2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Children, Youth, & Family Studies - Bachelor of Arts (36 Credits)

(36 credits plus 6 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. 

Degree Requirements

Required Core (12 Credits):

CSOCS 1441Children and Society

3

CSOCL 2402Sociology of Family

3

CSOCL 3445Sociological Lens on Systemic Inequities

3

CSOCS 3444Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3

Capstone (3 Credits):

Take one of the following.

CHMSR 4551Senior Capstone Seminar: Human Services and Counseling

3

CPSYC 4881Counseling and Holistic Healing Capstone

3

CSWRK 4551Senior Capstone

3

Experiential Learning (6 credits)

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

CHMSR 4701Human Services Internship and Seminar II

6

CHMSR 4702Human Services Internship and Seminar II pt. 1

3

CHMSR 4703Human Services Internship and Seminar II pt. 2

3

CPSYC 3901Psychology Internship and Seminar I

6

Electives (21 Credits)

Must choose at least one from each category. Two or more of the electives may be replaced with CLANG sequence courses.

Children/Youth (3+ credits)

CHLTH 3300Child and Adolescent Health

3

CPSYC 2401Child Psychology

3

CPSYC 2402Child Homelessness

3

CPSYC 2437Equity & Inclusion for Children with Disabilities

3

CPSYC 3407Critical Issues in Infancy

3

CPSYC 3424Counseling Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

3

CSWRK 3450Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions

3

Family (3+ credits)

CPSYC 3427Family Interventions

3

CSWRK 4101Principles of Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups

3

CSOCS 3050Parenting Resilience

3

Children, Youth and Family Studies Policy (3+ credits)

CSWRK 2201Social Welfare Policy and Practice

3

CPLCY 3552Social Policy

3

CPLCY 4441Global Child and Family Policy

3