Child and Adolescent Psychology

Specialisation of: Psychology
Degree: Master of Science in Psychology
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September and February
Language of instruction: English
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 66604
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Children and adolescents are known to experience a wide range of psychological and educational difficulties. The aim of this specialisation is to acquire in-depth knowledge about:

  • Theoretical models of social and cognitive development and the interplay of risk and protective factors in atypical development
  • Ways to differentiate atypical from typical development and the use of classification systems of childhood disorders
  • Choosing and applying the most appropriate intervention strategy for each problem area.

Career

Students who complete this master’s specialisation are qualified for any position requiring a degree in psychology, as well as for general research positions and academic policy-making positions, such as can be found in the following fields: health care and social assistance, psychological advice organisations, consultancy, research companies and laboratories both in the private and the public sector.

What our alumni say

Amy van Blitterswijk, MSc

“The courses in this specialisation all have a link to practice”

“After three years of theory during my bachelor’s study I was looking forward to learning more about the practical side of the field. I was hoping the Child and Adolescent Psychology specialisation would have a more practical focus. Fortunately this happened to be the case. I learned a lot in a very short time. The hands-on experience during my internship in particular was very useful and instructive.

The courses all had a link to practice and therefore corresponded well with the tasks of my internship and my current job. I did my internship at the medical child and adolescent psychology department of a local general hospital, the ‘Reinier de Graaf Groep’. After finishing my internship and my master’s I was offered a job here as well.

During the day I see a lot of children. I do their intakes, their diagnostics and their short-term treatment, and discuss all these aspects within the multidisciplinary team of which I am a member. The problems of the children differ, from chronic illnesses to unexplained physical complaints and, in small babies, excessive crying. The age of the children is therefore very variable and, of course, I have to deal not only with the children, but also with their parents.

In short: there is so much variety in the field and in my job that I always feel challenged and I am never bored.”