Postgraduate courses in Child Development

If you are looking to learn more about childhood development and want to help young people as they develop from childhood to adulthood, this postgraduate course might be a good match for you.

There are a few career options you can continue on and pursue with this degree under your belt. If you’re looking for more information, we have the basics for you below.

What is child development?

Child development looks at the physical and emotional states that occur in a child’s life from birth to the beginning of adulthood.

Courses

The majority of courses allows students to study either full time or part time with many on offer across the UK.  A postgraduate course in Child Development will teach and train students about the psychological training in child social development. 

Courses may focus on the evolving stages from physicality, language, thought process and emotional responses they experience throughout their life. Students will be equipped with all the necessary skills to work with children and apply their knowledge to get the best results. 

Theories and methods are applied from a variety of perspectives to carry out research. Some courses may also look at assessment and intervention that may be necessary. Specific content covered can vary in different courses but course overviews can all be found online. 

Entry Requirements 

Entry requirements may differ from course to course however, the majority require applicants to have a minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 or a 2.2) in order to apply. Some courses may look for a 2.1 degree while a 2.2 could suffice for others. There may also be opportunities for those who do not meet the requirements to be considered on an individual basis. 

Job options

There are a few career paths you can take with a postgraduate degree in Child Development. Some examples that are possibly to use your degree for are: 

• Early years teacher
• Education consultant
• Family Support worker
• Learning mentor
• Primary school teacher
• Play therapist
• Special Education Needs Coordinator 
• Teaching assistant 

Typical employers

• Nurseries 
• Pre-schools
• Primary schools
• Local authorities
• Local and national charities
• Health authorities

Career Development 

Many people who finish a degree in Child Development may use their degree to work as a primary, secondary or special education needs teachers. Some also work in social care and continue their study to qualify. There are many different roots that can be taken. 

Salary Expectation

It is hard to put an exact figure on salary expectations as there are a few different job opportunities and roads you can take from teaching to social care working. It depends solely on the path you choose. For example, the annual salary for an Early Childhood Teacher in the UK is roughly £19,000. The average annual salary for a Social Care Worker can range between £25,000 to £34,000.  

Skills and requirements

• Communication skills
• Helpful and caring 
• Decision making skills
• Caring and empathetic in nature
• Patience
• Interpersonal skills
• Confident 
• Can work with people