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

(30 credits plus 12 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 1441	Children and Society	3
CSOCL 2402	Sociology of Family	3
CSOCL 3445	Sociological Lens on Systemic Inequities	3
CSOCS 3444	Research Methods in the Social Sciences	3
CSOCS 4444	Senior 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

CHLTH 3300	Child and Adolescent Health	3
CPLCY 3552	Social Policy	3
CPSYC 2401	Child Psychology	3
CPSYC 2437	Equity & Inclusion for Children with Disabilities	3
CPSYC 3407	Critical Issues in Infancy	3
CPSYC 3411	Adult Development	3
CPSYC 3413	Psychology of Women	3
CPSYC 3424	Counseling Children, Adolescents and Young Adults	3
CPSYC 3427	Family Interventions	3
CSOCL 2115	Politicizing Sex, Gender & Race: Transnational Perspectives	3
CSOCL 3016	Social Issues in Aging	3
CSOCL 3820	Girlhood, Identity, and Girl Culture	6
CSOCL 4130	Gender and Globalization	3
CSWRK 2401	Allyship for Disability Justice	3
CSWRK 3450	Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions	3

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

III. Experiential Component (12 Credits)

Double majors in Education are waived from the internship requirements in this major.

Pre-Internship Seminar (3 credits)

Take one of the following

CHMSR 1551	Foundations and Systems in the Helping Professions	3
CEDUC 1352	Teaching, Learning and Social Responsibility	4
CGLST 1200	Global Issues and Challenges	3
CMGMT 1451	Introduction to Business Management	4

Internship Seminars (9 credits)

CSOCS 3401	Social Science Internship and Seminar I	3
CSOCS 4401	Social Science Internship and Seminar II	6