Child Development

About the Program

Learn More About the Program

The graduate program in Child Development is part of the Human Development Graduate Group. This program is a multi-disciplinary, two-year program leading to a Master of Science degree and offers students an in-depth examination of cognitive and socio-emotional development from infancy through adolescence and provides a foundation for careers in program delivery (e.g., Early Childhood; 4-H; Youth Development), teaching at the community-college level, or further graduate study. The curriculum emphasizes a balance of supervised practical experience, theory, and methodology rooted in the belief that educators and practitioners alike must have solid disciplinary foundations.

Degree Type
Interdisciplinary Graduate Group
Degrees Offered
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Lead Dean

College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Major Code
GCHD

Admissions and Fellowship Information

Admission Deadlines
Priority: Dec 15, 2023
Space Available: Mar 1, 2024
Internal Fellowship Deadlines
Prospective Student Fellowship: Dec 15, 2023
Continuing Student Fellowship: Jan 15, 2024

Program Contact Information

Primary Program Contacts

Graduate Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator
Kimberly Berardi
(530) 754-4109 | kyberardi@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Program Chair

Graduate Group Chair
Lenna Ontai
(530) 752-6410 | lontai@ucdavis.edu

Additional Contacts

Program Contacts

Advisor: General
Amanda Guyer
Child Development
(530) 297-4445 | aeguyer@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: Admissions Only
Meng Huo
Child Development
mmhuo@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: General
Siwei Liu
Child Development
sweliu@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: Admissions Only
Adrienne Nishina
Child Development
(530) 752-7003 | anishina@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: Primary Contact
Lenna Ontai
Child Development
(530) 752-6410 | lontai@ucdavis.edu

Advisor: General
Kali Trzesniewski
Child Development
ktrz@ucdavis.edu

Graduate Studies Contacts

Senior Academic Advisor
Brittney Dinelli
bjdinelli@ucdavis.edu