include topics that cover issues in different areas of psychology, including developmental psychology classes, social psychology classes and behavioral psychology classes. Specialized courses will move beyond the general principles of psychology development throughout lifespan and address the specific ways children and adolescents develop psychologically and socially.
A master's degree in developmental psychology does not qualify graduates to work as mental health professionals. Master's level job-seeks with a degree in child developmental psychology may find employment in a variety of settings in the public and private sectors, including childcare facilities, non-profit organizations focusing on children's issues and juvenile corrections facilities. Graduates may take on administrative and community roles in these organizations.
Some doctoral level clinical and counseling psychology departments allow students to be admitted without a prior master's degree in the field. The psychology coursework required for a master's in child developmental psychology can prepare students for doctoral study in applied psychology, offering them the opportunity to work hands on with mental health patients. Some counseling and clinical psychology practitioners specialize in child and adolescent psychology and work exclusively with youth. A master's in child developmental psychology can also lead to Ph.D. study in the area or in related fields, such as child and family studies.