Hi!I would like to know if a dentist can apply for a M.S or Phd in Child psychology?
I have trained to be a dentist.I want to treat young children.Before doing my graduate program in Pedodontics [kids dentist] i would like to do a masters or even Phd in Child psychology.Would i be eligible for such courses?and what are the best places to do them.The only thing i know so far is that they are 2 or 5 year courses respectively.thanks.
arron p said,
Wrote on November 26, 2010 @ 8:19 am
If you want to become a Child Psychologist then you need to go to Uni and study Psychology specializing in Child Psychology. If you want to be a Psychologist that counsels people but specializing in Children then you need to be a Clinical Psychologist. If so, you need a PhD in Psychology. If no Unis will accept you with your current qualifications it means going back to College and getting some extra qualifications.
timwarneka said,
Wrote on November 26, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Respectfully, it sounds like you are trying to go North and South at the same time. Pediatric dentistry and child psychology are two very different directions.
In terms of degree programs, you can absolutely apply to Masters and/or Ph.D. programs. Getting accepted into them is a different story. Ph.D. programs in psychology (child or otherwise) are highly, highly competitive … and the simple fact that you want to continue in dentistry may eliminate you from many programs (in that faculty will not want to invest the time in someone who is not going to work in the field.). You can probably find a master’s degree program that will accept you.
The bigger question is … why are you interested in child psychology? If you just want to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of children’s psyche, you may be better off self-selecting graduate courses in child development, etc. If you want to continue in dentistry, you’ll probably find many of the graduate courses in child psych. to be unnecessary and/or irrelevant.
Good luck.