Mission Statement

Programs in Child Development and Family Science provide students an engaging, applied, and transformative learning experience, preparing them for professions helping children and families in community, government, and medical fields. Students apply their classroom learning through hands-on experiences in the community, and gain new knowledge by participating in closely mentored research projects. As a result, students learn highly marketable skills to be competitive and successful in their chosen fields, and through strong professional preparation, can transform their passions for working with people into a career. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

We, the faculty and staff in Child Development and Family Science, are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive learning environment for all students. As faculty, we recognize our privilege, and work to ensure our students know they and their perspectives are valued. We strive to build a strong community within our department to ensure all students feel welcome and that they belong here. Our goal is to create learning experiences that harness individuals' strengths and also promote collaboration and collegiality.

We affirm there is no one right way to be a family, and we honor the diversity of family forms that enable people to thrive. We work to recognize areas where we and our larger disciplines have discounted the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and we actively seek to uplift the voices of these and other marginalized groups. Our curriculum prepares students to support children, youth, and families from diverse backgrounds and to be advocates and allies for social justice in their future careers. As such, we expect students in our programs and courses to actively engage in the lifelong process of critical self-reflection; to recognize and work to dismantle power imbalances; and to build relationships based on trust and respect. 

More information about academic programs in Child Development and Family Science

Please contact Dr. Amy Claridge for additional information.