Overview

The particular focus of the Child Development major is understanding the scientific study of the biological, cognitive, and social development of young humans. The major is excellent preparation for graduate study in selected social science and professional fields (e.g., psychology, medicine, nursing, education, and public policy) and offers an appropriate complementary (or second) major for undergraduate students simultaneously pursing a major in Cognitive Studies, Early Childhood or Elementary Education, Human and Organizational Development, or Special Education.

The curriculum is designed to ensure that students develop a background in the liberal arts and science and a clear understanding of the theories, major research findings, and research methods central to the field of Child Development. Additionally, students choose and develop an area of expertise in Child Development. Based on their interests, students select classes from the Liberal Education Core, composed of required and elective courses in Communication, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Science. A clear understanding of developmental theory and research central to the field is attained through the major core courses. These courses include an overview of Child Development, courses focused on particular aspects of human development (cognition; social and personality development), courses related to major epochs of child development (infancy and adolescence); and courses devoted to the major research methodologies in the field (experimental and psychometric). The major allows students to take a host of elective courses allowing individualization within the major.