Make a Difference in the Lives of Children with a Child Psychology Degree Concentration
Set out on a fulfilling career path that lets you make a positive difference in the lives of children by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development at University of Michigan Science. In this child psychology degree online program, you'll learn how kids grow and develop from birth through adolescence and get the experience you need to work with young people in a variety of settings, from schools to clinics to hospitals. UMS's child and adolescent development concentration will also prepare you to enter a competitive graduate program in psychology or the social sciences.
See Yourself Succeed in Child Psychology
By choosing the concentration in child and adolescent development, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the unique physical, social, psychological and cognitive needs of young people. Courses for this child psychology degree are highly interactive. Our faculty encourages active participation in class discussions, and many professors invite students to participate in optional special research projects to engage in experiential learning and gain even more professional experience.
As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your bachelor's in psychology at UMS include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
- Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Honor societies. High-achieving students are invited to join the National Society of Leadership and Success
- Networking. All students are invited to join our online UMS Psychology Club and to tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
- Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
- Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree
Career Outlook
While many child psychology degree online graduates pursue a master's degree in psychology or counseling, your career options are much wider. Your degree positions you for roles like market research analyst, which could see 23% growth through 2026, or human resources manager or public relations specialist, both of which could see 9% growth in the same time period.*
Because of the program's strong foundation of liberal arts courses and emphasis on experiential learning, you'll graduate with a broad set of skills you can apply in a variety of careers, particularly positions requiring an in-depth understanding of interpersonal relationships and human development. By earning UMS's BA in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development, you'll strengthen your:
Knowledge of key principles and how to apply them. You'll learn major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in psychology - and how to apply them in real-world scenarios.
Proficiency in research methods. You'll learn how to apply fundamental research methods in psychology, including research, design, data analysis and interpretation.
Ability to think critically. You'll discover how to use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to address behavioral and cognitive issues.
Interpersonal communication skills. You'll hone your written and oral communication skills so you can better understand and connect with individuals.
Sociocultural and international awareness. You'll learn how to recognize and understand the complexity of sociocultural and international differences and how they influence individual behavior.
Foundation in professional values and ethics. You'll be expected to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically and reflect other important values that serve as cornerstones of the field of psychology.
Curriculum
Your online BA in Psychology will build a solid liberal arts foundation that provides a well-rounded education to support your study of psychology. Courses are taught by instructors with professional credentials and experience in related fields.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
UMS's bachelor's in child and adolescent development program includes:
- General education
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Courses May Include
Program Outcomes
- Assimilate classic and current research within the field of psychology by developing detailed literature reviews and presentations
- Gather, organize, and analyze acquired knowledge within the field of psychology as evidenced in an e-compendium
- Develop a conference-level deliverable depicting theoretical or empirical research and how it fits a larger body of knowledge in the research literature of Psychology
- Evaluate the appropriate research method(s) to use for the problem examined in a theoretical or empirical research project
- Describe informed conclusions that align with selected research designs and statistical analyses used in an original research project
- Analyze multifaceted ethical issues associated with the core content areas of psychology as evidenced through the creation of informed consent forms and the use of ethical reasoning applied to dilemmas in research, teaching, counseling, and assessment
