Child Development
Master of Science (M.S.)
Contacts
Program Questions
[email protected]
Application Questions
[email protected]
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Alyson Shapiro
The focus of the program is on social and emotional development and on child development in context (e.g., early childhood education programs, schools, families, communities). This program can help students move on to Ph.D. programs in related areas, and to further their professional expertise and credentials in areas related to children and families.
The Master of Science degree in child development is one of only 2 child development programs available in the CSU. With 101 community college child development programs, following the mandate of the Ryan Act, in California and 17 undergraduate programs within the CSU system, the M.S. program in child development plays a major role in training professionals for the State and region. The Department of Child and Family Development plays a leadership role in integration of curricula for community colleges and the CSU.
Areas of Emphasis
- early childhood development
- prevention
- intervention
- family processes
- risk and resilience
- development across the lifespan
- parent-child intergenerational relationships
- enhancing school readiness and preparing teachers to work with families
- socio-emotional and behavior support in educational settings and homes
- influences of language and culture
- atypical development
Program Features
- 2-year academic program of 30-32 graduate credits (Spring and Fall semesters)
- Program of study meets the educational requirements for administrator, coordinator, or service provider positions in
a variety of agencies, including:- Preschools, day care centers, and schools
- Hospitals and hospice centers
- Public welfare and family service agencies
- Family planning clinics
- Community programs
- Designed for working professionals as well as full-time students
- Furthers professional expertise and credentials in areas related to children and families
Capstone Options
The M.S. in Child Development program at SDSU allows you to choose the capstone option that is best for your interests and professional goals. Download a list of our graduated master's students (PDF), including their thesis/project titles.
Thesis
- Conduct research on a topic related to children and/or families with the guidance of experts in the field (our tenure track faculty) and a report on this work for your thesis
- This is a great capstone for students interested in building academic expertise and applying for a Ph.D. program upon completion of this degree
- Publish this research and/or present it at professional conferences
Project
- Design and implement a program for children, families, or the professionals who serve them (e.g., early childhood educators, teachers, service providers). This work would also be mentored by a CFD faculty expert.
- This is a great capstone for applied professionals who would like to develop programs in the field.
- Students who conduct a quality evaluation of their project can also publish their results, and this can help students move on to Ph.D. programs.
Comprehensive Exam
- Complete a comprehensive exam on material from courses you have taken in the M.S. in our Child Development program.
- This is a great option for students with an applied focus on helping infants and young children.
- Note that you must take a specific set of electives to choose this option.
Sample Courses
- CFD 624: family processes with applications for prevention and intervention
- CFD 650: professional development and professionalism in the child and family development field
- CFD670A: human development theories, attachment regulation in young children
- CFD 670B: human development theories, intervention and prevention lifespan approach
- CFD 790: research methods and program development
Note: Students who have completed the EC-TEaMH Certificate will have earned 12 units towards the Master of Science degree that can count as the electives needed for plan A or the part of the additional required courses for Plan B.
For full list of course requirements or more information about graduate studies in the Department of Child and Family Development, review the University Catalog.
Admissions
The Child Development M.S. program accepts applications for Fall admission only.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree (Child Development or related fields preferred)
- Grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units attempted
- English language reading and writing proficiency
For application due dates, instructions, and a full list of required program-specific documents visit:
How to Apply
Degree Learning Outcomes and Curriculum Map
| # | Learning Objective | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Students will be able to describe human development across the lifespan by drawing on developmental theory, historical influences, and societal and cultural influences. | CFD 650, CFD 670A, CFD 670B, CFD 790, CFD 799, CFD 798 & Comps |
| 2. | Students will be able to evaluate and critique family and human development theories and research. | CFD 624, CFD 650, CFD 670A, CFD 670B, ED 690, CFD 790, CFD 799, CFD 798 & Comps |
| 3. | Students will be able to apply social justice and equity frameworks to the understanding of child and family development and application of theory and research to education, promotion, prevention, intervention, and research project development. | CFD 624, CFD 650, CFD 670A, CFD 670B, ED 690, CFD 790, CFD 799, CFD 798 & Comps |
| 4. | Students will be able to apply knowledge and experience regarding child and family development to refining and articulating their professional identity (including leadership, professional standards, ethical practices, and advocacy). | CFD 624, CFD 650, CFD 790, CFD 799, CFD 798 & Comps |
| 5. | Students will be able to create or apply knowledge integrated across theory, research, and research-based practice to the development and application of research studies, intervention, and advocacy. | CFD 624, CFD 650, CFD 670B, ED 690, CFD 790, CFD 799, CFD 798 & Comps |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You do need an undergraduate degree, but it does not need to be in Child Development. We regularly accept students with undergraduate degrees in related fields such as psychology, sociology, social work, public health, human development, and family studies. We also often accept students from very different fields (e.g. business) who have changed their focus over time. In such cases, we ask students to take several undergraduate classes during the summer before they start the M.S. in Child Development program to gain foundational knowledge to succeed in our program.
No. In order to become a therapist, you would need to apply to a therapy program, such as the M.S. in Early Childhood and Family Clinical Counseling LPCC program.
Graduates use their M.S. in Child Development degree both to enter new careers related to child and family development and to advance in their current positions. For example, K-12 teachers often pursue this degree to enhance their teaching strategies as well as qualify for pay increases. Graduates from our program have gone on to work in leadership positions at non-profit organizations focused on benefiting children and families, created their own home early childhood education program, as well as gotten jobs as directors of early childhood education centers, jobs in child assessment, positions as developmental specialists, and jobs doing early intervention with children. Other graduates have used this degree to strengthen their applications for Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs.
This M.S. in Child Development program allows students to choose among three capstone options: 1) a thesis (involving original research), 2) a project (applied program, teacher action research, outreach, etc.), or 3) a comprehensive exam. Faculty members regularly guide students through all of these capstone options.
Thesis students are guided through the thesis development process by one of our Child and Family Development faculty with expertise in the area where the student is completing their research. That means that students normally do not choose any topic for their thesis. Rather, they work with a faculty mentor with overlapping interests to identify a thesis topic that is both of interest to the student and matches the expertise and current focus of the faculty mentor. The program advisor can help connect students with potential faculty mentors and good topics for theses and projects.
Yes. This program is designed for working professionals in mind, with classes held two evenings a week, starting no earlier than 4:30 pm.
The M.S. in Child Development program is in-person with the core courses being taught on campus. There are some electives offered online that students can take in their second year.
SDSU Resources for Future Students
Child Development
Master of Science (M.S.)
