Child and Adolescent Development Concentration

The Child and Adolescent Development Concentration increases an industry knowledge, skills, and competencies for students entering the social and behavioral sciences professions that focus on working with children and adolescents. More specifically, this concentration will address the growing demand for child and adolescent professionals and equip students with the knowledge and skills in areas such as child and adolescent key developmental stages, child and adolescent diagnosis, assessment, and treatment modalities when working with these specialized populations. Children and adolescent mental health challenges are prevalent and increasing in communities. There is a need for well-trained individuals in play and therapeutic applications who can support and provide interventions for children and adolescents. This concentration will help meet the increasing demand for child and adolescent professionals, prepare students for careers in child and adolescent counseling, psychology, social work, and related fields, and foster a greater awareness and understanding of working with young people of various ages in various settings.

Program Details

Program Details:

• Requires 15 QH for completion
• Requires a minimum grade of "C" for each course in the concentration
• A minimum of 5 QH must be taken at NLU; transfer credit will be accepted for up to 10 QH/2 courses.
• The same courses may not be used to satisfy the concentration and program major or minor requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

PLO 1: Students will demonstrate an understanding of major theories and concepts related to child and adolescent development, including but not limited to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.

PLO 2: Students can apply developmental principles to analyze and interpret behaviors, experiences, and challenges children and adolescents encounter in various contexts.

PLO 3: Students will develop skills in assessing children and adolescents’ developmental needs and milestones through observation, evaluation, and interpretation of developmental assessments and milestones.

PLO 4: Students will recognize the influence of cultural, socioeconomic, and individual factors on child and adolescent development and demonstrate cultural competence in working with diverse populations.

PLO 5: Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex issues related to child and adolescent development and to propose evidence-based interventions and solutions.

Required Courses

Concentration

Required Courses

PSY 201	Psychology of Early Childhood	5
PSY 202	Psychology of Middle Childhood and Adolescence	5
PSY 325	Psychology of Play and Therapeutic Applications	5

Total Credit Hours: 15