PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
Program Description
The Child and Adolescent Development (CHAD) major focuses on the developmental processes that occur from conception through the end of adolescence. Students gain a comprehensive overview of typical and atypical development through exploration of empirically derived milestones across biological, cognitive, and psychosocial developmental domains. Course topics focus on developmental trajectories, theories, developmental research methods, ethics, and contexts of development. Throughout the curriculum, special emphasis is placed on the interaction of the individual and environment in the unfolding of development. Students acquire knowledge through exposure to relevant scientific literature, research projects, observations, and fieldwork. The curriculum provides students with a variety of tools to acquire, communicate, and disseminate information so that they may develop a lifelong pursuit of developmental inquiry. Graduates receive an excellent foundation for subsequent careers working with children and adolescents in various fields including research, education, health care, public policy and advocacy, the law, and counseling.
Career Opportunities
The Child and Adolescent Development major provides an excellent preparation for careers in developmentally related public organizations, teaching institutions, service agencies, and mental and physical health facilities. Our undergraduate program provides appropriate background for graduate training in developmental psychology, including experimental, applied, and clinical programs. Coursework in CHAD is also relevant to graduate training in counseling, teaching, medicine, law, child advocacy, and public policy relating to children and adolescents.
Announcements and Important Information:
General Information for CHAD students can be found in our Handbook.
All CHAD majors MUST acknowledge the background check and other requirements for the major online on my.csusm. Students who do not click that they accept will still be held responsible for the requirements.
- Completing a background check, TB test, and submitting proof of MMR, Tdap, and flu immunization or declination is required to take CHAD 496 Observation and Assessment Lab. The due date is typically 6 weeks prior to the start of the semester, and the specific date will be posted on our website. For students taking CHAD 496 in Fall 2025 semester, the deadline is Friday, June 20, 2025. You must submit copies of the required paperwork to the Center for Children and Families (CCF) by that date - no exceptions are made. Students who fail to complete these requirements by the deadline will be disenrolled from the CHAD 496 course that semester. The CCF will accept your complete set of documents from Monday, May 12, 2025 through Friday, June 20, 2025. Please note that the CCF is closed and cannot accept paperwork on the following dates: May 26, June 16, and June 19.
CHAD 450 and 496 Requirements PowerPoint
Please consult the CHAD majors worksheet for the list of PSYC and CHAD courses you must take to complete the major.
