The Child and Family Studies graduate program offers a more in-depth study of children, adults, and families along the life span. The program prepares individuals who are interested in studying and/or working with families in many settings, including human and social service agencies, and programs for youth, adolescents, and elders. The program focuses on family dynamics, how individuals within the family contribute to and are shaped by these dynamics, and how broad societal contexts influence individual and family functioning.

Program Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate their theoretical and practical knowledge about current approaches to helping people in their chosen field within the profession;
• Acquire increasingly complex intellectual skills by demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the intricate cognitive, emotional and physiological interactions that govern human relationships;
• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the research process, including the analysis, synthesis, and critical integration of data into a professional research format.

Child Life: This concentration prepares students for a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), as designated by the Child Life Council, the governing organization that oversees this profession. The CCLS helps normalize the hospitalization experience for children and families, and provides specific services that include preparations for medical procedures, coping skills for children during stressful health care experiences, support for siblings and parents, therapeutic medical play, planning and implementing activities to enhance growth and development, and interdisciplinary team involvement. In addition to core cores in the Child and Family studies program, students in this concentration are required to take courses child life foundations and theory, psychology, and early childhood and special education. Applicants having volunteer experiences (50 minimum) in a child life department within a hospital will be given priority application review, so we highly encourage applicants to begin volunteering before the fall semester they are applying.