CWU Child Development and Family Science

CWU Child Development and Family Science Students can specialize in Child Development, Child Life, or Family Science. Family Science is the interdisciplinary study of what makes families successful.

The Child Development and Family Science program at CWU prepares individuals with the knowledge and skills to work with families and children in a rapidly changing world. A rapidly changing society has presented new and difficult challenges to family life. The Child Development and Family Science program prepares individuals with the knowledge, skills, and perspective they will need to work effect

ively with families and children to meet these challenges. Students can choose to specialize in Child Development, Child Life, or Family Science. Child Development is the study of how children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively from conception to adulthood. Students in the specialization apply child development theory to the practice of helping children across diverse settings, including child welfare and social service organizations. Graduates are prepared to work in community social service agencies, to provide family life education, or to pursue graduate school in family science, social work, marriage and family therapy, or other related fields. Students in the Child Life specialization learn skills to work with children and their families in diverse settings, and particularly in times of crisis. Graduates of the child life specialization are also prepared to pursue child life graduate studies, internships, and certification as Certified Child Life Specialists. Child Life Specialists are child development experts who help children and families cope during hospitalization. They promote coping through play, self-expression activities, and medical preparation. Students in the child life specialization are also prepared to work with children outside of the hospital context or to pursue graduate school in social work, marriage and family therapy, or related fields.

"More than Blue" documentary screening tonight in Ellensurg and tomorrow in Roslyn. Join us for a community discussion a...
05/29/2026

"More than Blue" documentary screening tonight in Ellensurg and tomorrow in Roslyn. Join us for a community discussion about postpartum depression and anxiety. Hope to see you there!

Congratulations to the incredible Child Development and Family Science students who presented at SOURCE this year! We're...
05/27/2026

Congratulations to the incredible Child Development and Family Science students who presented at SOURCE this year! We're so proud of you all - and special congrats to the award winners!

Meet our senior, Madi!Madi is a CDFS senior specializing in Child Life. She plans to become a child life specialist. Her...
05/20/2026

Meet our senior, Madi!

Madi is a CDFS senior specializing in Child Life. She plans to become a child life specialist. Her favorite CDFS course she took was play therapy because she got to learn many good interventions for children dealing with hospitalization. Some advice she wants to give to current and future students is to not be afraid to talk to new people in your major because they are all very friendly!

Congratulations Madi🎉

Meet our senior, Chloe!Chloe is a CDFS senior focusing in Family Science. She is going to be a social worker for the Dep...
05/20/2026

Meet our senior, Chloe!

Chloe is a CDFS senior focusing in Family Science. She is going to be a social worker for the Department of Children Youth and Families. Her favorite CDFS course was Child Development because it made her realize the passion she had for wanting to work with kids. A piece of advice she would give is to build relationships with your classmates and create friendships!

Congratulations Chloe🎉

CDFS End of Year Celebration is coming up! Join us on Tuesday June 2nd at 5:00pm in Michaelson 126!!
05/20/2026

CDFS End of Year Celebration is coming up! Join us on Tuesday June 2nd at 5:00pm in Michaelson 126!!

"More than Blue" documentary screening. Join us for a community discussion about postpartum depression and anxiety. Hope...
05/11/2026

"More than Blue" documentary screening. Join us for a community discussion about postpartum depression and anxiety. Hope to see you there!

Can you spot your favorite grad assistants and professors?
05/04/2026

Can you spot your favorite grad assistants and professors?

Attention child life alums! PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, OR is hiring a child life speciaist....
04/27/2026

Attention child life alums! PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, OR is hiring a child life speciaist. See the poster for more details.

01/16/2026

Attention parents! Can you help out some of our graduate students conducting research?

Are you a parent of a child between the ages of 5-11 years? Do you have time to take a short survey? I am doing a research project as part of the requirements for my master’s degree at Central Washington University. The goal of my study is to learn more about how play relates to children’s ability to cope with medical experiences. I would appreciate it if you could take 5-10 min from your busy day to complete my anonymous online survey. Please feel free to share the link with others!

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Address

400 E University Way MS:7565
Ellensburg, WA
98926

Telephone

(509) 963-2758

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