MSc Education: Child and Adolescent Psychology pathway

This pathway takes a psychological perspective towards understanding development from infancy to adolescence. We focus on cognitive, social and emotional development, placing this within a broad understanding of educational theory and policy.

The pathway draws on psychological theories and research to explore questions such as: 

• What are the key processes of child and adolescent development? 

• What is the role of family in children’s development and education? 

• How do developmental disabilities such as autism and Down’s Syndrome influence children’s experiences and development? 

• How do children learn through play? 

• What factors influence children’s interaction with technology? 

• How can knowledge of child and adolescent development inform work in educational contexts? 

This pathway is for those interested in or with previous experience supporting children’s development in educational settings. You will engage with current issues across a stimulating range of topics, from early literacy to friendships in children with autism; from the role of physical activity in cognitive development to the impact of technology on children’s futures. 

You will explore this field through lectures, group discussions and multimedia projects, with the opportunity to work with many different technologies. You will study with well-established child development researchers and benefit from guest lecturers from the fields of education, psychology and technology. 

We will support you as you develop your thinking through a range of assessments, including presentations, essays, blog posts and collaborative video projects. You will participate in a vibrant research environment by, for example, attending seminars organised by the Developmental Psychology in Education research group.

Pathway structure

You are required to take five  compulsory and two option courses and complete a dissertation to earn this MSc degree.  

Compulsory courses

You will take the following courses:

• Child and Adolescent Development (20 credits)
• Autism and Developmental Disabilities or Children and Technology or Psychology of Learning and Teaching or Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing (20 credits)
• The Philosophy of Education or Education Policy and the Politics of Education (20 credits)
• Sources of Knowledge (10 credits)
• Conceptualising Research (10 credits)

Option courses

You will also complete two option courses (40 credits) selected from those on offer within the School. Option courses are subject to change each year, but have included: 

• Ethics, Education and Films (20 credits)
• Gifted and Talented Youth (20 credits)
• Foundations of International Child Protection (20 credits)
• Froebel, Social Justice and the Early Years (20 credits)
• Global Childhoods and Human Rights (20 credits)
• Involving Children and Young People: Research and Participation (20 credits)
• Pedagogy and Practice of Friedrich Froebel for the early years (20 credits)
• Physical Activity for Health Across the Lifespan (10 credits)
• The Anthropology of Education and Learning (20 credits)
• Youth Studies (20 credits)

Please note: Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Children and Technology, and the Psychology of Learning and Teaching can also be taken as an option course. 

Course Descriptions (2024-25)

Dissertation

During semesters one and two, our staff will support you to become more independent in your studies. This helps prepare you for your dissertation project. Once you successfully complete your core and option courses, you will produce a dissertation. This is a piece of independent, original research of 12,000 words on a topic within developmental psychology. This might take the form of a systematic review or an empirical piece of work. 

Once you reach this stage, you will have a series of small-group and one-to-one meetings with your supervisor, who will work closely with you throughout the project. One of the benefits of being in a large department is that our staff have a wide range of skills to draw upon, so you’re more likely to find a dissertation supervisor who is a specialist in your chosen area of research. 

Examples of recent dissertations include: 

• The effect of the Daily Mile project on school-aged children's working memory

• The role of digital technologies in the lives of home-schooled children with limited health capacities 

• How do practitioners support relationships between typically developing children and children with autism in a mainstream early years setting? 

• Comparing sex and gender identity as predictors of academic choices, self-efficacy and enjoyment in high school education in China 

Pathway-specific career opportunities

This pathway provides a solid foundation for further study to doctoral level with a focus on children’s development. It also suits those who wish to work with children and young people in an educational profession (for example, as a digital officer for a local authority or educational advisor in a children’s charity).Graduates will develop: 

• a critical awareness of current developmental psychology research 

• an understanding of the research methods used to help understand the lives of children and young people, and the ethical issues involved when working with children 

• the capacity to think analytically about the potential applied value of research findings to work with children in educational settings 

• the ability to critically evaluate claims made in relation to educational and technological interventions for children and young people #

• digital skills and understanding of statistics 

Contact us

For further information about this pathway, please contact the Pathway Co-ordinator.

Pathway Co-ordinator: Dr Katie Cebula

Apply now

Find detailed entry requirements, fees and costs, and apply for this pathway via the Degree Finder.  

Apply now