Tufts Blogs

I love my major. When applying to Tufts I knew I wanted to work with children but did not know in what capacity. It was through my Introduction to Child Study & Human Development that I realized I could fulfill a career working with children but not necessarily be a classroom teacher. Throughout my courses in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development I have learned about a wide range of topics that all impact a child and their development. Some of my courses have touched on playground design, how incarceration affects families and how to teach students with learning disabilities. This department does not just teach about children — it prepares students how to advocate and support young people across a wide range of developmental contexts. One of the things that makes Tufts’ Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development special is its emphasis on hands-on experience. Through my major, I have had the opportunity to serve as a classroom assistant in a Medford middle school and teach English in a ninth grade classroom in Copenhagen.

The department encourages critical thinking and reflection while unique courses push students to ask deeper questions. For example in the class Children’s Play, rather than viewing play as simple recreation, students learn to analyze how play fosters creativity, identity, and social-emotional learning. This course reflects the department’s broader belief — that children are complex and capable individuals.

Another mission of the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development is its approach to difficult topics like “problematic behavior” using compassion. Instead of asking, “How do we stop bad behavior?”, courses in the department encourage students to ask, “What is this child trying to communicate?” and “What experiences are contributing to this behavior?” Students are taught not just how to respond, but how to use empathy to truly understand children — especially those who are misunderstood or underserved.

While much of the Child Study and Human Development focuses on early childhood, Tufts does not overlook the important stage of adolescence. Courses like Adolescents & Development explore identity formation, risk-taking, peer dynamics, and mental health in teenage years. Students reflect on how schools, social media, and families influence this critical period of growth — and how to best support teens navigating it all.

Beyond the coursework, the department itself is grounded in meaningful relationships. Faculty are passionate, accessible, and deeply involved in research and community engagement. Whether you’re working in a preschool, after-school program, research lab, or juvenile justice setting, your classroom learning is constantly tied to life in the real world. The Tufts Child Study and Human Development department stands out because it combines rigorous academics with the tools to make a lasting impact — and to do so with empathy and purpose.