Guide To Online Child Psychology Degree Programs
Prepare for a rewarding career helping children and adolescents through mental health challenges. Read on to learn more about educational and career pathways in the field of child psychology.Key Takeaways
- Child psychology focuses on providing behavioral, emotional, and psychological support to children and adolescents, along with their parents and caregivers.
- Most states require child psychologists to earn a doctoral degree from an APA-accredited university, obtain required clinical licensing hours, and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
- Students can earn a child psychology degree at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels and pursue various careers in this in-demand field.
What Is a Child Psychology Degree?
Child psychologists provide psychological, behavioral, and emotional therapy for children and adolescents, their parents, and caregivers.
This important profession requires extensive schooling and experience. Most states require child psychologists to earn a doctoral degree and complete extensive clinical hours, among other requirements.
With a child psychology degree, you can work in hospitals, outpatient health facilities, schools, private practices, and other settings. Fortunately for those who are already working or juggling non-work obligations, you can often earn your bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees online.
Below is more information on each child psychology degree, as well as professional tips and information to help you create a career path.
Bachelor’s Degrees in Child Psychology
A bachelor’s degree in child psychology prepares you for further study in the field, but there are not many of these programs available. However, a bachelor’s degree in psychology offered online or in-person, can provide a strong foundation for future studies and specializations.
At the bachelor’s level, students studying psychology learn the history and theoretical foundation of the field of psychology and receive a broad overview of its various branches, including, but not limited to, psychopathology, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and child development.
Master’s Degrees in Child Psychology
A child psychology master’s program can prepare you to work as a counselor or therapist in an outpatient or school setting. You’ll learn to identify, prevent, and treat mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
A child psychology degree at the master’s level typically requires a clinical internship, offering hands-on clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. This will help to prepare you for a career in the field, providing the supervised experience needed to pursue licensure in your state after graduation.
Courses might cover topics such as counseling skills, multicultural considerations in clinical practice, principles of assessment and behavior change, and parenting interventions, as well as specialized classes in treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Most degree programs require official transcripts from your undergraduate program, letters of recommendation and/or a personal statement in order to be considered for admission. Today, many programs no longer require the GRE exam as part of the admissions process, having dropped the requirement in recent years.
Doctorates in Child Psychology
A doctorate in child psychology lets you pursue a career as a child psychologist in practice with children and families, in a research setting, or as a professor at a university. Child psychologists are trained and licensed to conduct many tests that master’s-level therapists cannot, in order to diagnose disorders such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
A Ph.D. offers in-depth expertise in the area of child psychology, positioning you as a leader in the field. A dissertation will be required as part of your learning journey in a doctorate program, as will teaching assistantships, and supervised clinical hours. To obtain licensure, students must pass the EPPP.
What Can You Do With a Child Psychology Degree?
You can pursue many career paths in various settings with a child psychology degree. Below is just a sample of some of the possibilities.
Child Welfare Social Worker
Works directly with children and families, including those in vulnerable or unstable situations, to provide support and resources.
Average Salary: $76,266 annually
Child and Family Therapist
With a master’s degree in child psychology, you can become licensed in your state to practice as a child and family therapist, providing outpatient mental health treatment to children and teens, along with their parents and caregivers. This role requires clinical licensure in your state.
Median Salary: $58,510 annually
School Counselor
With a master’s degree in child psychology, you can work as a school counselor, helping students develop social and academic skills in a school setting. This role requires clinical licensure in your state.
Median Salary: $61,710 annually
Social Scientist
With a doctorate in child psychology, you can work as a social scientist, conducting research on children’s mental health.
Median Salary: $95,890 annually
University Professor
With a doctorate in child psychology, you may be able to compete for a position as a professor in a university setting.
Median Salary: $84,380 annually
Child Psychologist
With a doctorate in child psychology, you can work as a child psychologist, implementing prevention, assessment, testing, and intervention services for children and adolescents. This role requires clinical licensure in your state.
Median Salary: $92,740 annually
How Much Does a Child Psychology Degree Cost?
The cost of a child psychology degree varies based on many factors, including the degree, training program, institution, geographic location, and more.
Online learning can be more affordable for students looking to save time and money on travel, living accommodations, and similar expenses. No matter what university you choose, exploring financial aid and scholarship opportunities can help to offset the cost of tuition.
Admission Requirements for a Child Psychology Degree
There are some variations in admission requirements depending on the university and program. Undergraduate programs in child psychology require:
- Official high school transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- SAT/ACT scores
- Minimum GPA
- Admissions essay(s) or written personal statement
Child psychology master’s programs require applicants to provide:
- Official transcripts reflecting a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field
- Letters of recommendation
- Minimum GPA
- GRE scores, for some programs
Doctoral programs in child psychology require applicants to provide:
- Official transcripts reflecting a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field
- Letters of recommendation
- Minimum GPA
- GRE scores, for some programs
- Research or clinical experience in the field is often preferred
How Long Does It Take to Get a Child Psychology Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in child psychology typically takes four years for full-time students. Many master’s programs can be completed within twelve months to three years, depending on the program, while doctoral programs typically take around six years to complete, though this can vary based on the time it takes to complete and defend your dissertation.
Child Psychology Program Accreditation
The American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-CoA) is the primary accreditor in the U.S. for education and training in the field of psychology. Pursuing a degree from an APA-accredited program is important to ensure you meet your state’s educational requirements.
Is an Online Degree in Child Psychology Worth It?
When deciding whether a degree is worth the time and money, consider your career goals and whether a certain degree helps you achieve them.
If you’re seeking to advance your career in child psychology, pursuing a graduate degree may be what you need. It can be helpful to compare the median salary for the job you want to the cost of the degree program to determine your return on investment in your education.
If you are passionate about helping children and adolescents with mental health concerns, a degree in child psychology might be the pathway to a rewarding career that makes a difference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Psychology Degree Programs
With a master’s degree in child psychology, you can work as a therapist with children, teens, and parents in an outpatient mental health setting, or in a school. With a doctorate degree, you can work as a child psychologist, offering testing and therapy services, conducting research, or teaching in a university setting.
