MA in Clinical Psychology, Child Studies Specialization
Help Children Lead Healthy Lives From a Young Age.
Children are inherently malleable, conforming to their surroundings and shaping perceptions without the deep consideration adults are capable of. Our approach to understanding and healing children and teens is to focus on the whole child and children’s multiple ecologies: family, peers, school, spirituality, neighborhood, and community. The Child Studies Specialization prepares you for the California MFT while also providing specialized insight into state-of-the-art assessment, diagnosis, and effective interventions with young children, school-age children, and adolescents.
This degree is offered by Antioch University's Los Angeles Campus.
Program Overview
We established the Child Studies Specialization in 1999 as the first dedicated master's level program of its kind in Los Angeles. From the first cohort of 12, the Child Studies Specialization has grown to serve approximately 50 students annually, all of whom are preparing for the California MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) and LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor).
In addition to the now-traditional approaches to interventions with children and teens (play therapy and family therapy), the Child Studies Specialization emphasizes both scientific and humanistic perspectives and supports evidence-based practice within a flexible, integrative, multimodal, multicultural, and multisystemic approach.
Licensure Information
This program is designed to lead to state licensure.
President's Merit Scholarship
The President’s Merit Scholarships are awarded to new students seeking a master’s degree. Awards are determined by prior academic performance (minimum 3.40 GPA) and work/life experience. Awards of $6000 are distributed equally over the first two academic years of a student’s program. You must remain enrolled full-time, and your academic progress will be reviewed each term. You must complete each course in which you are registered in order to continue receiving the scholarship. To learn about this scholarship and more, visit our Scholarships and Grants page.
Additional Information
Specialization Courses (17 credits)
Courses in the Child Studies Specialization at AULA are integrated with the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program, and are part of our Comprehensive Professional Development Approach. Each required course provides you with a set of skills necessary to work effectively with children and adolescents in a wide variety of post-degree settings. In addition, you will complete your required clinical training hours at a site designated as appropriate for child studies, so that a minimum of 50% of the clinical training hours are spent directly with children and adolescents, either individually or in the context of family therapy.
- Developmental Psychopathology I: Diagnosis
- Developmental Psychopathology II: Intervention
- Brain and Behavior: The Child
- Cross-Cultural Infant Observation
- Child Advocacy and Social Policy
- CS Electives (3 credits)
The Child Studies Specialization prepares you to work in a wide variety of settings, including private practice, community mental health centers, hospitals, schools, and social agencies devoted to advocacy. The specialized coursework includes work in developmental psychopathology, cross-cultural infant observation, child advocacy and social policy, and developmental neuroscience.
In addition, you will have elective courses and workshops available that cover a broad array of clinical skills and concerns. These include art therapy and play therapy, foster care and adoption, attachment issues, psychodrama, parenting, cultural diversity, eating disorders, sexual development, trauma assessment and intervention, and evidence-based practice.
Faculty Spotlights
Chris Harvey, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Kelsey K. Harrold, PsyD, LMFT
Teaching Faculty
Katherine Smith, PsyD
Affiliate Faculty
Roger W Kaufman, LMFT
Adjunct Faculty
Admissions
How to Apply
- Start your online application.
- Submit an official transcript showing your bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university. If you attended an undergraduate program outside of the United States, please see the international transcript evaluation instructions on our website for further information.
- Electronic transcripts: Have your institution send them to [email protected]. Many institutions offer electronic delivery through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse.
- Mailed transcripts: Send to our central campus location:
Antioch University
Attn: Admissions
900 Dayton Street
Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
- Complete and submit the admissions essay. See essay prompt for details and instructions.
- Optional: Submit one professional letter of recommendation from a current or former instructor, employer, or mental health professional who can speak to your potential for success in graduate study in psychology. Letters from peer coworkers, friends, relatives, or personal therapists will not be reviewed.
- Submit the $50 application fee.
Note: The application fee is waived for anyone attending an information session. Interested in attending? Sign up now!
After we receive your application, the admissions team will contact you about a virtual group interview.
Application Deadline
| Quarter | Priority Deadline* | Application Deadline*** |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | February 1 | March 15 |
| Fall | March 15 | August 1 |
| Winter | August 1 | November 1 |
| *International application deadline is priority deadline | ||
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | ||
Cost
Clinical Psychology (MA) & Psychological Studies (MA)
| Cost per credit | $ 956 |
|---|---|
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Please note: Additional fees for all AULA programs may include (but are not necessarily limited to) charges for materials, late registration, enrollment maintenance, parking, graduation, transcripts, tuition payment plan, late payments, late registration, and returned checks.
Financial Aid
A majority of AULA students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AULA.
Start your Antioch Journey
Take your next step - talk to our admissions team to find the right program for you.