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Child psychologist working with child with text "Fatma Salem Pease '19"

Online Child Psychology Degree BA in Psychology Concentration

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Register By: June 24 Classes Start: June 26

Earn Your Child Psychology Degree Online

  • $320/credit
  • Accredited by NECHE
  • Prepare to work with children and families
  • Transfer up to 90 credits
  • Earn a data literacy certificate
  • Learn from faculty with real-world experience

Child & Adolescent Development Program Overview

Make a difference in the lives of young people with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development at Southern New Hampshire University.

This program will take you through key developmental stages, from birth through adolescence, to give you a deeper understanding of the human experience. You'll develop the knowledge, skills and techniques you'll need to work with young people of various ages in a variety of settings.

Earning your BA in child psychology at SNHU will help to equip you with the tools you'll need to set out on a fulfilling career path. With a BA in child psychology, you could work in a number of fields, including social services, education and healthcare. You'll also have the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Data Literacy in Psychology.

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What You'll Learn

  • Application of research methods
  • Sociocultural and international awareness
  • Communication and observation skills
  • Developmental process of children and adolescents
  • Application of ethics in real work situations

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How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom, and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

8 Types of Psychology with Real-World Perspective

The study of psychology can be personally and professionally rewarding. Among the many concentrations in the field you can find diverse opportunities to learn about how people interact with one another in relationships, in the workplace and more.

Career Outlook

By earning your BA in child and adolescent development, you could turn your passion for helping others into a successful career bettering the lives of young people. Whether you're looking to become more proficient in your current field or thinking about starting a new career, this program is designed to help you take advantage of more opportunities.

Heather Gianatassio with the text Heather Gianatassio

“This (child and adolescent development) concentration allows students to create, innovate, teach and become leaders in the child development field," said Dr. Heather Gianatassio, an adjunct instructor at SNHU. "They learn to use research and real-world experience to provide the best possible care to children and families in a variety of settings.” 

While the bachelor's program does not lead to licensure, it prepares you to work in fields such as education, social services and health care. Potential responsibilities include:

  • Working with child welfare cases
  • Helping children learn in preschools
  • Supporting education in K-12 schools
  • Assisting parents with development of good parenting skills
  • Playing a support role in the healthcare system

Earning your bachelor's degree at SNHU can also prepare you for careers beyond the field of psychology:

Market Research Analyst

Study market conditions to help companies better understand what products customers want. With analytical skills built through your program, you'll be ready to make insightful recommendations.

Social and Community Service Manager

Support the community's well-being by coordinating beneficial programs and organizations. Use your in-depth knowledge of community wellness to spearhead initiatives.

Human Resources Manager

Plan, coordinate and direct an organization's administrative functions and inform strategic planning for the company. With top-notch communication skills developed in your degree, you'll be prepared to work with people across the organization.

SNHU's psychology degree programs also set you up for the skills today's employers want. According to the American Psychological Association, organizations seek applicants that can2:

  • Analyze and solve complex problems
  • Be part of a team
  • Communicate – possess both oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrate technology skills
  • Display analytical reasoning skills
  • Show ethical judgment and strong decision-making skills

Latisha Aguilar with the text Latisha AguilarFor Latisha Aguilar '21, an instructional aid in her local school district, her BA in child and adolescent psychology helped her develop something else - something she could take beyond the classroom for years to come.

"After obtaining my degree at Southern New Hampshire University, I really feel [my degree has] given me the confidence that I've always lacked." 

Should you decide to pursue a graduate degree in the same field for your career, SNHU offers both an online master's in clinical mental health counseling, as well as an online master's in psychology, which has 3 concentrations – including one in child and developmental psychology.

Job Growth and Salary

Many careers require an entry-level education of a bachelor's degree. Southern New Hampshire University's online bachelor's in psychology can help prepare you for success across industries.

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Job Growth

The BLS projects 19% job growth through 2031 for market research analysts, and 12% for social and community service managers – much faster than the national average of 5%.1 For human resource managers, 7% job growth is projected.1

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Salary

Although salaries can vary by region and responsibility, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found the median annual wage for market research analysts to be $63,920 in 2021.1 Social and community service managers earned a median annual wage of $74,000, and $126,230 for human resource managers in 2021.1

Start Your Journey Toward an Online Child & Adolescent Degree Concentration

Life Through A New Lens

Jovella BrowneJovella Browne '21

"This program has taught me how to think outside of the box and to look at everything around me through multiple perspectives. I also gained a deeper understanding of people in terms of what makes them behave the way they do."

Courses & Curriculum

By completing your child psychology courses online, you can gain an in-depth understanding of the unique physical, social, psychological and cognitive needs of young people. You'll explore how to support healthy development from birth through adolescence. Each course takes a closer look at a variety of topics, from normal development to disorders that can affect a child’s life and education.

Dr. Jill Tschikof with the text Dr. Jill Tschikof

“By encouraging our learners to develop their critical-thinking skills, understand the importance of empirical data and apply key principles, we prepare them to be ready to work with children and adolescents in a variety of settings,” said Dr. Jill Tschikof, an adjunct instructor at SNHU

Another benefit of the program is working with instructors who have real-world experience, are passionate about psychology and want to help you succeed in the field.

“As instructors, we are committed to equipping our students with a broad set of educational skills that they can use to tackle evolving challenges faced by today’s youth,” Tschikof said.

For Jovella Browne '21, the support of her instructors was a factor that set SNHU apart from other universities.

"Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some great people. They all had different teaching styles and they all knew how to engage the class with rich discussions."

There's also a great deal of flexibility built into SNHU's online degree programs. With 24/7 online access, you can complete your coursework on your schedule.

With 39 free elective credits available, this is a very transfer-friendly degree, so you can apply as much of your previous coursework as possible.

"I just feel like I have to celebrate not only obtaining my degree, but Southern New Hampshire University for being there and being the type of school and institution that it is to allow people like myself that are mothers, wives and career people to complete school," says Latisha Aguilar '21.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

General Education

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

Technology Resources

We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.

Earn Math Credits

Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment. For additional information, or to register for a Pathways to Math Success assessment, contact your admission counselor or academic advisor today.

Degree-Specific Courses

There are 12 credits in the child and adolescent concentration. While your child and adolescent courses are required, you'll have the opportunity to choose from a number of other psychology topics that you're interested in to complete the remaining 2 courses in the concentration – including an optional internship or an experiential learning project that you can use to build your resume and gain networking experience.

The embedded certificate in Data Literacy in Psychology, provided to all eligible students in the program, helps you develop the knowledge and skills needed to synthesize data and communicate your findings.

University Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education 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.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

We also 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 Annual Cost for 30 credits 
Degree/Certificates $960 $320 $9,600
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* $675 $225 $6,750

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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