Doctorate child psychology programs

With intense research training that will prepare you for a career in research and academia, this Ph. It also is ideal for finding new ways to help children and adolescents grow and develop. Students can attend on-campus residencies that allow you to meet professors and other students as you grow your research and professional skills. Obtaining your Ph. Students interested in moving to the highest levels of the child psychology field with the best salary may find that earning this respected degree is worth the effort.

Click here for disclosure on Featured Partners. Featured Programs:. Request Info. D in General Psychology. Sponsored Content. Topics of study may include perception, cognition, behavior, and neuroscience in children and adolescents. With a doctorate in child psychology, you may qualify for licensure to practice in a number of clinical settings. You may also pursue a career where you treat adolescents living in a residential mental health treatment facility.

The following information pertaining to child psychology and related careers is retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With this terminal degree, you might progress in your career to supervisory or managerial positions. In this capacity, you may become the head of a team, overseeing the work of others in your field.

Of course, you might also enter the world of academia as a psychology professor or experimental psychologist in a university or teaching hospital. Private practice is always an option, too. Curriculum and courses in a child psychology doctoral program generally center around classroom lecture, research, and field experience or practicums. Many programs require one or more internships as well as a dissertation for program completion.

This list represents only a sampling of courses you might take in an online PhD in Child Psychology program. Curricular requirements commonly include lecture-based academic courses, supervised practicum experiences, dissertation preparation, and independent research. This might be a PhD, which focuses on research, or a PsyD, which focuses on clinical practice. Both degree types require years of coursework, practicums, and internships that culminate in a final dissertation or capstone project.

The PhD requires the submission and defense of a research-based dissertation. The PsyD also requires either a dissertation or a capstone project, but it may be practice-based rather than research-based. Of course, academic achievement alone does not guarantee success. A child psychologist generally possesses these personal traits:.

This can be followed by a masters degree in psychology that may act as a stepping stone toward a doctoral program.

Throughout your undergraduate and graduate programs, it may help to focus on building strong skills in sciences, math, and statistics. These can be important for admission to a doctoral program in child psychology. One of the first steps in your new educational journey will be to apply and be accepted to the doctoral program of your choice.

Here is a list of typical admission requirements. Your bachelors and masters degrees may be in psychology, or you may demonstrate completion of undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, statistics, research methods, and laboratory experience to meet admission requirements for a PhD program. Additionally, you may want to verify that a degree program is accredited by the American Psychological Association APA.

As you shop for online PhD degree programs in child psychology, you may want to explore opportunities to apply for financial aid. This form is an important first step toward receiving financial aid.

Financial assistance is available in the form of loans, grants, merit-based and need-based scholarships, and work-study jobs. Veterans and military family members are eligible for some types of student aid, too. In addition to federal student aid, you may explore financial assistance from your state or your employer. The university that you choose may also offer fellowships and assistantships for doctoral students. A child psychologist is a trained professional who specializes in the delivery of psychological services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents.

These specialists apply their understanding of the psychological needs of children and adolescents to assess, diagnose, and treat an array of problems. Child psychologists help their clients with cognitive, emotional, developmental, and behavioral issues. These issues may include trauma and loss, behavioral disorders, stress, problems with family or social relationships, and much more. Children and adolescents may experience a wide range of interrelated biological, psychological, and social problems.

Through specialized training and research, child psychologists are equipped to assess and treat their young clients for these problems. Child psychologists conduct testing and evaluation for children and adolescents to assess their needs for interventions related to psychological, intellectual, cognitive, and behavioral problems.

Ideal for individuals with a passion for understanding human behavior and helping children overcome challenges, a doctorate in child psychology can lead to lucrative and rewarding psychology careers. Child psychologists work in a variety of settings, including healthcare facilities, government agencies, schools, private practices, and universities.

This guide explores the benefits and requirements of Ph. All practicing psychologists must hold a doctorate — either a Ph. The former degree emphasizes research, while the latter prepares students for clinical practice. Both types of child psychology graduate programs can lead to a career as a practicing psychologist, but only the Ph. Ideal for therapists, social workers, and other master's degree-holders, a Psy.

Students typically complete either type of program in years, including the years required to earn a master's degree. Typical Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field, minimum 3. More information on Child psychology degrees. Earning a doctorate in child psychology can lead to a career as a clinical psychologist.

Graduates often enjoy the professional and personal benefits listed below. Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today. While degree requirements vary by school, program, degree type, and specialization area, most doctoral programs in child psychology include the following milestones.

Doctoral coursework in child psychology includes core classes in the field and advanced coursework in human development and research methods.