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Institute of Child Development
51 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN
55455-0345 USA
Tel: 612-624-0526
Fax: 612-624-6373

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Child psychology major: Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

How do I declare a major in child psychology (CPsy)?

Stop by the peer advising office in room #275 Peik Hall. Peer advising is open from 9:00 – 4:30, Monday – Friday. The phone number for peer advising is 612-624-1891. Advisers are available to discuss coursework requirements and answer general questions, remember to bring in a current transcript. (For more information, see: How to apply to the undergraduate program in child psychology)

Is there an advantage of one major program over another?

There is no distinct advantage of bachelor of arts degree over the bachelor of science degree. Students who plan to meet the language requirement (including American Sign Language) typically enroll in the B.A. degree program. If a student is not planning to complete a language, then they should enroll in the B.S. degree program.

Can I take child psychology courses satisfactory/non-satisfactory (S/N)?

All courses in the major must be taken A/F, with the exception of those courses only offered S/N, such as Special Topics courses.

Can I earn minor in child psychology?

For more information, see: Earning a degree in child psychology.
A minor in child psychology is offered for other majors; for example, psychology students may minor in child psychology. Child psychology students may minor in psychology but not double major in psychology. Another excellent minor for CPsy students is Youth Studies; many of the required CPsy courses can be used for this minor.

What can I do with a child psychology degree?

Both the B.A. and B.S. degrees prepare students for graduate study in psychology, education, medicine, law, sociology, and other behavioral sciences. In addition, with its combination of intensive training in developmental psychology and in-depth field experience, the B.S. prepares students for careers and additional training in such areas as early childhood education, counseling, and human service programs. Students may also go to the Career & Community Learning Center for workshops and other career opportunities and internships.

The child psychology peer advising office in room 275 Peik Hall also has information regarding additional child psychology career opportunities. See also: Special programs

Are there internship and research opportunities available, and how do I get involved?

Research opportunities. Students can do “hands on” research for credit under faculty supervision. Students need to coordinate with a specific research lab prior to registering for research credits. Permission numbers are necessary to register. See also: Faculty research projects

Internship opportunities. To choose an area suited to your interests, ask yourself the following:

What are my goals?
What age population am I interested in working with?

There are several ways to go about finding a practicum site. In the past, students have volunteered in some of the following locations: local elementary schools, the Minneapolis or St. Paul Children’s Hospital, The Crisis Nursery, the Children’s Museum, YMCA or YWCA, day care centers, and community centers.

You may choose to work in any site in which you will gain direct experience working with young children. The peer advising office has other posted possibilities as well. Contact the agency(ies) with whom you would like to volunteer in advance. It may take several months to get into the facility. You’ll need to plan how you can schedule school, work, and do an internship. After contacting someone at the site, coordinate with site supervisor your volunteer schedule. Your on-site supervisor should be someone who sees you “in action” frequently. Ask if they will complete an evaluation of your work at the end of the semester. When this is done, contact Ann McLoone, associate director of undergraduate studies (612-624-9505) to write up the contract. Sign up for appropriate credits, 1 credit = 3 hours per week or 45 hours per semester. There is a maximum of 4 credits.

For more information see CPSY 4996—Field Study in Child Psychology.

Does the Institute of Child Development offer a child life specialist certification?

The Institute of Child Development does not offer a child life specialist certification, but many of the child psychology courses do satisfy necessary course requirements. The peer advising office has some information, but for more detailed information, visit their Web site at www.childlife.org.

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