Child and Family Studies
What is Child and Family Studies? (from http://www.albright.edu/catalog/soc-childfam.html)
“The interdisciplinary major in child and family studies (sociology and psychology) is designed for students interested in studying the sociology of the family as well as the psychological aspects of child socialization and development. The psychosocial perspective of this program provides an ideal academic preparation for students interested in working with children, either in the context of education or human services.”
What are the career opportunities for a Child and Family Studies Graduate?
Related Career Titles
| After-School Program Director | Adoption Professional |
| CampDirector | Child Care Center Director |
| Child/Family Researcher | Child Life Specialist |
| Child Welfare Professional | Child and Family Counselor |
| Foster Care Professional | Head Start |
| Preschool Teacher/Director | Advocacy Program |
| Admissions Counselor | Mental Health Worker |
| Youth Program Director | Health Educator |
| Delinquency Counselor | Parole/Probation Officer |
| Alcohol/Drug Case Worker | Welfare Counselor |
| Social Worker | Therapeutic Staff Support |
Learn more about the occupations listed above by going to http://www.bls.gov/
How do you get ready?
- Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for entry-level positions.
- Advanced degrees are essential for clinical and therapeutic counseling positions.
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. is often needed for administrative and supervisory positions.
- Ph.D. is required for college teaching and advanced research positions.
- Additional or specialized training qualifies one for higher paying jobs and positions of greater responsibility.
- Obtain part-time, summer, internship, or volunteer experience in child care, schools, hospitals, camps or overseas programs or in advocacy or service-oriented programs dealing with alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, aging, poor or disabled populations.
- Obtain certification in CPR, safety and first aid for adults, children and infants.
- Develop interest and gain experience in computers, arts, crafts, music or physical activity.
- Obtain certification for specialized areas including Child Life Specialist or Child Advocacy.
Related Major Skills
| Interpersonal communication (oral and written) | Engage in ethical practices |
| Knowledge of human development & behavior | Problem solving |
| Able to observe, analyze and interpret Information | Decision making |
| Concern for and sensitivity to others | Interviewing techniques |
| Critical and inferential thinking | Good listener |
| Insight to deal effectively with people | Able to promote healthy relationships |
| Knowledge of community resources | Research and planning |
| Knowledge of social structures and change | Interact well with diverse cultures/groups |
| Statistical abilities | Work well under pressure |
| Ability to resolve or mediate conflicts | Understanding of group dynamics |
What about the future?
“Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increased demand for healthcare and social services, but will vary by social worker specialty.”
For more specific job outlook information regarding related occupations, refer to http://www.bls.gov/
Available at Albright College Career Development’s Resource Library
- Great Jobs for Sociology Majors, by Stephen Lambert
- Careers for Caring People and Other Sensitive Types, Adrian Paradis
- Careers for Good Samaritans and Other Humanitarian Types, by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler
- Careers for Kids At Heart and Others Who Adore Children, by Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler
- Careers for Legal Eagles and Other Law–and–Order Types, by Blythe Camenson
- Careers for Mystery Buffs and Other Snoops and Sleuths, by Blythe Camenson
- Careers for Number Crunchers and Other Quantitative Types, by Rebecca Burnett
- Careers for Scholars and Other Deep Thinkers, by Blythe Camenson
- Careers in Criminology, by Marilyn Morgan
- Careers in Sociology, by W. Richard Stephens, Jr.
- Opportunities in Child Care Careers, by Renee Wittenberg
- Opportunities in Federal Government Careers, by Neale Baxter
- Opportunities in Gerontology and Aging Services Careers, by Ellen Williams
- Opportunities in Hospital Administration Careers, by I. Donald Snook, Jr.
- Opportunities in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Careers, by James Stinchcomb
- Opportunities in Social Science Careers, by Rosanne J. Marek
- Opportunities in Social Work Careers, by Renee Wittenberg
- Opportunities in State and Local Government Careers, by Neale Baxter
Disclaimer
Links to Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement by Albright College Experiential Learning and Career Development Center.
Job and Internship Search Links
- American Psychological Association, http://www.psyccareers.com/
- Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, http://www.appic.org/
- AmeriCorps, http://www.americorps.gov
- Charity Navigator, http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.advanced.htm
- Chronicle of Philanthropy, http://www.philanthropy.com/
- Human Services Career Network, http://www.hscareers.com/
- Work for Good, https://www.workforgood.org/
- PeaceCorps, http://www.peacecorps.gov/
- PsycCareers, http://www.apa.org/ads/
- Social Psychology Network, http://www.socialpsychology.org/forums/jobforum/
- Social Service, http://www.socialservice.com
- Social Work Job Bank, http://www.socialworkjobbank.com
- United Way, http://national.unitedway.org/
- Society for I/O Psychology, http://www.siop.org/JobNet/
Federal Links
- S. Federal Government Employment http://www.usajobs.gov/
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, http://www.hud.gov/jobs/index.cfm
Career Planning Links
- American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work, http://www.abecsw.org
- American Counseling Association, http://www.counseling.org
- Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, http://www.acosa.org
- Association of Social Work Boards (licensure), http://www.aswb.org
- Council on Social Work Education (accredited programs), http://www.cswe.org
- Eye on Psi Chi, http://www.psichi.org/?page=welcome#.VcpIzLU0N2A
- Psych Web, http://www.psywww.com
- Social Psychology Network (info for all areas of psychology), http://www.socialpsychology.org
- Early Childhood http://www.earlychildhood.org/
Professional Associations Links
- American Counseling Association, http://www.counseling.org/
- American Psychological Association, http://www.apa.org
- National Association of Social Workers, http://www.naswdc.org/
- American Sociological Association, http://www.asanet.org
- National Board of Certified Counselors, http://www.nbcc.org
- National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org/
- Society for Research in Child Development http://www.srcd.org/
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