WHAT IS AN ONLINE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE?
TYPES OF ONLINE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAMS
Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology
This program may help psychology students learn how to work with or advocate for a child or teen. You’ll study stages of a kids’ development and the impact of family, school, peers, and culture.
Course Examples:
- Child Psychopathology
- ADHD and Autism Spectrum
- Pre Natal and Early Child hood Development
No specific program accreditation
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with and Emphasis in Childhood and Adolescent Disorders
This program focuses on clinical skills for how to counsel a child or teen. These include assessment, trauma counseling, and communication. You may also take psychology courses that speak to normal and abnormal mental processes.
Course Examples:
- Childhood Trauma
- Psychopathology
- Counseling Practicum
No specific program accreditation
Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy – Child and Adolescent Family Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapy involves children and teens. So, this program looks at how to work with young people using a family therapy approach. 100 hours of clinical experience are required.
Course Examples:
- Family Therapy with Adolescents
- Clinical Applications
- Child and Adolescent Development
Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE).
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAMS
Most child psych programs are at the grad level. This may be because a Master’s is the minimum education needed for mental health pros like School Psychologist. And, many career paths ask that you have a PhD.
MASTER’S DEGREE
At the Master’s level, you’ll gain a better knowledge of a child’s behavior and development. For instance, you could explore how a child learns, plays, and forms relationships with care givers. You’ll also study abnormal psychology, and how to treat behavioral problems.
Research may be a big part of the course. For instance, you could conduct applied research that uses theories that already exist to solve problems. Many programs also teach methods for your own research. That includes research design, plus data analysis.
Common programs include:
- M.A. in Psychology – Child Psych. This type of program covers foundations in psych. Plus, you’ll take course work within the child psych focus.
- M.S. in Child Psychology. Applied psych may be the focus of an M.S. program. You could study things from personality theory to intervention strategies, with a focus on children and teens.
- M.S. in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Child Psych. This kind of program focuses on mental health concerns that can be dealt with in schools. So, you could study topics like learning disabilities and classroom behavior management.
Master’s programs include courses like:
- Development and Psychopathology in Early Child hood
- Family Systems and Family Therapy
- Psychology of Learning
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Theories of Personality
- Intervention Strategies
Your courses may span psych theory, practice, and research.
DOCTORATE DEGREE
Many Psychologists need to earn a PhD. Those who hope to work with children could find a PhD program with this focus.
Most Psych PhD programs cover how to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. They look at factors that affect mental health and behavior, plus ways that a psych can help. Child psych PhD programs apply those concepts to kids. You’ll study a child’s development and behavior in different contexts – like the school and the family.
Common programs include:
- PhD in Child Psych. The PhD is a research degree. So, it may include courses on procedures, statistics, and related topics. You must pass an exam and write a dissertation.
- Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Child Psych. The Psy.D. often takes more of a hands on approach. You may focus on applied theory instead of original research.
That said, either kind of program could help you with a psych career path. And, both PhD and Psy.D. programs may feature clinical training.
PhD programs include courses like:
- Developmental Psychopathology
- Pediatric Psych
- Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
- Family Interventions
- School Clinical Child Psych
- Infant/Toddler Assessment and Intervention
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WHAT DO CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?
Some common courses include:
Introduction to Psych: Dive into the basics of human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This course may cover the science behind how the mind works, and prepare you for future study.
Child Development: Discover how kids grow, change, and think. In this course, you may study how the mind and behaviors develop during child hood.
Social Psych: This course covers how we think and act in social ways. You could learn how people form relationships and behave around others.
Child Psych: Learn about child hood disorders and how to step in and help. In this course, you could look at disorders that affect how kids think and feel.
Theories of Personality: This course looks at different views on how personality forms. You could start with Freud’s take on the matter, on up to modern day thinkers.
Early Intervention: In this course, you may focus on infants and toddlers up to three years old. You could study programs that help a young child thrive from an early age.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM?
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES
| School | # of Credits Required | Start Dates | Minimum Months to Complete |
| Grand Canyon U | 74 | N/A | 55 |
| Northcentral U | 30 | 52 (weekly) | 20 |
THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ONLINE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM
DataUSA lists the median in state public tuition as $8,915 per year. The median out of state private tuition is about $43,152 per year. Compare tuition for the following schools that offer child psychology programs:
| School | # of Credits Required | Cost Per Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
| Northcentral University | 30 | $2,526 (per course) | $25,260 |
| Grand Canyon University | 74 | $515 | $38,110 |
TOP SCHOOLS FOR ONLINE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAMS
As of 2021(most recent data), DataUSA lists 2,683 schools with child psych programs. From those schools,1,419 degrees were awarded to students in 2021.
| School | 2021 Degrees awarded | 2022/23 Tuition (out of state unless *) |
| Walden University | 76 | $12,483* |
| Capella University | 139 | $14,328 |
| New York University | 145 | $58,168* |
| University of Pennsylvania | 62 | $63,452 |
| U of Minnesota-Twin Cities | 155 | $35,099* |
| Eastern Washington University | 60 | $26,529* |
| Eastern Washington University | 60 | $26,529* |
Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students
CHOOSING A CHILD PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE ONLINE ACCREDITED PROGRAM
In most states, Psychologists need to earn licensure. That includes fields such as behavior analysis, child and educational psychology.
While licensure standards vary by state, they may include:
- Earning a PhD or PsyD degree in psychology
- Completing an internship
- Completing one to two years of hands on experience
- Passing the Exam for Professional Practice in Psychology
- Renewing your license as per state law
- Graduating from an APA (American Psychological Association) program
Licensed psychologists who want to work in a niche area may go for board certification. To do this, you are likely to need to pass an exam. The American Board of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (ABCCAP) exam is one.
To sit for their exam, you must have a certain level of education in child and adolescent psychology. You’ll also have to complete an internship in which at least half of your training focuses on children and teens.
And, you must meet requirements for post doctoral experience in this focus area. Before you get started, you may want to review ABCCAP’s requirements.