Online Master of Psychology for Children
Online masters programs in child psychology are available to students who already hold a bachelors degree in general or child psychology.
Programs at this level expand on the underlying knowledge acquired during an undergraduate degree by examining the specialization in greater detail.
Masters degrees in child psychology, which are far more specialized than undergraduate psychology degrees, occasionally include additional concentrations or concurrent certificates in spectrum disorders, play therapy or applied behavior analysis.
Candidates seeking employment as social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals may have a masters degree in child psychology and state board licensing.
Earning a child psychology degree online gives students the added option of completing the majority of their non-practicum curriculum from home as field experience is a significant component of most graduate programs.
Typical Courses of Online Master of Psychology for Children
Community Psychology
The impact of current societal challenges on children’s psychological development is examined in this course.
Students explore concepts of identity, conformity, and obedience through case studies and field research as they debate how people interact with one another and their surroundings.
Cognitive Functions
This course promotes a more thorough exploration of the fundamental cognitive processes, such as language, learning, memory, and decision-making. Students talk about these subjects concerning current problems.
Strategies for Intervention
The intervention tactics used to treat children and adolescents are covered in this course, both traditional and modern.
Students investigate the real-world uses of intervention strategies, such as play therapy and behavior modification, through simulations and practical experience.
Personality theories
From the perspective of child psychology, this course explores several modern and historical theories of personality.
Learners analyze the writings of important psychologists, such as Freud, and then explore how these beliefs have influenced psychology and how people are treated both historically and presently.
Ethical Psychology Practice
This course takes a thorough approach to ethics in psychology, going into the concepts of discretion, professionalism, handling conflicts, respect, and experimentation.
Regardless of their position or job, students are trained to conduct psychology in an ethical and morally sound manner.
Ph.D. in child psychology online
A doctorate is required for future child psychologists to be licensed in their state of practice. Ph.D. programs concentrate on in-depth research in the discipline, often in the form of a thesis or dissertation, as the last step before being eligible for a license. Ph.D. and Psy.D. requirements go beyond academic ones.
Candidates are required to complete clinical practicum hours to show that they can apply years of supervised job experience in a real-world situation.
Many colleges offer online degrees to provide flexibility in course delivery, eliminate the need for commuting, and ease the stress of working full time while concurrently pursuing a degree given the requirements of a Ph.D. in child psychology program.
Typical Courses of Online Master of Psychology for Children
Adaptation to the Digital Age
This course examines how social media and other pervasive technologies have affected children’s and adolescents’ psychological development.
The impacts of sexting, cyber-bullying, and media violence on identity and interpersonal relationships are examined by students, who are also introduced to techniques for effective behavioral intervention.
Developing Gender Relations
The LGBTQ community is a subject that psychologists are becoming more interested in. In this course, historical and modern conceptions of sex and gender differences in children and adolescents are compared.
Topics covered include gender differences and similarities, transgender psychology, and gender-sensitive policy formulation.
Advanced Analysis and Mixed-Method Reasoning
This course enables students to build specific knowledge and skills using both methodologies.
It is typically offered as an elective in place of a course that focuses solely on quantitative or qualitative research.
At the doctoral level, students get ready to use a variety of data analysis and research strategies, combining approaches when necessary.
Behavior Analysis for Children and Adolescents: Principles and Conceptual Foundations
The common behavioral and developmental problems affecting kids and teens, such as autism, are thoroughly covered in this course.
Students examine practical methods for this group’s observation, assessment, and intervention.
Diversity in Children’s and Adolescents’ Learning and Development
This course examines how children and adolescents are affected by diversity in terms of language, gender, disability, and sexual orientation.
Through field study, introspection, and practical applications of psychological theory, learners examine strategies for promoting good learning and development.
The Internships and Licenses Needed to Become a Child Psychologist
The American Psychological Association has a list of requirements that practitioners must fulfill to become child psychologists (APA).
The APA does not accredit child psychology programs that are entirely online. Students should look for a child psychology Ph.D. program that is APA accredited whether it is online or in person.
