Child psychology courses

Child psychology explores how children develop mentally, emotionally, and socially. It’s a field that helps us understand the challenges young people face and how best to support them. Gaining knowledge in this area is invaluable in a wide range of professions, including counselling, healthcare, and education. These are all areas in which supporting young people’s mental wellbeing is a priority.

Child psychology courses vary and may cover key areas such as cognitive and emotional development, behavioural psychology, and learning disorders.

You may also explore the influence of family and social environments on children's growth, as well as strategies for supporting mental health and managing learning difficulties.

Depending on the course, you could study topics such as:

• The biological and environmental influences on a child’s development.

• Infancy and prenatal development.

• How childhood development impacts behaviour later in life.

• Therapeutic techniques and interventions for working with children and families.

General psychology spans human behaviour across all ages. Child psychology, however, is the study of how young minds develop. It’s a specialisation within psychology that examines childhood-specific issues, such as early learning, emotional regulation, and socialisation.

Child psychology courses, like the ones offered through Open Universities Australia, provide an insight into the field. To become qualified in child psychology, however, and achieve full registration as a psychologist, you’ll need to complete further accredited study.

To become a registered child psychologist, you’ll need to:

• Complete an accredited undergraduate degree in psychology

• Pursue postgraduate study (focusing on child or clinical psychology)

• Complete supervised practice

Take a look at these psychology and mental health courses to explore the degrees and pathways that can help you achieve your goal of becoming a child psychologist. Better yet, speak with a student advisor about your goals so that we can ensure you’re on the right track. 

Absolutely. Many people who study child psychology work in a variety of fields, including education, special education, social work, and counselling. Understanding how a child's mind works provides valuable insights into their emotional, cognitive, and social development.

This knowledge allows professionals to create more effective learning environments, provide better support for children’s unique needs, and address challenges in ways that promote healthy growth and wellbeing. Whether you’re a teacher, social worker, counsellor (or aim to be) the skills gained from studying child psychology can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

A child psychology degree, or a child psychology related course such as those offered through Open Universities Australia, equips students with practical knowledge that can be used across a wide range of careers. Beyond education and social work, this type of study can be useful in roles such as:

• Youth work

• Family support services

• Mental health advocacy

• Child welfare

Some graduates will use their course as a stepping stone towards further study. This might include pursuing a full psychology degree, engaging in postgraduate research, or specialising in therapeutic roles such as counselling or clinical practice.

The versatility of these types of courses allow graduates to choose from a variety of fulfilling career paths that make a significant impact on children's lives.

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.