Program Overview: The Child and Family Studies graduate program offers an in-depth study of children, adults, and families along the life span. The program prepares individuals who are interested in studying and/or working with families in many settings, including human and social service agencies, and programs for youth, adolescents, and elders. The program focuses on family dynamics, how individuals within the family contribute to and are shaped by these dynamics, and how broad societal contexts influence individual and family functioning. In addition to our graduate program in CFS, we offer two concentrations to help graduate students plan an area of focus for their studies. The two concentrations are 1) child life and 2) family gerontology.  

Child Life Concentration: This concentration prepares students for a career as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), as designated by the Child Life Council, the governing organization that oversees this profession. CCLS helps normalize the hospitalization experience for children and families, and provides specific services that include preparations for medical procedures, coping skills for children during stressful health care experiences, support for siblings and parents, therapeutic medical play, planning and implementing activities to enhance growth and development, and interdisciplinary team involvement.  

Family Gerontology Concentration: This concentration focuses on aging within the context of families, more specifically the implications, support needs, and outcomes for adults and their family members as they age and the quality of their relationships across the life course. Child and Family Studies students who choose this concentration also will receive a graduate gerontology certificate to help them better prepare for careers advocating for and helping older adults and their family members.

Admissions Policy: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.

Transfer Policy: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities: Child and Family Studies graduate students find employment in many areas of human services, including child and family services, adolescent group homes, rehabilitation centers, community programs for the developmentally disabled, senior citizen centers and facilities, family planning centers, mental health agencies, probation services, emergency shelters, adult foster care, hospice, children’s hospitals, 4-H programs, and other agencies that assist families and individuals in crisis. The program also is designed to provide a strong foundation for those students who plan to advance into administration/supervisory positions in their current or future places of employment.