Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 458
(909) 537-4239 Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies website

​The Child Development major serves undergraduate students who have professional and personal interests in children’s growth and change and who are interested in how that foundational knowledge may be applied in a variety of professional settings (e.g., preschools and K-12 education, child service agencies). The twin tracks of the Child Development major provide cutting-edge coursework and experiences that will fully prepare our students to pursue these types of professional interests. Additionally, because of the scientific basis of the Child Development major, those students wishing to pursue graduate work (i.e., Master’s level and beyond) will be highly qualified to apply to a variety of advanced degree programs (e.g., school psychology, special education, child development, developmental psychology, and child clinical psychology).

The following two concentrations are available for students working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development. Each concentration provides students with a solid background in neurological, biological, social, emotional, and cognitive development:

The Child and Adolescent Development Concentration address development during the late elementary and secondary school years. This concentration prepares students for a wide range of occupations and careers serving children in this age range and their families. Examples include skills coach, child/family/school social worker, child welfare worker, child advocate, adoption counselor, child life specialist, Head Start family specialist, and teen parent educator. This concentration will also prepare students for graduate-level training necessary to become elementary or secondary school teachers, school psychologists, special education teachers, child clinical psychologists, and other professions.  

The Early Childhood Development Concentration addresses development in infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, and the early school age years. This concentration prepares students for a variety of careers serving young children and their families, including infant/toddler specialists, preschool teachers, Head Start teachers, and early childhood curriculum coordinators. This concentration will also prepare students for graduate-level training necessary to become an early childhood program director, child agency administrators, special education teachers, and other professionals. The Infant/Toddler Lab School and Children’s Center are an integral component of this track and are used as observation and practicum sites for students. Students selecting this concentration earn a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit (i.e., an early childhood teaching and administrative credential).

Departmental Honors

Students majoring in child development are eligible to receive honors in child development at graduation if the following conditions are met:

1. At least a 3.5-grade point average in the major;
2. An overall grade point average of 3.5 or better*;
3. Completion of one WI designated course (typically fulfilled through GE) with a “B” or better prior to enrollment in the Honors Program;
4. Completion of the Application for Honors Program in Child Development, which includes a statement of purpose and approval of a faculty sponsor;
5. Completion of the two-semester Honors Program with a grade of "B" (3.0) or better

Students interested in this recognition must file a formal application for enrollment in the Child Development Honors Program in their junior year.

Note that the qualifications above are ideal rather than absolute; students who fall short on one of the requirements may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

• Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies with concentrations in:
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Child and Adolescent Development

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts

Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies

Minors

• Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies: Child & Adolescent
• Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies: Early Childhood
• Child, Adolescent, & Family Studies: General Track