Childhood and Psychology

Childhood and Psychology brings together two fields that share a central interest in how human beings develop, think, and behave. Childhood Studies asks how we understand children's lives, rights, and experiences across different social, cultural, and historical contexts. Psychology provides the scientific tools to study mental processes, behaviour, and development empirically.

Together they give you a richer picture of what childhood actually involves and what the research tells us about how children grow, learn, and thrive.

At Nottingham Trent University, this three-year full-time programme moves between developmental psychology, child development theory, the sociology of childhood, and research methods. You will study cognitive development, attachment theory, the psychology of play and learning, and the ways in which children's wellbeing is shaped by family, school, and wider social environments. Policy and practice dimensions are also addressed, reflecting the degree's relevance to the wide range of professions that work with children and young people.

Graduates from Childhood and Psychology are well suited to careers in education, early years settings, child and adolescent mental health services, social care, and youth work. The combination of psychological knowledge and an understanding of childhood as a social and developmental phenomenon is valued by employers across the children's workforce. Some graduates go on to train as teachers, social workers, or educational psychologists, often through postgraduate routes.

Others move into research, policy, and advocacy roles with charities, local authorities, or national organisations focused on children's rights and welfare. The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in psychology, education, or social work.