MA in Child Study and Human Development Tufts University - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Eliot-Pearson's master's in Child Study and Human Development program provides students with a strong theoretical foundation in child development, coursework in an area of specialization, research skills, and applied opportunities and fieldwork that prepare students for a career that directly impacts the lives of children, youth and families. Our goal is to train students to use applied work to understand the theory and research and to understand how theory and research should impact the lives of children and families.

After the first semester in the program, students choose whether they want to pursue the applied track or the thesis track and whether they wish to concentrate in a specific area:

• Clinical Developmental Health and Psychology
• 21st Century Literacies: Media and Technology
• Individualized Program of Study

Learning Objectives

• Students will have knowledge of the major theoretical perspectives and knowledge base in the core domains of human development; as well as knowledge of the complexities of diverse realities and pathways towards healthy development.
• Students will have knowledge of how research is conducted in the field of Applied Child Development.
• Students will be informed consumers of scholarship in the field of human development; i.e. will have experience in the process of reviewing, critically evaluating empirical research, policy reports, and synthesizing extant literature on a topic.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to assume the role of a professional (e.g. as a scholar or practitioner) in the field.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of Research Practice Integration in the context of Prevention, Intervention, and Policies for children and families.
• Students will actively engage in either research or applied work that promotes health and an asset-based approach to development among children and families.
• Students will demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity in their professional roles as well as members of the community within and outside Tufts.