Are you interested in: 

• Children and being with them
• Balancing wonder with maturity
• Challenges
• Diversity
• Using creative energy in a playful, dynamic setting
  
  

The mission of the child development program is to offer an interdisciplinary program of study that prepares students to pursue careers in early childhood settings and agencies serving young children and their families, and to pursue graduate and professional studies. The philosophy underlying this program is that children develop within an ecological framework that includes the complex interrelationships among the child, the family, and their diverse culture, and the society at large. The program develops in students the knowledge and skills to promote the application of a developmental perspective to their work with children and families, to establish partnerships between families and child development professionals that reflect family-centered practices, and to provide educational and community programming that is inclusive of all children. Students may choose to pursue teacher licensure in Birth to Kindergarten (B-K) or K-6. All students in their senior year complete a clinical internship in a variety of settings that serve young children and their families.

Types of jobs:

• Teaching in public schools and in early care and education
• Early intervention
• Community-based services and non-profit organizations (e.g., YMCA, Child Care Services Association)
• Childcare consultant
• Administration (e.g., directors, coordinators)
• Case managers, service coordinators
  
  

Attend graduate school for:

• Child development
• Early intervention and family support
• Allied health disciplines (speech & language, occupational therapy, or physical therapy), if interested in a pediatric focus
• Recreational therapy
• Master or Ph.D. in child development (including child life)
• Master or Ph.D. in early childhood special education or early education
  
  

Options for the major:

• B.S. in child development
  • B-K licensure
  • K-6 licensure
• Experiential learning (e.g., practica with diverse children in early childhood, early intervention, and public school settings, infancy through kindergarten)
• Service learning (e.g., Head Start, home visiting, mentor families)
• Study abroad opportunities specific to the child development major in Sansepolcro, Italy (Meredith College) and Copenhagen, Denmark (Danish Institute for Study Abroad)
• Undergraduate research
• Exploring child life and other internship options
  
  

Professional associations:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children www.naeyc.org
• North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children www.ncaeyc.org
• The Division for Early Childhood www.dec-sped.org
• North Carolina Infant Mental Health Association www.ncimha.org
• Society for Research in Child Development www.srcd.org
• Zero to Three www.zerotothree.org
• Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society kon.org
  
  

Career outlook:

Students are highly sought after and actively recruited by public school systems, early care and education programs, and graduate school programs.
Childcare center director
Preschool educator
Elementary school teacher

Additional information:

Meredith’s child development major »