Offered by the 5 interconnected research programmes on Child and Adolescent Studies of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences of Utrecht University, the Development and Socialisation in Childhood and Adolescence (DaSCA) programme focuses on general processes of socialisation and child rearing and on normative developmental pathways. Considerable attention is given to the risk factors involved in the development of children and adolescents with a view to developing treatment strategies and preventive systematic intervention programmes. Development and Socialisation in Childhood and AdolescenceThe programme courses focus on theory and research in development and socialisation in childhood and adolescence, methodology and statistics, and basic academic skills. The theory courses address various topics of normal and pathological development and socialization of children and adolescents. Topic covered are: cognitive and social cognitive development in childhood and adolescence (for instance empathic concern and perspective taking), development of temperament and personality, development of relationships with parents and peers, development of internalizing (anxiety and depression), externalizing (aggression and delinquency), and risky behaviour (substance use, drinking and smoking). The theory courses offer also an introduction in the designing of experimental, quasi-experimental (especially randomized controlled trials) and longitudinal studies. The methodology and statistics courses offer training of advanced data-analysis, especially of longitudinal data. The methodology and statistics courses are integrated with the theory and research courses. In year two, students will complete an internship and write their Master's thesis in the form of a draft research article for international publication. Upon completing the programme, students will have acquired sufficient knowledge to assess cognitive and psychosocial problems in childhood and adolescence and to develop and apply intervention programmes. Programme graduates will be well prepared for a PhD programme or a position as a researcher in general and applied research institutes. Subsequent PhD studies may be pursued at ISED or any other research schools in the behavioural and social sciences. Until now about 70% of DaSCA graduates obtained a PhD position within 4 months of graduation, whereas the the other graduates obtained research jobs outside university.

The primary aim of the Development and Socialisation in Childhood and Adolescence Master's programme is to prepare candidates for an academic career – PhD programme – in the field of research in child and adolescent studies and developmental psychology. The programme is also designed for those who would prefer a career as an applied researcher in a non-academic institution such as: Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos Instituut) Netherlands Institute for Care and Welfare (NIZW) Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) Statistics Netherlands (CBS) Programme graduates are highly trained researchers and are also well qualified for a position as a policy officer in behavioural sciences in companies and governmental organisations. Until now about 70% of DaSCA graduates obtained a PhD position within 4 months of graduation, whereas the the other graduates obtained research jobs outside university. If you want to know more about where the alumni of this research master programme started working after they finished their studies, please take a closer look at the alumni-pages: