Introduction | Concentrations
| Masters Degree Options
| Teacher Preparation
Programs
M.A./Ph.D. and Ph.D. Programs
| Graduate Tuition and
Financial Aid
 Masters Degree Options
Overview
The Department of Child Development offers
graduate programs leading to the Master
of Arts (M.A.) in child development and
the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
degrees.
The Department offers several M.A. degree
options:
-
Thesis:
Thesis with related course work, including
statistics.
-
Applied:
In-depth supervised applied experience
with related course work in a designated
area, such as: education, family, clinical,
legal or social policy programs.
- Combined degree program with Urban and
Environmental Policy (See below.)
For students interested in teacher certification,
the Department offers both the M.A. and
the M.A.T., as well as the C.A.G.S. (Certificate
of Advanced Graduate Study). Depending on
the student's background and goals, he or
she will work toward an M.A.T., an M.A.-Applied,
and/or a C.A.G.S.
Click
here for more specific information on teacher
certification.
Options within this program include:
- Early Childhood certification (Pre-K
to Grade 3) through the Department of
Child Development; and
- Elementary certification (Grades 1-6)
in a combined degree program with the
Tufts Department of Education. (See below.)
These programs are designed to facilitate
the integration of child development research
and theory with effective practice; they
offer a number of opportunities for working,
observing, and conducting research with
young children in a variety of settings,
including the Eliot-Pearson
Children's School and the Tufts
Educational Day Care Center. They are
designed to prepare students for careers
that demand knowledge of theoretical and
empirical issues in child development, as
well as the skills necessary for effective
work in a variety of applied settings.
Selecting a Master's Degree Program
Frequently, entering students have been
unsure as to which program and degree they
should seek. All the degree programs in
Child Development are based on the notion
that an understanding of child development
is best achieved when theory, research and
practice are integral parts of the student's
program. Students who seek careers in administration
and supervision, or clinical work, as well
as those headed toward continued study in
psychology and research, are encouraged
to plan experiences that include direct
contact with children. Those interested
in pursuing careers in teaching young children
are encouraged to take courses and participate
in experiences which will enable them to
better understand the research process and
to become critical readers of research reports.
Students in any of the degree programs
may decide to pursue further graduate study.
While most doctoral programs do expect students
to have some research experience, this experience
may be achieved in several ways, including
the completion of a thesis, independent
research project, or substantial work on
research projects directed by faculty members.
Thus, the distinctions among the degree
programs in Child Development are based
on differences in emphasis. Students in
each of the degree programs complete many
of the same courses. Those wishing to focus
on the development of research skills related
to the study of children and their families,
and who wish to complete a thesis, should
enroll in the M.A. degree program with thesis
requirement; those wishing to emphasize
direct experiences with children other than
those leading to teacher certification,
or who wish to work in other ways on family
or child issues should enroll in the M.A.
degree program with applied emphasis; those
wishing to teach should enroll in the appropriate
program leading to teacher certification.
Opportunities for Applied Experiences
The Department offers a variety of applied
experiences for students wishing to work
with children and adults in child-oriented
settings. Placement opportunities for graduate
students include education organizations,
hospitals, child advocacy programs, social
service centers, museums, children's media
production studios, family courts, and government
agencies. Although only students in the
Master of Arts in Teaching and M.A.-applied
programs are required to participate in
a field experience, all students are encouraged
to plan experiences that will provide the
opportunity for working directly with children
and/or with adults whose work brings them
into contact with children.
Opportunities for Research
All students are encouraged to participate
in research projects conducted by faculty
members in the Eliot-Pearson Department
of Child Development. Among the research
projects currently in progress are:
- bridging home and school cultures for
Spanish-speaking children
- evaluation of home visiting programs
for teen parents
- extraordinariness in children, creativity
- stress, coping and physical health
- socialization of emotions
- cultural differences in family closeness
- developing approaches to evaluate family-oriented
programs
- developmental sociolinguistics
- expectations of control and problem
behavior in parenting
- curriculum materials and cognitive development
- neurological bases of language disorders
- developmental psychopathology
Requirements for Master's Degree
Programs
All M.A. students must complete ten (10)
credits; the number of credits completed
by M.A.T. students varies. To count towards
a graduate degree, graduate students must
take upper level courses (100 level or higher).
Two of the courses may be taken outside
of the Department of Child Development in
related areas of interest. However, written
approval by the student's advisor is needed
in order to have these courses fulfill the
requirements for the degree program. All
of the courses in the graduate program must
be taken on a graded basis (with the exception
of the Ph.D. Proseminar described in the
Graduate Handbook). Please keep in mind
that the costs of the graduate program are
fixed. Transfer of courses from other universities
will not reduce the cost of the graduate
degree.
Each of the degree programs have specific
course requirements. Students presenting
evidence of completing courses similar to
those required by the Department may substitute
an advanced level of the course or complete
an independent study in a related area.
The substitution of a course must be approved
in writing by the student's advisor and
course instructor before the alternative
course is arranged. No students are exempted
from required courses.
Combined Degree Program
with Urban
& Environmental Policy
The Master of Arts combined Applied Child
Development/Urban and Environmental Policy
degree is a 14-credit graduate program in
child and family policy. Students will matriculate
into two nationally renown departments at
Tufts University -- the Eliot-Pearson Department
of Child Development and the Department
of Urban and Environmental Policy -- and
fulfill the general requirements for each,
including courses in developmental psychology
(intellectual, personal-social, physiological
and/or language development), policy planning
and analysis, (such as economics for policymakers,
or program evaluation) and research methods
and statistics. In addition, they will follow
a specific course of study in child and
family policy, which culminates with a master’s
thesis. The program is expected to take
two years to complete, although it may be
possible for some students to finish their
degrees in less time. The program is designed
for individuals interested in child and
family program development, program evaluation,
public and private agency administration,
policy-oriented research, child advocacy,
and community organizing around child and
family issues.
Both departments are highly selective in
their admission decisions. Prospective students
with strong undergraduate records, excellent
recommendations, prior work experience,
and commitment to the field are encouraged
to apply. The GRE is required of all applicants.
For additional information, please contact
the Department
of Urban and Environmental Policy at
(617) 627-3394.
Joint Degree Program with Education
The Department of Child Development offers
teacher certification for grades one through
six in conjunction with the Department of
Education at Tufts University. This program,
which can be completed within a year and
a summer, and awards an M.A. in Education,
provides students with a background in child
development and elementary education, drawing
on the resources of both departments. Work
within the Curriculum Resource Center is
central to the training of teachers, where
students study and develop relevant materials
for teaching children and expand their own
creative capacities. Students also complete
practicum experiences on both the lower
and elementary grade levels. For additional
information, please contact the Department
of Education or call (617) 627-3244.
Concentrations
The Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development
offers six graduate concentrations for M.A.
and Ph.D. students.
Click
here for more information on concentrations.
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