The Master’s program in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College is designed for students who seek to enhance their understanding of human development within and across contexts and cultures. The program provides training in applied development for educators, service providers, advocates, and researchers. It is designed for those who wish to understand and serve the needs of children, adults, and communities. Our program embeds challenging academic work and a collegial intellectual environment within the broader culture of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, which seeks to promote social justice and enhance the human condition.
The Master’s program is designed to be maximally flexible: 30 credits (ten 3-credit courses) are required, which can be completed in a one-year period, or spread over two or more years. The curriculum includes a core set of program requirements that provide depth in the cognitive and social/affective processes of human development, the central contexts which affect and structure the lives of children and adults, and the primary scientific methods of understanding human development and analyzing social issues and social structures that support or impede development and well-being.
In addition to the core requirements, students choose one of five focus areas: Education Focus; Prevention and Promotion Focus; Community Psychology and Social Justice Focus; Research Focus; or Individualized Focus. In each focus area, students take additional courses which are designed to provide skills and learning targeted towards particular career choices and employment options, such as teaching, program development, research, advocacy, and policy. Some focus areas also include applied or research internships. In all focus areas, a final requirement is a 
Critical Literature Review or Empirical Study, which allows students to gain expertise in an individually-designated area.
Students with particular interests in Human Rights and International Justice are encouraged to consider the Certificate offered by the Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice which can be completed concurrently with the MA.
See Description of Focus Areas for MA and Programs of Study for details on our focus areas and core program requirements.