Child & Family Development

Child & Family Development Fundamentals

A career in the field of child and family development offers opportunities to improve and enrich the lives of children as well as adults of all ages. At the undergraduate level:

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Child & Family Development

What do you study while earning a degree in Child & Family Development?

  • Human development,
  • Family dynamics (including family crisis)
  • Health and nutrition
  • Diversity Issues with families and children (including families living in poverty)
  • Family financial/consumer Issues
  • Application in child and family development
  • Early childhood programs

Our Faculty

  • are talented, caring, highly qualified
  • place a premium on personal attention
  • work side-by-side with students to help turn aspirations into accomplishments

      Akron Advantage

      Real world experience

      • Internships enable students to gain hands-on professional experience and to network within their fields. As part of the undergraduate degree requirements in Child & Family Development, students complete a 120-hour internship at a community site that is chosen with the assistance of their faculty adviser.
      • When they graduate, many of our students have already received job offers because of their internships.

      Child and Family Development Student Organizations

      Interact with other students and professionals in the field through organizations such as:

      • Family Studies Association (FSA)
      • Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society
      • University Association for the Education of Young Children

      Sample Curriculum

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      For More Information:

      Child & Family Development

      Contact: Dr. Shannon R. Zentall

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      Career Opportunities

      Graduates in Child & Family Development  can be found in such varied settings as:

      • child development centers
      • parent education programs
      • Head Start
      • marriage enrichment programs
      • children’s museums
      • public television stations
      • Children’s shelters
      • drug and alcohol programs
      • retirement homes
      • family services
      • child advocacy programs
      •  hospitals
      • community outreach initiatives
      • child care services for military families
      • information and referral agencies
      • guardian programs

            Career Services

            Career Services helps students and alumni explore and reach career goals. They connect students to employers for internships, jobs, and careers.