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.

"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," said Jovella Browne '21.

Learn how to:

- Apply research methods

- Gain sociocultural and international awareness

- Improve communication skills

- Understand the developmental process of children and adolescents

- Think critically 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. 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.

"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.

In addition, 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. Upon graduation, you'll come away 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.

These skills include:

- Understanding the major concepts of child and adolescent development and the ability to apply them to the real world

- Becoming familiar with disorders in childhood and adolescence and their impact on society

- Refining observational skills

- Using research methods to design studies and analyze, interpret and present data

- Thinking critically and creatively

- Using written and oral communication to interact with others and communicate your ideas clearly

- Gaining awareness of sociocultural differences and how they influence behavior

- Learning to set aside personal preconceptions and biases that prevent objective observation

- Understanding ethics and how to apply them in real work situations In this program, you'll take 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 classes 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. 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. 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. "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.

If you decide that the child and adolescent concentration is not the right fit, don't worry. SNHU's online psychology degree program offers 5 other concentrations: addictions, applied psychology, forensic psychology, mental health, and social psychology. You also have the option to earn a general psychology degree and select 12 elective credits from the wide range of psychology courses we offer.

Part of SNHU's mission statement is to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That's why you can apply at any time and get an acceptance decision within days of submitting all of your required materials. Decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

$150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)