Childhood Studies Concentration

The program provides students with an in-depth understanding of childhood in historical, contemporary, and global contexts and prepares them for careers in a wide variety of areas, including preschool teaching, child welfare and advocacy, child health and wellness, juvenile justice, youth programming, and other human services areas.

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-BA-INTS-CHDS

The Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies brings together research, theory and practice across numerous disciplines. Integrative studies majors select a multidisciplinary concentration or work with student services staff to develop their own concentration, uniquely suited to their academic and career goals. Integrative studies majors explore new topics and experiences while gaining the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce.  Required coursework is offered in small classes with ample room for discussion, collaborative learning, and experiential learning, including in-community projects, volunteer opportunities, field work, internships and work with faculty on research that directly engages current social and global challenges.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Policies

Integrative studies students may fulfill lower level Mason Core requirements through approved integrative studies (INTS) coursework. Students pursuing a BA in integrative studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 18 credits at the 300 and 400 levels. These 30 INTS credits fulfill the writing intensive and synthesis Mason Core requirements. In addition, students must complete ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core).

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing a BA in Integrative Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.

Integrative studies students complete INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies and INTS 491 Senior Capstone and choose a concentration from the options below. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.

Required Course

INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies 1
INTS 491 Senior Capstone 3
Total Credits 4

Concentration in the Major

A concentration is the equivalent of a major in a traditional degree program. Concentration coursework combines integrative studies (INTS) classes with coursework from other Mason units (departments, schools, and colleges). While fulfilling the concentration requirements, students are also responsible for completing a minimum of 30 credits of INTS coursework. Any INTS courses required for the concentration will apply. Students must present a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses applied to the concentration.

Concentration in Childhood Studies (CHDS)

Provides students with an in-depth understanding of childhood in historical, contemporary, and global contexts and incorporates study in child policy, parenting, and family development.  This concentration prepares students for:

  • graduate studies in fields such as educational / school psychology, special education, social work, social justice & human rights, public policy
  • careers in nonprofit leadership, child welfare and advocacy, juvenile justice

Students complete the following coursework:

Seven Required Courses (minimum of 23 credits) 
INTS 312 Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film 3-6
INTS 316 Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) 4
INTS 317 Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core) 4
or INTS 321 Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)
PSYC 100 Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) 3
PSYC 211 Lifespan Development (Mason Core) 3
PSYC 313 Child Development 3
STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) 3-4
or SOCI 313 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
Total Credits 23-27
Additional Courses
Select three courses from the following: 9-18
Children and Media  
Youth and Conflict  
Critical Study of Children's Literature  
Health Interventions for Vulnerable Populations  
Conflict Resolution and Transformation  
Violence, Gender, and Sexuality  
Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)  
Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)  
The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)  
Youth, Music, Social Change  
Youth Resistance and Advocacy  
Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)  
Strategies for Nutrition Education  
Community Nutrition  
Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle  
Nutrition and Chronic Illnesses  
Nutrition and Weight Management: Obesity, Anorexia, and Bulimia  
Sport Based Youth Development  
Adolescent Development  
Personality Theory  
Psychopathology  
Psychology of Gender  
Behavior Disorders of Childhood  
Child and Family Welfare  
Sociology of Delinquency  
Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core)  
Other relevant courses with approval of advisor
 
Total Credits 9-18

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120.