Child and Adolescent Development

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Child and Adolescent Development Program
HSS 339
415-338-2056
Fax: 415-405-0401
E-mail: cadp@sfsu.edu
Web Site: http://cad.sfsu.edu
Director: Rene F. Dahl

Marian Wright Edelman Institute for the Study of Children, Youth, & Families
SCI 394
415-405-3564
Director: Charlotte Ferretti

Faculty

Professors—Chaney, Dahl, Hanson, Lewis, Sands, Seashore, Spencer, Terrell

Associate Professors—Bunge, Ford, Henderson, Juang, Meier

Assistant Professors—Cookston, Rosegard, Stevenson

Programs

B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Young Child and Family
B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in School-age Child and Family
B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Youth and Family
B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Research and Public Policy

Program Scope

The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development is an interdisciplinary, cross-professional undergraduate degree for students interested in studying and working with issues related to children, adolescents, and families.

The Child and Adolescent Development program is housed in the Marian Wright Edelman Institute for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families. The mission of the institute is trifold: to further educational excellence through the delivery of the interdisciplinary child and adolescent development curriculum; to promote collaboration among faculty, and to create public outreach, social advocacy, and other partnerships between SFSU and the community; and to foster research and scholarly work in the area of children, youth, and families. The interdisciplinary faculty are members of departments from colleges across campus and are knowledgeable about careers in the field.

The child and adolescent development major is designed to convey a broad range of knowledge about child and adolescent development along with applications of this knowledge to services for children and families, as well as to research and public policy development. The core requirements introduce the student to child and adolescent development theory and practice with emphases on family systems and cultural diversity. The degree also includes specialized concentrations which focus on research and practice related to (1) the young child and family, (2) school-age child and family, (3) youth and family services, (4) public policy studies and research. Courses in the major include didactic in-class assignments, research, observation of children and youth, and a supervised internship.

The degree is designed to meet the education and career needs of students with a variety of interests. Those who wish to complete a bachelor's degree as well as a Child Development Permit for work as a licensed child care provider will choose the Young Child and Family concentration. Students who wish to teach in elementary schools will choose the School-Age Child and Family concentration. Others who wish to prepare for work in social service agencies such as residential treatment facilities for school-age children/youth and their families, after school programs, probation, recreation, or community-based programs for children and youth will choose specialized study in either the School-age Child and Family concentration or the Youth and Family concentration. Finally, students who are preparing for work in research or policy fields related to children, youth, and families, or who desire a foundation in child and adolescent development as preparation for advanced study in disciplines such as education, medicine, psychology, social work, counseling, or physical therapy, will select the Research and Public Policy concentration.

Career Outlook

The outlook for careers working with children and adolescents and their families is very good. Surveys of employers and community agencies which offer positions working with children, adolescents, and families indicate that there is a strong need for professionals in those areas. Graduates who want to work with young children and their families as infant-toddler/pre-school teachers or child care professionals are in high demand. There are 6,000 children in San Francisco alone on waiting lists for childcare programs. Recent research has documented that as many as 80% of early care and education programs fail to meet the minimum standards of quality. There is a strong need for well educated professionals to staff and administer quality child care programs.

Even with state fiscal changes and changes in requirements for teacher preparation, because of the increase in school age children in California and the significant numbers of teachers who plan to retire within the next few years, there is a demand for qualified, fully prepared professionals to teach kindergarten through 12th grade. U.S. Department of Labor data have shown that the teaching profession is one of the fastest growing need areas and this need is expected to continue for the next five to ten years. While students who are multiple subject candidates will no longer be eligible to complete a multiple subject matter preparation program in lieu of taking a Commission-approved subject matter examination (currently CSET), this degree is designed to strengthen pre-service preparation in child and adolescent development for students who still decide to take courses in the subject matter program, knowing that they will also have to take CSET.

A survey of local potential employers found that they want staff with a strong foundation of skills and knowledge about child and adolescent development. Employment opportunities are especially strong for graduates wanting to develop careers working with children, youth, and their families in the areas of infant-toddler/pre-school and K-5 teaching, and social services in public and private institutions. This degree also provides a firm foundation for graduates who wish to pursue post-baccalaureate education towards master's and doctoral degrees.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT

Prerequisites

Students should develop their program of study in consultation with a program adviser. Prior to enrolling in CAD 300, students must complete the following two courses (or equivalent courses at another institution which have been approved by a CAD program adviser). Note: students who plan to apply for the Child Development Permit should take PSY 330.

CFS 320, Children and Families
PSY 330, Child Development or PSY 431, Developmental Psychology

¹These two courses are included in the School Age and Family Concentration. Thus, students in the School Age and Family Concentration should not select this area to meet core requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Young Child and Family

This concentration has been developed for students who wish to work primarily in teaching and child care with young children (infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) and their families in schools and public or private institutions and agencies that service this population. The degree fulfills the requirements for the Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

*Do not select if taken in the core.

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in School Age Child and Family

This concentration has been developed for students who wish to work primarily with school age children and their families in a variety of settings from elementary schools to social service agencies and after school programs.

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Youth and Family

This concentration has been developed for students who wish to work primarily with adolescents and their families in public and private institutions and agencies. Course work prepares students who wish to work with this population, or with younger youth and children, in juvenile justice, recreation, residential treatment, social services, mental health, and public health.

*Do not select if taken in the core.

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development: Concentration in Research and Public Policy

This concentration has been developed for students who wish to pursue a career in the area of public policy development and/or who wish to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree in which advanced knowledge of theory and research methodology are required.