Gain Hands-On Experience
The child development degree focuses on knowledge about children in their environments, such as at home, at school and in the community. The goal is to help children and their families to develop and thrive regardless of birth or environmental circumstances.
In the Child Development programs, we facilitate our student's growth in knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will lead them to nurture children, celebrate and protect childhood, and fulfill their divine purpose. Depending on the emphasis chosen, graduates will have the skills necessary to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of children from conception through adolescence; provide a safe and nurturing environment; maintain facilities in compliance with appropriate standards; ensure a well-run, purposeful program that uses best practices; keep records; and work with families.
In the Child Development programs, we facilitate our student's growth in knowledge, skills, and dispositions that will lead them to nurture children, celebrate and protect childhood, and fulfill their divine purpose. Depending on the emphasis chosen, graduates will have the skills necessary to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of children from conception through adolescence; provide a safe and nurturing environment; maintain facilities in compliance with appropriate standards; ensure a well-run, purposeful program that uses best practices; keep records; and work with families.
Find out if this degree is right for you!
Watch expert advice on how to succeed in this major + career options
Highlighted Career Paths
Graduates with a degree in Child Development have a wide array of rewarding careers before them. Check out some of the top careers students get with this degree or explore more career options in I-Plan.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
In this career, you will plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. They may assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy.
Social and Human Service Assistants
Service assistants help other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. They may assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. Service assistants might also aid social workers with programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Getting Started in This Degree
If you are interested in Child Development, start with one of the following major-specific courses:
Related Majors
Students prepare to work closely with young children and their families in caring for children and educating families on how to do so. They will learn to build and keep family and community relationships.
This degree provides the knowledge and license to teach and help young children in general education and special education classes, as well as in home-based settings. Students will participate in multiple supervised intervention/teaching experiences with a partnered school district, on-campus lab, home, or center.
Elementary Education teachers are uniquely skilled in designing and delivering instruction to engage children in the learning process. The Elementary Education major prepares candidates to provide children with foundational skills necessary to continue learning throughout their lives and empowers young learners to reach their divine potential.
The Special Education program prepares students to work with individuals with special needs from kindergarten through age 21. Teacher candidates will demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of skills during multiple supervised practicum teaching experiences within partnered schools before beginning their student teaching experience.
Marriage and Family Studies prepares students for careers in family life education, human services, advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, and youth services. Through this program, students will learn principles and skills pertaining to healthy family functioning, including skills related to communication, advocacy, and conflict management.
Students learn about the family and what creates strong and healthy family relationships. Students choose an emphasis related to the family that they want to focus on, choosing from Child & Family Advocacy, Human Services, or Parent & Family Education.
Marriage and Family Studies prepares students for careers in family life, education, human services, advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, and youth services. Students learn valuable principles and skills pertaining to healthy family functioning, communication, advocacy, and conflict management.
This degree provides you with professional preparation to enter the work force. This degree is made to only be a two-year degree and is not intended to be transferable to a four-year college. This program is designed to help graduates become teachers or directors for different settings with child development.
Students gain knowledge in a variety of subjects related to families and consumers, including nutrition, clothing, interior design, child development, along with teaching knowledge and experience.