Child Psychology MSc
Why choose this course?
This course offers an advanced study of psychological development in children and the implications of psychological theory and research for practice.
You will examine how developmental theories and research findings can be applied to a range of different areas. Examples include social policy, education, health and the development of children's relationships.
The course covers themes such as atypical development. You will learn about a range of developmental conditions, such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia. The course also covers development across the lifespan (infants, children, adolescents and adults).
| Mode | Duration | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | 1 year |
September 2023 September 2024 |
| Part time | 2 years |
September 2023 September 2024 |
| Location | Penrhyn Road |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- Facilities include a large child-friendly observation suite/test room with integrated cameras, a monitoring room and eye-tracking technology.
- You can gain industry work experience. Past students have had placements in nurseries, schools, mental health services, and charities for people with disabilities.
- Kingston has links with local schools and external organisations for conducting applied research.
Will this course suit me?
This course is ideal if you would like to start or promote a career working with children in areas such as education and social work. It also provides an excellent foundation for pursuing a research career in child or developmental psychology. The course also attracts professionals (e.g. educators or clinicians) already working with children and adolescents.
Kingston's Department of Psychology
Specialist careers support
You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to help develop your employability skills for the world of graduate employment.
- Develop your understanding of the jobs market, including current trends and opportunities, different recruitment processes and how to identify relevant roles
- Receive personalised feedback reports to help you to improve and progress
- Access additional webinars on top tips, employer expectations and best practice
What you will study
Taught by researchers active in the field of child psychology, this MSc has a strong research focus, and you will be encouraged to approach empirical research critically.
You will be introduced to the theories of child psychology, considering them in relation to the real world, and will cover the empirical research and theories of developmental psychology, focusing on implications for policy and practice. You will also study the application of developmental psychology to social policy, such as social issues, education and school issues and health, and the factors influencing the development of children's relationships. You will consider both typical and atypical development, including a range of developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, etc.
The dissertation gives you the chance to study an area of interest in greater depth and gain valuable research skills. For example, past students have studied social communication difficulties in children and adolescents with autism.
Full time - 1 year
Part-time - 2 years
You will study four, year-long, 30 credit modules, including three core modules and one option module, plus a 60 credit dissertation.
Core modules
Psychology Dissertation
60 credits
The dissertation project will be based on a critical literature review addressing complex and contradictory evidence and will usually require carrying out an empirical study using one or more methodologies of data collection such as experiments, observation, psychometric testing, surveys and questionnaires, interviews and field studies. In all cases, the dissertation will involve the analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data, as well as the presentation and critical evaluation of research findings. Through independent study and meetings with a project supervisor, the dissertation project will allow you to better understand the role of research methodologies, theoretical considerations and ethical issues in psychological research.
Methods and Statistics
30 credits
This module is a core module in the MSc Child Psychology and MSc Psychology fields. The module introduces you to the essentials of psychological experimentation and to a range of analysis techniques making use of basic and more advanced (e.g. multivariate) methods. Both experimental and correlational methods are considered along with appropriate techniques of data analysis (e.g. analysis of variance and multiple regression). Both theoretical and practical aspects of experimentation are discussed. The laboratory workshops combine formal teaching with sessions involving hands-on activities. Core factual material is provided via Canvas with workshops being used to explain key concepts and techniques. The module provides an essential introduction to practical work in psychology, in particular for the MSc dissertation project.
Cognitive and Social Development
30 credits
This core module will introduce students to a broad range of cognitive and social topics and theories in child psychology. The content of the module will examine key cognitive and developmental theories in child psychology and the current applications of these theories in core areas of research in cognitive and social development. This module will allow students to examine the practical applications of a developmental theory and research through the development of a research proposal and to develop their critical evaluation skills in an essay.
Development in Typical and Atypical Populations
30 credits
The content of the module will examine a broad range of key theories and empirical research in relation to development in both typical and atypical populations. This module will also allow you to examine a range of methodologies employed in studies of typical and atypical populations.
Applications of Psychological Research
30 credits
This module provides students with the opportunity to identify and address real-world issues that can benefit from research input by psychologists. Students will gain an appreciation of the challenges of conducting research in professional settings. They will gain 50 hours of work experience in a placement to identify and/or apply psychological research findings in a chosen context under the supervision of a workplace supervisor. In addition, 10 seminars will be held at the University where case studies and examples from current placements will be used to complement the learning objectives. Students will be required to contribute and draw examples of their experiences in their workplace and how this informs research in their specific placements.
It is expected that students will arrange their own work placements; their suitability will be discussed and agreed upon with the module leader and/or the course director. In the absence of an external placement, students will be offered a work placement in the Department of Psychology. Here they will contribute to a current programme of research relevant to their studies.
