Child Study and Human Development
The Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development is committed to making an impact on the lives of children, youth, and families.
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Degree Offerings
- Faculty
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Application Requirements
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Contact the Department
Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
MA in Child Study and Human Development
Eliot-Pearson's master's in Child Study and Human Development 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 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
PhD in Child Study and Human Development
Our faculty have collaboratively built a doctoral experience that provides individually designed programs of study in the context of common milestones and shared training objectives. We subscribe to a primary-mentor-mentee model of doctoral preparation; however, doctoral students are supported by our community of scholars in various ways. Through a rigorous combination of research training, coursework and other mentored experiences, and an applied internship, students develop substantive expertise in an area of scholarship, and develop competencies in ten other areas, including foundational knowledge of the field, methods and statistics, research, professionalism, grantsmanship, publication, applied work, teaching and mentoring, dissemination, and cultural processes.
Related Programs
- Joint program in Child Study and Human Development and Cognitive Science PhD
- Psychology PhD
- School Psychology MA/EdS
Visit the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
- 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 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.
- Students will have a knowledge base that reflects mastery of important areas in field of child development.
- Students will have a knowledge base that reflects mastery of important areas in field of child development.
- Students will demonstrate ability to assume the role of a professional in the field.
- Students will have exposure, experience with, and develop expertise in, the conduct of research in the field of Applied Child Study and Human Development.
- Students will gain experience in the process of reading and critically evaluating empirical research, and in preparing their own work for publication.
- Students will gain experience in the evaluation, preparation, and submission of grant proposals.
- Students will be actively engaged in work that promotes health and positive development among children and families.
- Students will develop skills in communicating knowledge and supporting the intellectual growth of others through teaching and mentoring.
- Students will demonstrate their competence in disseminating the results of their work to non-academic audiences.
- Students will demonstrate cultural sensitivity in the conduct of research, teaching, policy work and engaging with others.
Faculty
Application Deadline
Fall: January 15 (MA) and December 1 (PhD)
Fall Round 2 Deadline: March 15 (MA only)
Fall Round 3 Deadline: May 15 (MA only)
Doctorate:
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> GRE scores are not required
>A supplemental essay (max 500 words) is required for all PhD applicants:
- How do differences in cultural and/or contextual processes impact theory, research or practice in your area of scholarly interest?
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation
Master's:
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> GRE scores are not required
>A supplemental essay is required for all MA applicants:
The Eliot-Pearson Dept of Child Study and Human Development's Mission is to:
- Enhance the lives of children and families in diverse communities and contexts of the 21st century
- Use collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches
- Conduct research that informs practice and utilize practice that informs theory and research
- Promote civic engagement
Please write about the first theme and at least one other in 500 words or less. Address the following questions.
- How do each of these mission themes resonate with your interests in the program and in your career?
- How do your prior experiences (or lack of) lead you to connect with each of these themes?
- How do you envision carrying out these themes/learning to carry out these themes during your time in our MA program?
- What challenges do you see in your ability to implement each of these themes?
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation
For questions about the MA and PhD programs, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact:
Ellen Pinderhughes (Faculty) – Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Justina Clayton – Administrative Coordinator
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
105 College Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
Office: 617.627.3355
Fax: 617.627.3503
Email