Welcome to the Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies!
The Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies (CAFS) is an excellent fit for students interested in gaining knowledge about children, adolescents, and families. Students learn about and engage in research, practical application, and theory. Opportunities occur in the classroom and through engagement with faculty. The CAFS Department prepares students for a variety of careers including general and special education, counseling, social work, child life, school psychology, parent education, and youth organizing. Students are also well prepared to enter certificate, credential, and graduate programs post degree.
The CAFS Department houses two undergraduate BA programs (Early Childhood Development & Child and Adolescent Development), three minor options (Early Childhood, Child and Adolescent, & General Track) and one graduate program (MA in Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies). To learn more about our undergraduate options, click here. To learn more about our master's program, click here.
Roughly 700 students are served by 10 full-time and 8 part-time faculty. Our faculty are well renowned and have won awards such as the CSUSB Outstanding Professor Award, CSBS Outstanding Lecturer Award, CSBS Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, and CSUSB Golden Apple Award. To learn more about our amazing faculty, click here.
Each of our programs offers first-rate, state-of-the-art classroom instruction, as well as opportunities to apprentice with faculty mentors in a wide variety of research areas and community-based professional activities. Our faculty currently lead research laboratories focusing on key areas such as effective practices in early childhood education; beliefs and motivation; youth civic engagement; and cognitive training to increase school success. Faculty are also involved in campus and community initiatives housed under the Institute for Child Development and Family Relations including the KITS Parenting Program, Quality Start San Bernardino, and the Infant Toddler Lab School.
Our website is designed to help you locate information regarding our undergraduate and graduate programs, and to acquaint you with faculty teaching interests and ongoing research/projects. If you would like additional information after you have had a chance to page through, please send us your questions. Email us!
Sincerely,
Amanda Wilcox-Herzog
Professor and Chair