Child Development and Family Studies
Upon completion of the program students will be able to:
- Explain optimal growth and development from conception through adolescence in the areas of physical motor, cognitive, intellectual, language, creative, moral, social and emotional development.
- Interpret the interaction of individual, biosocial, and cultural influences shaping the child’s progress toward maturity from conception through adolescence.
- Explain the interconnections among factors affecting the development and maintenance of stable and satisfying relationships throughout the life cycle.
- Design, implement, administer, and evaluate child development education programs for infants, toddlers, and preschool children.
- Synthesize and justify their personal philosophy of guiding children based on individual style and developmental theory and research.
- Practice scientifically informed and ethically responsible social policy efforts, including use of appropriate communications technology (e.g. e-mail and the World Wide Web), so as to enhance the quality of life of children and families in home and community settings.
- Design, implement and evaluate parent education programs.
- Analyze socio-cultural phenomena such as child-rearing practices, gender roles, rites of passage, mate selection, marriage preparation, marriage customs, marriage satisfaction, kinship patterns, aging, death, and dying from a life cycle perspective in cross-cultural settings.
