Minor in Childhood Studies

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-MINOR-NC-CHDS

The interdisciplinary minor is designed for students who have a child-related focus in their major and for those who want to explore the topic of childhood. This minor focuses on the study of issues concerning children and their representations, including their experiences in society within historical and contemporary cultures and global contexts. The curriculum fosters thinking about childhood theory, research, policy and the practical applications of this knowledge to decisions regarding children and youth. The minor provides enough flexibility for students to choose relevant courses in keeping with their primary interests.

Faculty

Dunne, Garcia-Gomez, Garner (director), Shadur

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.

Minor Requirements

Total credits: 16-17

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

Core Courses

Three to four credits of 3-4
Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film 1  
INTS 316 Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) 4
Total Credits 7-8
1

A maximum of 4 credits may be applied to the minor.

Electives

Select three courses from the following: 9
Children and Media  
Youth and Conflict  
Delinquency and the Juvenile Justice System  
Family Law and the Justice System  
Introduction to Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners  
Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education  
Individualized Supports and Specialized Care of Students with Severe Disabilities  
Human Growth and Development  
Human Development, Learning, and Teaching  
Children's Literature for Teaching in Diverse Settings (Mason Core)  
Children, Family, Culture, and Schools, 4-12 Year Olds  
The Hospitalized Child and Family  
Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)  
Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)  
Youth, Music, Social Change  
Youth Resistance and Advocacy  
Sport Based Youth Development  
Lifespan Development (Mason Core)  
Child Development  
Adolescent Development  
Behavior Disorders of Childhood  
Sociology of Delinquency  
Contemporary Families and Intimate Relationships  
Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core)  
Child and Family Welfare  
Total Credits 9