Childcare
Teaching
Parent-child education
Administration:
Curriculum development
Training
Management
Private, public, franchise and corporate day care centers
Pre-schools and Montessori programs
Religious organizations
Extended school programs
Recreation programs and camps
Health clubs
Family day care
Independent families, nanny firms, and au pair services
Federal, state, and local government:
Department of Health and Human Services
Head Start
Obtain experience working with children through volunteer, intern or part-time positions.
Serve as a babysitter or nanny part-time during the semester or full-time in the summers.
Demonstrate patience, creativity and the ability to work well with people of various backgrounds.
Develop strong communications skills to deal effectively with students, staff, and parents.
Acquire appropriate certification, such as Child Development Associate (CDA) or Pre-K licensure for some pre-school settings. Certification varies by state.
Note that some religious affiliated employers seek staff whose values match their organizations’
missions.
Teaching:
Early childhood education
Early childhood special education
Home economics
Family and consumer sciences
Curriculum development
Research
Administration
Parent-child education
Grant writing
Higher education administration:
Admissions, financial aid. advising, development, alumni affairs, international education, study abroad, and student affairs (e.g., residence life, student activities, orientation, leadership, Greek life, multicultural affairs, recreational sports, etc.)
Public and private schools (K-12)
Public pre-school programs (Head Start)
Private pre-school programs
Montessori schools
Camps
Adult education programs
Extension offices
Colleges and universities
Acquire appropriate certification for teaching for public school (and some private school) varies by state.
Develop excellent interpersonal, public speaking and writing skills.
Learn to work well with different types of people.
Gain experience working with a desired age group through mentoring, tutoring or volunteering with a school-based organization.
Serve as a peer mentor, resident assistant or student advisor to cultivate leadership and communication skills.
Join student chapters of national teaching organizations.
Obtain graduate degree for student affairs and administrative positions.
A master’s degree may be sufficient for teaching at community or two-year institutions.
Pursue a doctoral degree for college and university teaching and research opportunities.
Case management
Counseling
Advocacy
Program development
Community education
Volunteer coordination
Administration
Research
Evaluation
Fundraising
Public relations
Grant writing
Community centers
Youth services agencies/programs
Family services agencies/programs (financial, family planning, health and wellness, marriage, vocational, food/housing assistance, military family support, etc.)
Senior citizens programs
Nursing homes
Assisted living facilities
Rehabilitation organizations
Group homes
Half-way houses
Shelters and emergency housing
Mediation centers
Consulting firms
Consumer protection agencies
Adoption agencies
Federal, state and local government:
Department of Health and Human Services:
Administration on Aging
Administration for Children and Families
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Health Resources & Services Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Defense
Department of Justice:
Probation and parole offices
Correctional facilities
Exhibit a desire to help others, along with communication and organizational skills.
Seek experience as a volunteer, intern or paid employee with social service or non-profit organizations.
Become familiar with government and community resources available for those in need.
Develop a wide range of skills such as presenting, grant writing and fundraising, as professionals in nonprofit organizations may fill multiple roles in their positions.
Learn to work well with different types of people from varying socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Supplement curriculum with courses in social work, sociology, and psychology.
Pursue additional coursework to specialize in an area or with a certain population such as addiction, gerontology, child welfare, etc.
Demonstrate the ability to make sound decisions and solve problems.
Develop solid technology skills to utilize relevant software or systems.
Consider earning Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential through the National Council on Family Relations.
Become familiar with government hiring procedures and seek assistance with the process from campus career center.
Obtain a master’s degree and appropriate licensure in mental health counseling, social work or rehabilitation counseling to provide therapy.
Earn a graduate degree for greater access to administrative positions.
Policy development
Program administration
Fundraising/Development
Volunteer coordination
Grant writing
Development:
Economic
Community
Housing
Domestic and international advocacy
Humanitarian services (e.g. human rights, family planning, world health, disaster relief)
Community action agencies
Nonprofit organizations focusing on a variety of issues (e.g., disability services, juvenile justice, child safety, etc.)
Private voluntary organizations
State and local government agencies
Faith-based organizations (FBO’s) and churches
International aid and relief organizations
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs; e.g., Action Aid, Oxfam, International Red Cross, etc.)
Federal government agencies:
International focus:
E.g., Peace Corps, USAID, Foreign Service (State Department), etc.
