Program

Childhood studies pursues the cross-disciplinary study of children and childhood within historical, multicultural, national, and global contexts. Each combination of perspectives brings new critical  insights into the lives of children and the families, cultures, and societies within which they are embedded.   

Throughout their studies, students in the graduate program work closely with faculty advisers and other members of the wider faculty to develop expertise as researchers and scholars in childhood studies.

The Graduate School-Camden at Rutgers University offers master of arts (M.A.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in childhood studies. The programs prepare students to become innovative interdisciplinary researchers and leaders in child-related social practice and policy.

Rutgers-Camden is the first university in the nation to offer a doctorate in childhood studies and reflects the university's commitment to distinction in the area.

Master of Arts in Childhood Studies

The master of arts degree in childhood studies equips practitioners and beginning scholars with the skills and knowledge requisite to understand and address challenges confronting children throughout the world. The program prepares its graduates to conduct research with and about children, to formulate social policy on behalf of children and their families, and to work effectively with diverse populations of children throughout the world.

Doctor of Philosophy in Childhood Studies 

Students in the doctor of philosophy degree program enroll in a core set of courses to acquire theoretical and methodological knowledge in a multidisciplinary context that is at the heart of the field of childhood studies. The coursework, as well as engagement with faculty and fellow students, forms the foundation for dissertation research through which students develop their own particular expertise as scholars in childhood studies. The doctoral program prepares students to become innovative interdisciplinary researchers and leaders in child-related social practice and policy.