This interdisciplinary major prepares students to become professionals who work within agencies that help children, adolescents, and their families.  The major recognizes that these individuals need both broad-based coursework and experiences in a variety of settings, and emphasizes both the understanding human development and the social context of development.

Student Opportunities

Internships

Students complete internships in a variety of settings that range from administration in educational and social service settings to public and private school classrooms to outreach programs in state, local and private settings. For example:

• Students interested in serving as a director of a childcare center or want to start their own center complete internships with the Director of the Muskingum University Center for Child Development.  They focus on understanding finances, staff development and support, state licensing rules and regulations, defining and implementing quality care, Center policies and procedures, record keeping, family relationships, and standards and assessment.
• Students interested in social services complete internships with County Health Departments, Job and Family Services, and Children Services.  Experiences include learning the structure and function of the agency, working directly with clients, attending workshops and seminars, understanding agency policies and procedures, record keeping, and team building skills.
  

Research

Students have completed research for senior seminars and research internships on a variety of topics.  For example:

• Students have surveyed parents of young children and professionals in early childhood education on their understanding of quality care and characteristics of quality care. 
• Others have focused on the roles different health care provides play given the parents’ perspective. 
• Other research topics include personality development and the family, and parents and young adults’ relationships.
  

Professional Activities

Students are encouraged to attend the Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children, the Zane Trace Association for the Education of Young Children, the Midwestern Psychological Association, and other relevant conferences, workshops, and seminars held in the area. 

After Graduation

Where Muskingum graduates in CFST have found employment in recent years:

• Head Start
• Help Me Grow
• Children Services
• Job and Family Services
• Private pre-schools
• Public pre-schools
• Camps that serve terminally ill children
• Counseling services working with adolescents and adults
• State, local, and private agencies, as service coordinators
  
  

Mission Statement

Courses; Major/Minor Requirements

Faculty

List of All Majors