Community assistance focus:
E.g. Housing and Urban Development, Department of Health and Human Services, etc.
Demonstrate strong desire to help others.
Volunteer at social service agencies to gain experience and demonstrate interest.
Participate in humanitarian trips over breaks to gain experience assisting groups in need.
Obtain Certified Family Life Educator credential.
Pursue leadership roles in campus and community advocacy organizations, and learn how to motivate individuals and groups.
Develop excellent research, writing, communication and organizational skills; fundraising experience may be helpful for some positions.
Complete an internship with a government organization in area of interest.
Research federal, state and local job application procedures.
Hospitals
Doctors’ offices
Healthcare facilities
Specialized camps/schools
Federal, state and local government:
Department of Health and Human Services:
Administration on Aging
Administration for Children and Families
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Health Resources & Services Administration
Hospice programs
Funeral homes
Social service organizations
Public health programs
Hospital based family support/Child life services (e.g., provide emotional support, educate children and families, identify resources, coordinate events)
Health, nutrition, safety education
Advocacy
Volunteer in a healthcare setting such as a hospital or specialized children’s camp.
Develop a high comfort level working in clinical environments with children and families under stress.
Acquire strong communication skills, and plan to work on interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, counselors, etc. who provide care to children.
Obtain Child Life Specialist certification through the Association of Child Life Professionals, and be willing to relocate for greater access to positions in children’s hospitals.
Prepare to work nights, weekends and holidays in some healthcare settings.
Earn a master’s degree in social work, counseling, nutrition, public health or related area for increased opportunities.
Market research
Product testing
Product development
Administration
Management
Sales
Customer service
Children manufacturing companies (e.g., clothes, toys, furniture, food, etc.)
Consumer protection agencies
Department and retail stores
Child-centered recreational businesses, (e.g., gyms, bounce houses, dance studios)
Camps
Social service organizations with business components (e.g., tax assistance, financial planning, etc.)
Demonstrate initiative, attention to detail, organization and problem-solving skills.
Learn to communicate effectively with a wide-range of people.
Consider taking interpersonal communication and public speaking classes.
Earn a business minor or supplement program with courses such as accounting, management, finance, etc. to increase understanding of business theory.
Obtain sales/retail experience with companies catering to children’s needs.
Join business or retail student organizations and secure leadership positions.
Research
Curriculum/Resource development
Journalism
Writing
Editing
Public relations
Organizations geared toward children and families:
Book publishers
Radio and TV stations
Newspapers
(Organizations continued)
Manufacturers
Consumer protection agencies
Professional associations
(Organizations continued)
Social service organizations
Magazines
Internet sites
Develop excellent grammar and writing skills.
Learn to think critically and research effectively.
Take elective courses in the communications field such as journalism, broadcasting, public relations and advertising, or earn a minor in one area of interest.
Obtain experience with a college newspaper, yearbook, alumni publication or with local radio or television stations.
Compile a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns and other relevant work, especially those that have been published.
Develop desktop publishing, webpage design and other computer skills.
Pursue an active role, preferably leadership, in journalism organizations.
Prepare to work in deadline-oriented environments and to withstand criticism.
A Bachelor’s degree is sufficient for entry-level positions.
Advanced degrees are essential for clinical and therapeutic counseling positions.
The Child and Family Studies major serves as preparation for students pursuing advanced training in other areas such as healthcare (e.g., pediatric nursing, family medicine, etc.); law (e.g., family law, elder law, child advocacy, etc.); and ministry (e.g., youth ministry, pastoral counseling, etc.). Research admissions requirements and take prerequisite courses for programs of interest.
A graduate degree is often needed for administrative and supervisory positions.
A doctoral is required for most college teaching and advanced research positions.
Additional or specialized training qualifies one for higher paying opportunities and positions of greater responsibility.
Obtain part-time, summer, internship, or volunteer experience in child care, schools, hospitals, camps, or overseas programs in advocacy, addressing alcoholism, drug abuse, family violence, aging, poverty, disabilities, etc.
Get involved in student organizations and seek leadership positions on campus.
Research certification options for specialized areas including Child Development Associate, Child Life Specialist, or Certified Family Life Educator.
Obtain certification in CPR, safety and first aid for infants, children and adults. Some positions will require this.
Research certification options with the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.