Child Development and Intervention

The Child Development and Intervention Master of Science programme focuses on understanding and promoting the positive and healthy development of children. It is characterised by small cohorts that allow for intensive exchange between faculty and students, hands-on research and internship opportunities, and a curriculum that moves beyond research to train students on translating cutting-edge science into effective practical solutions for children and families. The Child Development and Intervention Master of Science programme offers courses in three core modules: research, research – practice, and policy. Research: Students receive a solid foundation in clinical-developmental theory and analytical methods for childhood and intervention studies in diverse contexts. This ideally prepares them to pursue a PhD in the field of child development and mental health, as well as immediately engaging in the design and implementation of research on positive and healthy child development in academic, non-profit, governmental, or industry settings. Research – Practice: Core knowledge is put into practice with training on strengths-based and science-based assessment, intervention, and prevention techniques to strengthen children’s social-emotional development and mental health in different socialisation contexts. These applied modules prepare graduates for careers in the areas of counselling, including the design, delivery, and evaluation of interventions in diverse institutions like, for instance, schools or ambulatory care centres. Policy: Research should have impacts beyond the walls of academia. Students learn how to transfer the results of basic and applied research into comprehensive materials and directives that are made accessible for the children themselves, their parents, educators, clinicians, and policy makers in national and international contexts. These modules prepare graduates to enter knowledge transfer roles in social and political institutions at the local, national, and international levels. The two-year degree programme is offered entirely in English and provides a unique curriculum. The range of subjects includes: empirical methods and statistics scientific practice child development in an interdisciplinary context social-emotional development of children psychopathology strength-based assessments intervention and prevention methods to enhance child development and well-being transferring research into social policy science communication and public outreach