Prospective Students
Welcome to the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
The Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development (CSHD) is committed to applied research and learner-centered teaching that strives to enhance the lives of diverse children, youth, families and communities. Eliot-Pearson is dedicated to a multidisciplinary, strengths-based, and systems understanding of the developing child over the life course by attending to family structure and dynamics, neighborhoods, and institutions focused on education, health, and well-being. Our goal is to prepare students to work in a variety of careers in the context of an ever-changing and global society.
Undergraduate Programs
The department offers both a major and a minor in Child Study and Human Development for undergraduate students. As a student in the undergraduate program, you'll work with your peers and renowned faculty to learn the foundations of child study and human development. Our graduates are prepared for a variety of careers, including careers in medicine and health, education, public policy, law, and academia
Graduate Programs
Offering a master's and a PhD program in Child Study and Human Development, the department's graduate programs feature small class sizes and mentorship from faculty at the top of their fields. Our programs are flexible and allow students to design personalized paths of study that fit their academic and professional goals.
Research
Programs at Eliot-Pearson challenge traditional curricula by providing undergraduate and graduate students with a vibrant, multidisciplinary community dedicated to applied research. Students have opportunities to participate in applied research projects and ongoing research in one of the department’s labs. The department's building boasts a collaborative learning environment designed for interdisciplinary research and innovation. The department also works closely with its own lab school, The Eliot-Pearson Children's School. Within the lab school are opportunities for professional development, direct observation of children, and applied research experience.