Psychology with Child Development

Psychology with child development brings together two closely related fields to examine how human minds and behaviour are shaped from the earliest stages of life. Psychology as a discipline seeks to understand thought, perception, emotion, social behaviour, mental health and individual differences through rigorous scientific methods. Child development focuses that lens specifically on the processes by which children grow, learn, form relationships and navigate the world, drawing on developmental psychology, education research and attachment theory to understand what supports or hinders healthy development.

Together these fields have profound implications for education, healthcare, social work, policy and parenting.

You will gain a thorough grounding in psychological science, covering topics such as cognitive psychology, biological bases of behaviour, social psychology, research methods and statistics. The child development strand adds specialised study of language acquisition, cognitive development, social and emotional learning, the effects of adversity and the role of family and schooling in children's lives. Because psychology is a science, you will spend significant time developing your ability to design, conduct, analyse and report research.

The programme includes a foundation year for those who need additional preparation before the full degree, and it runs full time. There is also a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and a work placement, all of which provide direct experience in professional settings with children, families or research teams.

Graduates enter careers in clinical psychology, educational psychology, speech and language therapy, social work, teaching, early years practice, youth work, counselling and research. Many choose to continue study at postgraduate level, including conversion programmes in clinical or counselling psychology, and those who meet the relevant accreditation requirements can progress toward Chartered Psychologist status. The combination of scientific training and specialist knowledge of children's development is valued across public services, the third sector and research institutions.