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.
Other Concentrations
The Childhood Studies concentration is designed to prepare students to understand childhood from an interdisciplinary perspective. 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. In addition, the program emphasizes collaboration and community involvement and incorporates study in child policy, parenting, and family development.
Undergraduate training in Childhood Studies also prepares students for graduate study in multiple Mason programs, including Educational Psychology, School Psychology, Special Education, Criminal Justice, Public Health, Social Justice and Human Rights, Social Work, Public Policy, among others. For a full list of Accelerated Master's Programs click here.
Graduate study in Childhood Studies beyond the Mason campus is also possible.
Childhood Studies is also offered as a university-wide minor and is a perfect supplement to programs of study in:
- Journalism/Mass Communications
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Human Development and Family Science
- Non-Profit Studies
- History
- Social Justice and Human Rights
- English
- Theater
- Digital Media
- Computer Game Design
Major Map
| First Year | Middle Years | Last Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academics |
Take required courses. Make a connection with a professor. Meet with your academic advisor at least once each semester your first year. Small classroom learning in this major Find scholarships. |
Meet with your advisor to choose courses and stay on track with meeting degree requirements. Declare/consider declaring your concentration. Consider a double major or a minor. Is a Bachelor to Accelerated Master's (BAM) program right for you? Apply as early as 60 credits! Reach out to faculty for research mentorship. |
Work closely with your advisor to verify you are meeting your graduation requirements. Apply for graduation. Take INTS 491 Senior Capstone (Mason Core). Consider submitting your research to CHSS Research Symposium.
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| Career and Professional Prep |
See what students and alumni say about this major. Visit the Career Services Center to start research on the types of jobs or industries you may find interesting (ex. Human Services, Nonprofit, Work Abroad, and more). Build a resume and LinkedIn profile to continue career exploration and develop your professional persona. Activate your Handshake profile to explore and opt-in to industry email lists. Start talking to professionals and faculty members via informational interviews to gain insight on their path through their career. |
Enroll in INTS 420: College to Career Skills. Look for internship opportunities using University Career Services and Handshake. Have an internship? Enroll in INTS 490: Internship to receive credit for internship. Discuss with multiple faculty and current professionals in the work force whether graduate school might be the right path for you. Consider graduate or professional schools in the United States or abroad. Prepare standardized admission tests for graduate or professional schools, if necessary. Apply for scholarships and fellowships. Create your own Career Advisory Board (pdf) Join student organizations related to your career field. Talk to your professors about your goals, and ask them about job or internship opportunities. Connect with Mason alumni who share your career interests and have a career conversation (docx) with them. Use job search sites specific to your career field. Attend career fairs and employer events where you can meet multiple representatives. International Students: Be informed of the latest immigration compliance rules and regulations for on-campus and off-campus work authorization. Contact the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) for more information. |
Specify prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least nine months before graduation. Finalize materials for post-graduation employment (such as your LinkedIn page, a portfolio, etc). For graduate school applications, prepare statement of purpose/goals statement, resume and/or CV, and notify the writers of your letters of recommendation before application deadlines.
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| Experiences |
Attend a meeting of (department-sponsored student club) to meet fellow majors and get involved in LinkedIn and Mason 360. Consider joining at least one Mason student org. Check them all out on Mason 360. Look ahead to planning a student abroad program through the Global Education Office. In the meantime, see what Northern Virginia and Washington DC have to offer!
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Meet people and become involved in the life of the college. Events and news for your major. Strengthen your leadership competency. Become a CHSS Ambassador. Become a CHSS Undergraduate Learning Assistant. |
Attend a regional or national research conference (Search for student discounts or complimentary for conference registration). Join professional associations (student discount membership may be available).
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