The nature of the work will usually be determined in part by the focus of the postgraduate programme that a student is following. For example, students of child/developmental psychology may choose to collect data or implement research-led practice in local nurseries and schools; students of clinical psychology may evaluate the efficacy of procedures adopted by local rehabilitation services; and students on the Masters in Behavioural Decision Making are likely to choose a placement in organisation that monitors behavioural change.
Please note: where appropriate, students will need to ensure they have CRB checks in place and, if collecting data in the workplace, that appropriate ethical approvals are in place prior to collecting data.
The workplace activity is intended to extend students' independent research skills in relevant contexts as well as enhancing future employability.
Part-time students will take three core, 30 credit, modules in the first year. In the second year you will take one 30 credit module plus a Psychology Dissertation, worth 60 credits.
Year 1
Methods and Statistics
30 credits
This module is a core module in the MSc Child Psychology and MSc Psychology fields. The module introduces you to the essentials of psychological experimentation and to a range of analysis techniques making use of basic and more advanced (e.g. multivariate) methods. Both experimental and correlational methods are considered along with appropriate techniques of data analysis (e.g. analysis of variance and multiple regression). Both theoretical and practical aspects of experimentation are discussed. The laboratory workshops combine formal teaching with sessions involving hands-on activities. Core factual material is provided via Canvas with workshops being used to explain key concepts and techniques. The module provides an essential introduction to practical work in psychology, in particular for the MSc dissertation project.
Cognitive and Social Development
30 credits
This core module will introduce students to a broad range of cognitive and social topics and theories in child psychology. The content of the module will examine key cognitive and developmental theories in child psychology and the current applications of these theories in core areas of research in cognitive and social development. This module will allow students to examine the practical applications of a developmental theory and research through the development of a research proposal and to develop their critical evaluation skills in an essay.
Development in Typical and Atypical Populations
30 credits
The content of the module will examine a broad range of key theories and empirical research in relation to development in both typical and atypical populations. This module will also allow you to examine a range of methodologies employed in studies of typical and atypical populations.
Year 2
Psychology Dissertation
60 credits
The dissertation project will be based on a critical literature review addressing complex and contradictory evidence and will usually require carrying out an empirical study using one or more methodologies of data collection such as experiments, observation, psychometric testing, surveys and questionnaires, interviews and field studies. In all cases, the dissertation will involve the analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative data, as well as the presentation and critical evaluation of research findings. Through independent study and meetings with a project supervisor, the dissertation project will allow you to better understand the role of research methodologies, theoretical considerations and ethical issues in psychological research.
Applications of Psychological Research
30 credits
This module provides students with the opportunity to identify and address real-world issues that can benefit from research input by psychologists. Students will gain an appreciation of the challenges of conducting research in professional settings. They will gain 50 hours of work experience in a placement to identify and/or apply psychological research findings in a chosen context under the supervision of a workplace supervisor. In addition, 10 seminars will be held at the University where case studies and examples from current placements will be used to complement the learning objectives. Students will be required to contribute and draw examples of their experiences in their workplace and how this informs research in their specific placements.
It is expected that students will arrange their own work placements; their suitability will be discussed and agreed upon with the module leader and/or the course director. In the absence of an external placement, students will be offered a work placement in the Department of Psychology. Here they will contribute to a current programme of research relevant to their studies.
The nature of the work will usually be determined in part by the focus of the postgraduate programme that a student is following. For example, students of child/developmental psychology may choose to collect data or implement research-led practice in local nurseries and schools; students of clinical psychology may evaluate the efficacy of procedures adopted by local rehabilitation services; and students on the Masters in Behavioural Decision Making are likely to choose a placement in organisation that monitors behavioural change.
Please note: where appropriate, students will need to ensure they have CRB checks in place and, if collecting data in the workplace, that appropriate ethical approvals are in place prior to collecting data.
The workplace activity is intended to extend students' independent research skills in relevant contexts as well as enhancing future employability.
Developing Minds Lab
Dr Elisa Back is the director of the Developing Minds Lab which is a research group consisting of academics, PhD students and researchers based within the Department of Psychology. We carry out research in typical and atypical development across the lifespan (children, adolescents, and adults). Our expertise covers areas such as autism, social cognition, and cognitive development. We host a variety of different events that our Child Psychology MSc students can be involved in, such as workshops and networking opportunities, as well as our popular annual Young Scientist Event.
After you graduate
The course is ideal for beginning or developing your professional career in areas such as teaching, educational psychology, special educational needs, clinical/health, social work. Graduates work in schools, local authorities, NHS, private companies and universities.
What our students say
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Who teaches this course?
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on this course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. The following group of staff members are currently involved in the delivery of different elements of this course. This pool is subject to change at any time within the academic year.
Fees for this course
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
