MA Child Development and Family Education

A child’s family is their first school, and their parents are their first teachers. Therefore, the quality of family education directly affects children’s physical and mental health.

Amid continued regional economic growth and the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, family structures, parenting practices and the expectations of a new generation of parents are undergoing profound changes, leading to a greater focus on child development and family education (CDFE). However, there is currently a shortage of professionals to meet this growing need. Future professionals require a deep understanding of child and adolescent development, expertise in family education theory and counselling techniques, digital literacy, and an interdisciplinary perspective.

This master’s programme builds core theoretical knowledge and professional skills in CDFE through a syntegrative approach that combines theory with practice.

Students can choose from three specialisation pathways: family and social work, educational psychology and counselling, and teaching and learning. Through research-led, project-based learning and, the CDFE programme prepares students to address real-world challenges in educational and social settings while developing transferable skills and innovative thinking. It also supports the emerging collaborative education model in the home school community.

The Academy of Future Education is home to an international team of academic staff. More than 95% of its academic staff have overseas study and work experience, and many are graduates from some of the world’s top universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, US; the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, UK; and the University of Hong Kong, China.

Why choose the MA Child Development and Family Education programme at XJTLU?

This programme offers three distinct pathways aligned with diverse student interests and evolving sector needs. The pathways are: family education and parenting support, school-based well-being and counselling and special/inclusive education. Project-based learning is integrated into all modules, enabling students to respond to real needs in educational settings, collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and graduate with a portfolio of evidence-based solutions.

With a growing shortage of CDFE specialists – and rising demand for professionals in family education, mental health and counselling as well as special-needs education – our practice-informed curriculum equips students with the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to meet workforce needs.

By studying the MA Child Development and Family Education, you will have:

• clearly defined pathway options that let you specialise while building a strong shared foundation in child development;
• project-based learning throughout, culminating in authentic deliverables such as intervention plans, family workshops, assessment reports, and programme evaluations;
• research-led teaching combined with practice-informed tasks, ensuring you translate theory into practice;
• close academic mentorship, small collaborative project teams, and regular feedback to accelerate your growth;
• a strong foundation in ethical practice, safeguarding children, cultural competence, and effective communication with children, families, teachers, and community partners;
• skills in assessment and screening, age-appropriate counselling and guidance strategies, inclusive pedagogy, data literacy, and outcome evaluation; and
• engagement with local educational organisations and community stakeholders through briefs and events that broaden your professional network.

Students enrolled in the MA Child Development and Family Education programme can choose from three pathways:

1. The family and social work pathway adopts an ecosystem perspective to examine the social and family factors that influence child and adolescent development. It equips students to drive positive change in family and social environments. The curriculum covers family education, child and adolescent mental health, as well as programme design and development. Addressing evolving needs in social and family settings, this pathway emphasises holistic support and systemic intervention, preparing professionals to promote positive change across family and community environments.
2. The educational psychology and counselling pathway focuses on the psychological mechanisms of learning and development. It prepares professionals to provide psychological support and learning guidance to diverse learners. The curriculum emphasises counselling theories and techniques, special education theory and practice, learning motivation and support strategies, and personalised intervention design. It enables students to deliver effective professional support in increasingly varied educational environments.
3. The teaching and learning pathway aims to cultivate educational practitioners and leaders with an international outlook and innovative capacity. The curriculum focuses on innovative instructional design, curriculum development, learning assessment and evaluation, and data-driven pedagogical decision-making. Students will gain comprehensive expertise in K-12 curriculum design and classroom management. They will also become familiar with the latest strategies in personalised learning design, while developing an understanding of global trends in educational transformation and the capacity to drive positive change across a range of learning contexts.

Modules may be scheduled at any time between 9am and 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and are delivered onsite. Some sessions may include flexible online components to enhance learning.