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 making an impact on the lives of children, youth, and families in the 21st century. Eliot-Pearson is dedicated to understanding the changing child/adolescent by attending to family structure and dynamics, neighborhoods, and institutions focused on education, health, and well-being. Our work is grounded in the context of our rapidly changing social and cultural environments, driven by new technologies, and complex societies.
Eliot-Pearson serves as a "childhood hub" at Tufts University for addressing the dramatic changes in all of these areas. We provide an applied research environment that leverages the historic opportunity for change brought about by new technologies to improve the lives of all children, youth, and families around the world.
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 students with a vibrant, interdisciplinary 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. As a hub for interdisciplinary technological innovation around early learning and development, 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.