Child and Family Studies Child Development B.A.

The concentration in Child Development focuses on developmental theories, including the physical, psychological, social, intellectual, and moral development of children. Students explore the common and special needs of children, fundamentals of early childhood education, methods of childhood guidance, and other individual areas of interest. Graduates from this area of concentration are employed in centers for early childhood care and/or education as teachers or directors, as nannies in private homes, with parks and recreation services, with community programs (such as the Boys and Girls Club), in social service agencies (child protective, adoption, or foster-care services), in cooperative extension as 4-H agents, and as part of hospital healthcare teams as child life specialists. Some Child Development graduates have opened their own childcare centers. In addition, students completing this concentration have pursued graduate studies in a variety of related fields, including teacher certification in early childhood education.

Degree Requirements

A major in Child and Family Studies, with an Area of Concentration in Child Development, is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:

Required CFS Core Courses

CFS 130Lifespan Human Development

1 Course Credit

CFS 145Consumer Decision Making

1 Course Credit

CFS 207/WGS 207Family Relations (WGS)

1 Course Credit

CFS 221Fundamentals of Nutrition

1 Course Credit

Required Capstone Courses

CFS 441Family Resource Management

1 Course Credit

CFS 480Senior Research Seminar

1 Course Credit

 

Required Distribution Courses

Four (4) course credits, one of which must be CFS 313, CFS 315 or CFS 356 selected from:

CFS 210Found of Early Childhood Edu

1 Course Credit

CFS 245Community Resources-Families

1 Course Credit

CFS 313Infancy and Early Childhood

1 Course Credit

CFS 315Middle Childhood & Adolescence

1 Course Credit

CFS 317Family-Child-Profsnl Interactn

1 Course Credit

CFS 353Childhood Guidance

1 Course Credit

CFS 356Variatns Young Children's Devl

1 Course Credit

CFS 360/SOC 360E. Child Curr/Methds/Matl

1 Course Credit

CFS 380Methds of Instructnl Delivery

1 Course Credit

Both CFS 186/286/386/486 and CFS 395/495 must be approved by the CFS Department for this area of concentration. For each of these courses, only one credit shall count toward the major concentration requirement.

To learn more about program entrance and other degree progression requirements, please follow this link.