Master (MA) in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology

Program Overview

The MA in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology is designed for educators, psychologists, and professionals in education seeking to support children, adolescents, families, and schools. The program emphasizes specialized knowledge and skills to conduct assessment, prevention, and interventions for students facing psychological and learning challenges. Graduates are equipped to help children and youth achieve success academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally, becoming agents of positive change in challenging environments through a curriculum that integrates academic theory, skill development, and practical experiences in a supervised practicum at relevant professional settings.

• Duration: One year (full-time) or up to three years (part-time).
• Number of Courses: 10 courses, a practicum, and a thesis (36 US credits).
• Attendance: Classes are scheduled from Monday to Thursday, 17:30-20:30, with Fridays reserved for make-up classes and other academic activities, such as masterclasses, workshops, lectures, and talks.
• Admission points: New students are admitted at the start of the fall, winter, and spring terms.

Unique Program Features

• NECHE Accreditation
• A holistic approach combining psychology and special education
• Supervised practicum in school settings
• Suitable for education and psychology professionals

Program Structure (Curriculum)

Upon successful completion, participants should demonstrate:

• Critical knowledge of core theories in learning, human development, and developmental psychopathology.
• In-depth understanding of evidence-based assessment techniques and interventions at individual, group, and systems levels.
• Utilization of evidence-based assessment techniques and interventions for diverse communities.
• Implementation of core ethical principles underpinning professional practice.
• Professional work characteristics, including effective oral/written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Construction of appropriate research designs and implementation of statistical techniques to address relevant research questions.

Tuition & Scholarships

Tuition

Tuition is payable on a course-by-course basis.

Merit Scholarships

The School of Graduate & Professional Education offers scholarships based on exceptional academic performance in undergraduate studies.

Libra Group Social Responsibility (LSR) Scholarship

The LSR provides five partial scholarships totaling 28,000 Euros for candidates exhibiting good academic standing and financial need, with an application deadline of April 4 for the Spring Term.

Financial Assistance

The American College of Greece (ACG) has historically provided assistance to students in meeting educational expenses, facilitating access to quality education irrespective of financial circumstances.

Discounts

All ACG alumni receive a 10% tuition fee discount on top of any other applicable scholarships or financial assistance programs. Corporate discount programs are available for two or more employees from the same organization.

Student Profile

This degree is particularly suitable for:

• Graduates in psychology or education, and those with a social science background, interested in:
  • Direct work with children and adolescents
  • Supporting students with mental health needs through counseling, skill instruction, and learning support plans
  • Assessing individual differences to formulate intervention strategies
  • Collaborating with parents and teachers to assist children's success
  • Utilizing research to inform practices
  • Counseling school-aged students to thrive in various life aspects.

Current Student Profile

• Average Age: 27.30 years
• Female: 97%
• Male: 3%
• Student Nationality: Domestic: 68.57%; International: 31.43%
• First degree obtained from: Greek AEI (31.43%); ACG-Deree (14.29%); International University (54.29%)

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers in various school settings, whether public or private, serving school-age populations, or working in private practice as psychoeducators. Graduates receive support from the Office of Career Services, helping them connect with ACG's extensive alumni network.

Faculty

• Katingo Giannoulis – Full-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Stavroula Diareme – Part-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Mari Janikian – Full-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Lillian Pelios – Associate Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Despina Paizi – Full-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Remos Armaos – Full-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Maria Ersi Koliris – Part-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology
• Alessandra Sax – Part-time Faculty, School of Science and Technology

Admission Requirements

Prospective students must meet the following criteria:

1. A bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or a related social science field from an accredited institution with a minimum average grade of B.
   • Applicants with a non-psychology undergraduate degree must demonstrate coursework competence in Introduction to Psychology.
2. Evidence of personal maturity and resilience to cope with the emotional demands of counseling children, assessed via interviews and personal statements.
3. Proficiency in English, evidenced through TOEFL, IELTS, Proficiency, or Duolingo English Test (minimum score of 125). Graduates from DEREE and other recognized English-speaking institutions are exempt from this requirement.

Credit Transfer: An allowance of up to 9 credits from previously attended graduate programs at accredited institutions may be permitted, subject to individual examination.

The American College of Greece (ACG) is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution founded in 1875 in Smyrna (Izmir), Asia Minor, by missionaries from Boston, Massachusetts. Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the college relocated to Athens in 1923 and has operated there ever since. It is the oldest and largest U.S.-accredited, comprehensive educational institution in Europe, with over 150 years of transformative education and a long-standing role in fostering intellectual and cultural ties between Greece and the United States.

