Infancy and Early Childhood Development

This degree programme explores the main theories, methods and research findings relating to infants and young children - five years and under - from a variety of perspectives, including psychology, education, and health, and also includes approaches to assessment and intervention.

Students will learn about the development of infants and children from in utero life to five years of age from psychology, education, medical, and health and social-related perspectives. This will include coverage of typical and atypical development, maternal/primary caregiver and broader environmental factors and settings including nurseries and other informal learning settings, the importance of early social skills and specific childhood disorders and medical conditions. Students will be exposed to age-specific tools for evaluating typical and atypical development, and to intervention methods appropriate for certain neurodevelopmental disorders. There will be optional modules to allow specialisation within the areas of psychology, education and health, and students will undertake a research project under supervision.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits

The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), two to four optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits). The optional modules are chosen from a set of approved modules.

A Postgraduate Diploma, four core modules (60 credits), two to four optional modules (60 credits), full-time one year or flexible study up to five years, is offered.

A Postgraduate Certificate, four core modules (60 credits), part-time one year or flexible study over a period of up to two years, is offered

Core modules

All core modules from the following list must be taken.

• Research Skills
• Prenatal and Newborn Development
• Infant Development
• Preschool Years

Optional modules

60 credits of optional modules drawn from the following list:
(all modules are worth 15 credits unless stated otherwise)

• Infant and Neurodevelopmental Assessment
• Nutrition, Growth and Physical Activity
• Safeguarding and Children in Society
• The Health Child Programme 0-18
• Contemporary Issues in Infancy and Early Childhood Development

Dissertation/research project

All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme will be delivered via lectures, seminars and web-based materials (e.g. reading, videos); students will be evaluated by written work (essays, leaflets, commentaries, research thesis) and presentations.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor’s degree in psychology, medicine or other health or education related topic from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.