Since the majority of recognized graduate programs in child psychology create their curricula by APA industry standards, graduates of an accredited program are eligible for employment or licensing in their state. Future child psychologists require:
- an academic doctorate
- 1,500 to 6,000 hours of training under the supervision
- a satisfactory EPPP score (to obtain licensure)
- A passing grade on a state exam taken in addition, if necessary.
Perhaps the most important element of a developing career in child psychology is field experience.
The APA estimates that students need an average of 4,000 supervised clinical hours to obtain licensure, split equally between internship and postdoctoral hours; however, regulations differ by state.
Most of these needed field hours are often completed by learners during an internship or practicum while pursuing a master’s degree.
Those who intend to seek a Ph.D. must continue accruing the field experience hours necessary to meet their state’s minimal licensing requirements.
While working in a facility that specializes in child psychology is preferred, program advisors may allow students to complete supervised clinical hours in a general psychology facility.
The pursuit of extra optional certification in a specialty, such as applied behavior analysis or autism spectrum, is an option for learners.
Careers for those with degrees in child psychology
Graduates from online programs in child psychology can go into a range of professions, including but not limited to clinical practice. They can also pursue careers in education, social work, and therapeutic counseling.
Child psychologists must possess empathy, strong communication skills, and the capacity to establish boundaries.
They also need training and experience. These experts also require exceptional critical thinking abilities.
Child psychologists may prefer to deal with children or adolescents of a given age or in a certain field, such as autism or early childhood development.
Teenage psychologist
The psychological development of pre-teens and teenagers, aged 12 to 18, is a specialty of these psychologists.
They evaluate and may even provide treatment for typical behavioral and developmental issues affecting teenagers, such as depression, abuse, eating disorders, and crime.
These psychologists might work in clinics, juvenile detention facilities, schools, or private practice.
Expert in developmental psychology
To meet the developmental requirements of their patients at various phases of life, these psychologists need a variety of abilities.
From childhood to old age, they assist clients in developing and adjusting to social, psychological, physical, intellectual, and emotional changes by studying the development of the individual.
Developmental psychologists can work in a public or private institution such as a school, nursing home, or government agency. They might also work as professors in higher education.
Child clinical psychologist
Clinical child psychologists are specialists in the broader subject of child psychology who treat children’s behavioral, socio-emotional, and cognitive problems.
Trauma, severe developmental problems, and psychiatric illnesses are all present in this taxi. These psychologists are certified to work with children and adolescents.
These professionals need a Ph.D. and a state-issued license regardless of whether they work in private practice, healthcare, social services, or education.
Psychologist for kids
Child psychologists serve youngsters who are generally healthy and have minimal psychological disorders since they are trained in broad concepts and theories relevant to this age range.
They frequently offer advice to patients from infancy through adolescence, possibly offering exams and evaluations of their clients to families, administrators at schools, or other healthcare experts.
Pediatric psychology and developmental psychology are two more severe subspecialties. To work in their state, professionals need a Ph.D. degree and must be licensed.
Child psychologist
These psychologists specialize in the circumstances and development of young children and treat patients from infancy to puberty.
They are in charge of identifying ailments like ADHD and autism, which are frequently diagnosed in young children.
Due to their dependence on their families and potential susceptibility to environmental and societal issues, pediatric psychologists typically take a comprehensive approach to treat young patients at this crucial developmental time. Pediatric psychologists must hold a doctorate and a license in this field.
Pay For Graduates In Child Psychology
By specialization, region, education, and experience, child psychologist pay varies. The salaries for a few popular subspecialties are shown in the chart below.
Clinical psychologists make an average yearly pay that is almost $22,000 greater than that of general child psychologists and over $35,000 higher than that of developmental psychologists.
- Position Average Annual Salary for Psychology Careers
- $65,150 Adolescent Psychologist
- $51,000 for a developmental psychologist
- $85,570 Clinical Psychologist
- Child Psychologist $63,280
Thanks for visiting Top Degree Programs