2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Children, Youth, & Family Studies - Bachelor of Arts (30 Credits)

(30 credits plus 10 credits of experiential learning; licensure requires additional credits)

This major is designed to engage students in the study of children, youth, and family within the framework of multiple, interconnected contexts: community, culture and society. The major integrates multicultural perspectives throughout the course of study as students learn about the influence of class, race and ethnicity, gender, and culture on human development and family patterns. Students may choose to focus on children, adolescents, emerging adults, and/or the family development across the lifespan.

The major provides a deep foundation in theoretical and practical knowledge and integrates supervised experiential learning with knowledge acquired in classes.

Students may specialize in: Early Intervention (working with children birth to 3 years old with special needs and their families); and Teaching Infants and Toddlers for students interested in obtaining state certification as lead teacher in early child care settings.

The program provides students with a strong foundation in family and developmental studies that will prepare them for graduate studies and work in a broad range of professions.

Students will be able to:

  • critically analyze and assess key interdisciplinary theories of child, youth, and family studies.
  • examine the impact of social institutions, structures and processes on childhood and youth.
  • critically analyze the influence of class, race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality and culture on childhood and family patterns.
  • demonstrate the ability to present knowledge acquired, arguments, and analyses effectively in both oral and written forms.
  • critically evaluate and conduct social science research on childhood, youth, and family issues.

Please note: a minimum grade of "C" is required in the internship seminars and the capstone course to progress in the major.

Degree Requirements

I. Required Core (15 Credits):

CSOCS 1441Children and Society

3

CSOCL 2402Sociology of Family

3

CSOCL 3445Race, Class and Gender

3

CSOCS 3444Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3

CSOCS 4444Senior Capstone Seminar: Current Issues in Social Science

3

II. Electives in major (15 Credits)

  • At least three courses from this category should be 3000 level or above.
  • No more than two CPSYC courses can be chosen from this category.
  • Optional specializations in Early Intervention* and Teaching Infants and Toddlers** may be substituted for this category of electives
CSOCL 2113Children in Global Perspective

3

CSOCL 2115Politicizing Sex, Gender & Race: Transnational Perspectives

3

CSOCL 3016Social Issues in Aging

3

CSOCL 3820Girlhood, Identity, and Girl Culture

6

CSOCL 4130Gender and Globalization

3

CPSYC 2401Child Psychology

3

CPSYC 2437Characteristics of Children and Youth with Special Needs

3

CPSYC 3407Critical Issues in Infancy

3

CPSYC 3409Psychology of Preadolescence and Adolescence

3

CPSYC 3411Adult Development

3

CPSYC 3413Psychology of Women

3

CPSYC 3424Counseling Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

3

CPSYC 3427Family Interventions

3

CHLTH 3300Child and Adolescent Health

3

CSWRK 2401Allyship for Disability Justice

3

CSWRK 3450Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions

3

CPLCY 3552Social Policy

3

CPLCY 4441Global Child and Family Policy

3

Some courses may have minimum grade requirements and/or prerequisites.

III. Internships (10 Credits)

Double majors in Education and students electing the Optional Specialization in Early Intervention are waived from the internship requirements in this major.

Students electing the Optional Specialization in Teaching Infants & Toddlers, are waived from CSOCS 2401 and CSOCS 3401

CSOCS 2401Social Sciences Pre-Internship Seminar

1

CSOCS 3401Social Science Internship and Seminar I

3

CSOCS 4401Social Science Internship and Seminar II

6

The pre-internship seminar requirement may be fulfilled through any 1000-level field-based course (e.g. CHMSR 1551; CEDUC 1352; CMGMT 1451).

Optional Specializations

Students may substitute these specializations for the Electives in Major category listed above.

[Note: these specializations are unchanged from the prior Child Studies major's tracks.]

*Early Intervention (30 Credits)

CPSYC 2401Child Psychology

3

CPSYC 2421Introduction to Counseling

3

CPSYC 2437Characteristics of Children and Youth with Special Needs

3

CPSYC 3407Critical Issues in Infancy

3

CPSYC 3427Family Interventions

3

CEDUC 3360Learning Environments for Infants and Toddlers

3

CEDUC 3429Early Intervention: Theory and Practice

3

CEDUC 3704Junior Practicum and Seminar in Early Intervention

9

**Teaching Infants and Toddlers: (19 Credits)

CPSYC 2401Child Psychology

3

CPSYC 2437Characteristics of Children and Youth with Special Needs

3

CPSYC 3407Critical Issues in Infancy

3

CEDUC 3360Learning Environments for Infants and Toddlers

3

CEDUC 3721Field Experiences in Learning Environments

4

CEDUC 4357Problems and Issues in Early Care and Education

3

Students may apply for certification as Lead Teacher for Infants and Toddlers through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at program completion.