Child Development & Family Relations

Our Child Development and Family Relations major helps students understand how human beings develop physically, emotionally and intellectually throughout their lives, as well as how families and relationships of all forms take shape. Our curriculum provides a solid foundation in issues and policies affecting, and best-practices for serving, infants and young children, at-risk youth, families, individuals with disabilities, the elderly and more.

A photo of children seated in a semicircle on the floor of a classroom while student teachers interact with them.

Program Overview

Students in our Child Development and Family Relations major can choose between two concentrations: Individual and Family Studies or Early Childhood Education. The Individual and Family Studies concentration allows students to explore various issues related to building stronger, healthier communities and human relationships. The program covers a broad range of perspectives and policies, connecting research to practice, so that graduates are prepared for careers providing opportunities and experiences that support individuals and families in context. The Early Childhood Education concentration allows students to become certified as K-3 teachers in Maine. The heart of this program is the professional and research experience students gain at the Katherine Miles Durst Child Development Learning Center, a state-licensed and nationally-accredited nursery school and prekindergarten program open to children ages 33 months to 5 years throughout the community. Prior to graduation, students in both concentrations complete an internship or capstone field experience that aligns with their personal and career goals. Examples include student teaching, or working with any organization that serves children, families or individuals.

The College of Education and Human Development’s teacher preparation programs are nationally accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

The Child Development and Family Relations major prepares professionals to work with children and families in a variety of rewarding and growing careers. Students examine the growth and development of individuals in the contexts of schools, communities and families. Study may focus on individuals at various times in the lifespan (e.g., early childhood, adolescence, adulthood) with special attention to the family context. The program provides a strong foundational knowledge of the various forms of family life (e.g., single parent families, two parent families, foster families). Learn more about our concentrations:

Our faculty have a deep commitment to quality teaching, advising and mentoring. They have expertise in a variety of areas, including child development, sexuality, parenting/co-parenting and clinical counseling practice. Students can work with faculty as research assistants, helping conduct studies and developing their own skills and abilities by applying the concepts and theories covered in their coursework. Child Development and Family Relations majors can join Kappa Omicron Nu, the human sciences honor society. In addition, we encourage our students to gain an international perspective on children and families through our short travel study courses to Mexico and Europe.

Students in the College of Education and Human Development also have the option of studying in the Honors College, which offers intensive work in small classes, as well as the chance to pursue undergraduate research. The undergraduate program in Child Development and Family Relations is an excellent springboard for graduate study in programs such as Social Work, Psychology, Education and more.

Student Learning Outcomes

While students have the option to pursue multiple pathways to obtain their degree in Child Development and Family Relations, on completion all students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of development across the life span
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the multiple influences on individual and family development
  • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and apply research and theory to practice and policy
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity within and across families and cultures
  • Demonstrate professional skills in their field experience (e.g., teaching, administration, program development and evaluation, research, case management, parent-child education, home economics, curriculum development)

Assessment
Our program conducts annual assessments of courses, students, and capstone experiences.

Student Evaluation
Our students are evaluated prior to program entry to ensure they meet entrance requirements, and at exit to ensure they have met all requirements at an acceptable level of performance. Students admitted to the program are assigned a faculty advisor whom they meet with twice a year (minimally) for course advisement, program progress check, academic performance review, and any concerns or questions that may arise.

Course Evaluation
Students’ performance is tracked in all courses across all instructors to ensure performance requirements are met. Each instructor is evaluated and each instructor’s syllabus is reviewed to ensure it complies with program, college and university requirements. The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) are assessed across the scope of courses and all syllabi must include SLOs and assessments tied to the identified SLOs for the course.

Supervisor Evaluation
All of our graduates complete a capstone experience (e.g., working in a community service agency or student teaching) in their final semester. Their internship or student teaching supervisor evaluates each student and these results are shared with the program coordinator and faculty advisors.

(Student Learning Outcomes updated Dec. 2024)

Possible career paths include:

  • Daycare staff/owner
  • Preschool teacher
  • Family support professional
  • Crisis worker
  • Child life specialist
  • Parent educator
  • Family/child advocate
  • Family resource coordinator
  • Youth counselor
  • Family respite worker
  • Family Life Educator
  • Early Intervention
  • Case/care manager
  • Activity/recreation director

For students wishing to continue on to graduate school, a degree in Child Development and Family Relations is great preparation for a variety of graduate programs, including:

  • Social Work
  • Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Law
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Public Administration/Nonprofit Leadership
  • Psychology/Certified Professional Counselor
  • Medicine
  • School Counseling
  • Speech Pathology
  • Reading/Literacy Specialist

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) statement

This program will prepare students to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.

If you are interested in exploring Child Development and Family Relations while majoring in another subject, consider declaring a minor. Click the link below for more information.

For the latest information on undergraduate tuition and fees, please visit the University of Maine Bursar’s Office.

Visit go.umaine.edu to fill out the online application and check out information about academic and student life at UMaine.

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Student Support

We provide our students with academic guidance and personal support from before they set foot on campus through graduation and beyond. Our professional advising team and student support staff build genuine relationships and provide timely information to help you navigate your program, college life, internships, work and whatever else is on your plate.

Advising Center

Our Commitments: Care. Quality. Career.

At the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development, our students, faculty, staff and alumni work to bring a vibrant tomorrow to the communities we serve and to the world. This work is rooted in the college’s commitments to care, quality and career readiness.

We are an inclusive community that thrives on curiosity, exploration, ingenuity and collaboration. Click below to learn more about our commitments, and apply to join our community of care today.

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