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 effectively 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.
