Bachelor of Science in Child Development (Mental Health)

Website: https://twu.edu/human-sciences/undergraduate-programs/child-development/

The B.S. in Child Development with a Mental Health Emphasis prepares students for a variety of professional roles focused on serving the needs of children and their families. Potential roles include parent education, teaching young children, administration of children’s programs, public and private agencies focused on children and families, early childhood intervention, child advocacy, and other roles requiring similar knowledge and skills. The Mental Health Emphasis track also introduces students to the mental health field and prepares students to enter graduate programs in those fields.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Design developmentally appropriate activities for children.
  2. Developmental assessment skills​.
  3. Written communication skills​.
  4. Interpersonal skills​.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120   

Major: 64 SCH

Program Code: CHLDDEV.BS.METHLTH ;   CIP Code: 19.0706.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I (10)3
ENG 1023Composition II (10)3
Mathematics (20)3
Life & Physical Sciences (30)6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40)3
Creative Arts (50)3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60)3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60)3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government (70)3
POLS 2023Texas Government (70)3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (80)3
CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90)3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91)3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

Lower Level Courses
HDFS 1001Seminar in Family Sciences (Take first or second semester)1
HDFS 1513Human Development3
HDFS 2003Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective3
HDFS 2503Development of Infants and Toddlers3
HDFS 2513Early Childhood Development3
HDFS 2563Childhood Guidance3
Choice of 4 additional HDFS courses12
Upper Level Courses
HDFS 3423Play and Development in Early Childhood3
HDFS 3323Separation and Loss3
HDFS 3513Childhood and Adolescence3
HDFS 3523The Care and Education of Children: A Global Perspective3
HDFS 3533Research Methods in Family Sciences3
HDFS 3613Crisis in the American Family3
HDFS 4923Professional Development in Family Sciences (Grade of "B" or higher required)3
COUN 4003Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
HDFS 4013Development of Psychopathology3
MFT 4023Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy3
HDFS 4943Practicum in Family Sciences (Last semester. Grade of "B" or higher required)3
Option: Select two upper-level courses from the following6
Communication and the Family
Developmental Sexuality
Parenting Issues and Education
Culturally Competent Practice
Juvenile Delinquency
Total SCHs67

Departmental Requirements

PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology3

Electives

Electives11
Total SCHs11

Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
HDFS 1513Human Development 3
Mathematics Core3
Elective2
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HDFS 1001Seminar in Family Sciences (Must take in 1st or 2nd semester) 1
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core2
HDFS 2503Development of Infants and Toddlers 3
HDFS Lower Level Choice3
 SCHs 15
Second Year
FallTCCN
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core3
Life/Physical Science Core3
HDFS 2513Early Childhood Development TECA 13543
HDFS Lower Level Choice3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Life/Physical Science Core3
HDFS 2003Diversity in Contemporary Families: A Global Perspective 3
HDFS 2563Childhood Guidance 3
HDFS Lower Level Choice3
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
Creative Arts Core3
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
HDFS Lower Level Choice3
HDFS 3423Play and Development in Early Childhood 3
HDFS 3613Crisis in the American Family 3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HDFS 3533Research Methods in Family Sciences 3
HDFS 3513Childhood and Adolescence 3
HDFS 3523The Care and Education of Children: A Global Perspective 3
HDFS 3323Separation and Loss 3
COUN 4003Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling 3
 SCHs 15
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
HDFS 4013Development of Psychopathology 3
HDFS 4923Professional Development in Family Sciences 3
Upper-level course option3
Electives6
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
MFT 4023Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy 3
HDFS 4943Practicum in Family Sciences 3
Upper-level course option3
Elective3
 SCHs 15
 Total SCHs:  120

*Please note that this plan of study does not include summer semesters. Students can take fewer courses during fall and spring if they opt to take courses during the summer.