Child psychologist meeting with a child and her mother

Online Bachelor's Degree BA in Psychology Child & Adolescent Development

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 Southern New Hampshire University. 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. SNHU's child and adolescent development concentration will also prepare you to enter a competitive graduate program in psychology or the social sciences.

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The Psychology of Preparing for a Penalty Kick

A goalkeeper has 0.08 of a second to make a decision on how to stop a penalty kick, Dr. Michael Hendery, SNHU’s psychology chairman, told former MLS player Calen Carr. Years of training plus split-second information processing can help pull out a win.

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, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your bachelor's in psychology at SNHU 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 SNHU 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 SNHU'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

SNHU'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.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

BA in Psychology - Child & Adolescent Development

Courses May Include

BIO 210 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Discussion/comparison of the principles of mammalian form and function. Includes molecular and cellular mechanisms of major processes (such as muscle contraction, neural transmission, and signal transduction) and examines the structure and function of the 11 organ systems of the human body. Laboratory exercises (BIO-210L) to follow lecture topics.

PSY 108 Introduction to Psychology

This course provides students an introduction to the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Students prepare for more advanced concepts in upper-level Psychology courses by learning the basics of how to evaluate research and exploring various areas of specialization within the discipline.

PSY 223 Research I: Statistics for Psychology

How do psychologists organize, summarize, and interpret information? Students in this course study applications of statistical methods in psychological research and practice. The emphasis of the course is on the conceptual understanding of statistics so that students can read and conduct psychological research; those skills will be applied to students' original projects in Research II: Scientific Investigations. Computation of tests will be conducted on the computer. Students will build upon statistical knowledge and develop an in-depth conceptual and practical understanding of hypothesis testing, tests of significance, standardization, correlation, and analysis of variance in a wide variety of psychological uses. Students will learn the theory of statistical decisions, practical application of statistical software, and how to analyze journal articles. This course typically should be completed during the first semester of the sophomore year.

PSY 224 Research II: Scientific Investigations

Students in this course will develop an understanding a variety of research methods, including experimental, survey, correlation and case-history techniques. They will become aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each method and understand when each method is best used. Writing intensive course.

PSY 444 Senior Seminar in Psychology (Capstone)

This capstone course integrates previous classroom and practical experience with a focus on current issues in psychology. This course likely will include cross-cultural aspects of psychology, ethics, recent career trends in psychology and other topics dictated by current events in psychology. Coverage may change over time, but the basic focus on integrating the past and anticipating the future for psychology seniors will be the major concern. Writing Intensive Course.

PSY 211 Lifespan Development

The purpose of this course is to engage students in meaningful exploration of theories, basic concepts, and research methodologies in psychological development. Students will gain an understanding of patterns of human development from conception through death, including the biological, cognitive, and social-emotional development and the interplay between these areas. This course will also explore the roles of environmental and genetic factors, culture and history, continuity and change in development.

PSY 314 Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

This course focuses specifically on an introduction to the classification of disorders of childhood and adolescence and the treatment approaches that currently are available. Knowledge students obtain in PSY 314 is essential for understanding the etiology and manifestation of these disorders, as well as the impact on the individual, family and society. Current field research and case studies will be used.

PSY 321 Child Development

This course focuses on psychological development from infancy through late childhood. Research and theoretical perspectives will be used to help students understand contemporary issues and themes central to childhood development, including: biological, cognitive, and social-emotional characteristics of development and the interplay between them.

PSY 322 Adolescent Development

Adolescence is a fascinating time of life because of the many psychological and physical changes that occur, as well as the cultural and historical issues surrounding these changes. This course focuses on psychological development from pre-adolescence through adolescence and into emerging adulthood. Research and theoretical perspectives will be used to help students understand contemporary issues and themes central to adolescent development, including: puberty, cognition, morality, identity, relationships, sexuality, school, work, culture, and challenges faced by adolescents and emerging adults. Adolescence will be discussed both as a distinct stage of life, and as an integral component of development across the life span.

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs	Per Course*	Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates	$960	$320
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)	$675	$225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.