ACG is chartered as a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity by the State of Colorado, and is governed by an independent board of trustees. Its motto — Non Ministrari, Sed Ministrare ("Not to be Served, but to Serve") — reflects its foundational commitment to education in service of society.

Three divisions:

ACG operates across three distinct academic divisions, each serving a different stage of education:

• Pierce: a pre-kindergarten through secondary school offering a Gymnasium, Lyceum and an International Baccalaureate Programme, with campuses in Aghia Paraskevi and a Pierce East Campus in Spata
• Deree: the undergraduate and graduate college, with all instruction delivered entirely in English, located on the main 64-acre campus in Aghia Paraskevi.
• Alba Graduate Business School: a specialized postgraduate business school located in downtown Athens, built on ACG's long-standing legacy of academic excellence.

Accreditation

ACG was first accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in 1981, becoming the first U.S. institution abroad to achieve this distinction. In 2023, The American University of Greece (AUG) — ACG's newly incorporated U.S. affiliate — received full institutional NECHE accreditation, which includes ACG's operations in Greece through a validating agreement. This means Deree graduates hold degrees with the same credentials as graduates of other NECHE institutions, including MIT, Harvard, Brown, Boston College and Amherst.

Deree is also validated by The Open University (UK), providing graduates with an additional internationally recognized award pathway. In 2024, AUG launched a Global Campus offering fully online degree programs rooted in ACG's academic tradition.

Campus

The main campus in Aghia Paraskevi sits on the western slopes of Mount Hymettus, about ten kilometers from central Athens, and was originally designed by the renowned Greek architect Constantine Doxiadis. Its 64 acres include smart classrooms, science and STEM laboratories, fine art studios and exhibition spaces, a Center for the Arts with multiple performance venues including the Pierce Theater, a black box theater and the Irene Bailey Theater, a library, a gym, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a soccer and track complex, a chapel, and student lounges. The campus offers panoramic views of the Athens basin.

Student life

Student life at ACG is active and diverse. Students can join academic societies, a wide range of clubs, and student organizations including the Deree Student Association, the Research Scholars Organization, and the Student Emergency Response Force. Intercollegiate and intramural sports are organized under the Deree Griffins banner. Arts programming is extensive, with music, theater, dance and visual arts performances running throughout the academic year under the Arts at Deree initiative. An International Honors Program is available for high-achieving students, including a Stanford Summer component and a dedicated merit scholarship. Service learning projects connect students to the broader Athens community.

Research and institutes

ACG's research activity spans applied academic research and public policy engagement through four dedicated centers:

• ACG Research Center (ACG-RC): supports interdisciplinary applied research, with active projects including a study on the role of the Greek-American diaspora in bilateral U.S.-Greece relations from 1974 to 2024
• Institute of Global Affairs: hosts research, public events and publications on international policy and geopolitics
• Institute of Public Health: conducts public health research and runs an annual lecture series open to the wider community
• The Demos Center: dedicated to democratic values, civic discourse and public engagement

Sustainability

Sustainability is a core institutional commitment at ACG. The college has been listed among the Princeton Review's most environmentally responsible colleges for seven consecutive years, and is one of only four European institutions to appear on the list for 2025. In 2024, ACG was recognized as a top performer in five categories of the AASHE Sustainable Campus Index — Campus Engagement, Energy, Grounds, Purchasing, and Wellbeing and Work — making it the highest-ranked STARS institution outside the United States and Canada. ACG also received the 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Award for the second consecutive year for sustainable electronics procurement, and was featured in Greece's inaugural Hellenic Impact Report for its integration of sustainability across academics, operations and partnerships. The college currently offers 149 sustainability-focused and sustainability-inclusive courses across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Student support services

• Student Academic Support Services (SASS): learning facilitation, peer tutoring and academic resources
• Career Services: career planning, internship placement, and employer connections including an annual ACG Career Days event
• Student Success Center: holistic advising and student wellbeing support
• Counseling and Health and Wellness Center: mental health services, wellness coaching and medical assistance
• Financial assistance: merit scholarships, grants, work-study, and access to U.S. Federal Loans and Veterans Aid for eligible students
• On-campus and nearby housing for undergraduate and study-abroad students

International reach

1. ACG welcomes study-abroad students from universities worldwide through semester, summer and intensive programs in Athens. Special programs include the Hellenic Studies Summer School, the Heritage Greece program, and a longstanding collaboration with Harvard University's Center for Hellenic Studies. Through its Outbound Study Abroad Programme, Deree students can study at partner institutions in cities including Stanford, New York, Boston, London, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai and Berlin. A parallel studies pathway also allows students enrolled in Greek public universities to earn a Deree degree simultaneously.