Students pursuing advanced study are well-prepared for programs such as:

• Clinical or mental health counseling
• Medical school
• Occupational or physical therapy
• Law school
• Education and teaching pathways
• Public health
• Human development & family studies

Child Development Pre‑Majors, Majors, & Minors receive advising support during both the fall and spring semesters. Once admitted to the major or minor, students are assigned an academic advisor based on their class year and the first letter of their last name.

Advisor Assignments

First‑Year Students

• Dr. Sarah Hogue

Sophomores – Seniors (by last name)

• A–G: Dr. Casey Call
• H–N: Dr. Molly O’Mealey
• O–Z: Ms. Tami Zeiner

Your advisor will help you navigate course planning, degree requirements, experiential learning opportunities, and preparation for graduate school or career pathways in child‑ and family‑serving fields.

Child Development majors complete a combination of Associated Requirements, Required Courses, and Electives based on whether they pursue the BS or BA degree.

Associated Requirements (4 courses)

Students complete the following foundational courses, which support interdisciplinary understanding of children, families, and systems:

• MATH 10043 – Elementary Statistics
• PSYC 10213 – Introduction to Psychology
• SOCI 20213 – Introductory Sociology
• SOWO 10883 – Introduction to Social Work

Required Courses (10 courses)

These courses build core knowledge in child development, trauma‑informed practice, research, and professional preparation:

• CHDV 20123 – Trauma‑Informed Interventions
• CHDV 25053 – Global Advocacy
• CHDV 30533 – Developmental Research & Evaluation
• CHDV 35053 – Professional Development for Careers with Children
• CHDV 40493 – Family Systems
• CHDV 40993 – Child Development Capstone
• CHDV 50433 – Trauma & Relationships with TBRI
• CHDV 50443 – Trauma & Behavior with TBRI
• CHDV 50533 – Case Studies in Child Development
• PSYC 30323 – Child Psychology

Electives

Elective requirements differ by degree pathway:

BS in Child Development:  

• Students complete 5 elective courses from the approved Child Development elective list.

BA in Child Development:  

• Students complete 2 elective courses plus a foreign language competency requirement.

This structure allows students to tailor their degree to their interests—whether they want deeper scientific training (BS) or a broader liberal arts foundation (BA).

Read our BS advising guide

Read our BA advising guide

Students may pursue a minor in Child Development by completing 18 hours of approved coursework. The minor offers a strong multidisciplinary foundation, drawing on the strengths of nine complementary fields—Communication Sciences & Disorders, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Education, Nutritional Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work.

Depending on the courses selected, students can explore topics such as complex developmental trauma, attachment, neuroscience, and evidence‑based interventions, gaining insight into how children grow, learn, and thrive across diverse contexts.

Career and Graduate School Preparation

The Child Development minor supports students pursuing a wide range of professional pathways. Graduates who enter the workforce often move into roles that directly or indirectly serve children and families, including:

• Child welfare and family support
• Education and early childhood programs
• Mental health and intervention settings
• Non‑profit and community organizations

Students planning to continue to graduate or professional school find the minor especially valuable. Alumni pursue programs such as:

• Clinical or mental health counseling
• Medical school
• Occupational or physical therapy
• Law school
• Education and teaching pathways
• Public health
• Human development & family studies

Course Requirements

Child Development minors complete:

1 required course:  

• CHDV 50533 – Case Studies in Child Development

+ 5 additional courses selected from an approved list

This structure allows students to tailor the minor to their interests while building a strong developmental and trauma‑informed foundation.

Read our Minor advising guide

Child Development students have access to a wide range of hands‑on, high‑impact learning experiences that strengthen professional skills, deepen trauma‑informed practice, and build meaningful connections across campus and the community.

Service Learning & Community Engagement

Students engage in community‑based projects that apply developmental and trauma‑informed principles in real‑world settings. As part of CHDV 50433 and CHDV 50443, students work directly in the community by leading TBRI® Nurture Groups and other therapeutic groups designed to teach children and youth essential relational skills and regulation strategies.

These experiences allow students to practice trauma‑informed caregiving, strengthen facilitation skills, and support children and families through connection‑focused, developmentally responsive interventions.

Internships

Child Development students have the opportunity to complete internships that are paid, for course credit, or a combination of both. These experiences allow students to apply developmental and trauma‑informed principles in professional settings while exploring career pathways that align with their interests.

Students receive placement site recommendations to help them identify organizations that match their goals. Recent internship sites include:

• Alliance for Children
• Fort Worth Independent School District
• Gladney Center for Adoption
• Buckner International
• Cook Children’s Medical Center
• The Parenting Center
• Child Care Associates

Students completing the internship for academic credit enroll in:

• CHDV 40263 – Child Development Internship

These internships provide meaningful, hands‑on experience supporting children, families, and communities across a variety of settings.

Study Abroad

Child Development students can participate in global learning experiences that expand cultural understanding and deepen knowledge of child development across diverse contexts. Past study abroad opportunities have included China, Spain, and Italy, offering students firsthand insight into how children and families are supported around the world.

This year, students will travel to Estonia and Finland to explore child development, trauma‑informed care, and cross‑cultural approaches to supporting children and families. During the program, students will meet with TBRI® Practitioners from across Eastern Europe and learn how they are transforming cultures of care within their communities. Countries represented include Estonia, Moldova, Latvia, and Poland.

These experiences allow students to see trauma‑informed practice in action, build global connections, and understand how developmental science is applied in diverse cultural settings.

KPICD Student Research Lab

Students have the opportunity to work alongside the KPICD research team on ongoing projects related to child development, trauma, attachment, and intervention science. As part of the lab, students gain hands‑on experience in research design, writing, data analysis, literature review, and professional communication.

Participation in the KPICD Student Research Lab provides meaningful preparation for graduate school, research‑focused careers, and any profession that values critical thinking and evidence‑based practice. Applications to join the lab are emailed to students each semester, allowing interested students to apply as their schedules and academic goals evolve.

Students also have the opportunity to present research, share findings, and engage with peers and faculty at the Student Research Symposium, gaining experience in professional dissemination and academic dialogue.

Interested in joining the lab? Click here to receive notification when the application opens! 

TBRI® Camps

Students have the opportunity to serve in TBRI‑informed therapeutic camps, where they apply their developmental and trauma‑informed training in meaningful, hands‑on ways. Students typically serve as a therapeutic buddy to a child, using TBRI principles with skill and sensitivity to support connection, regulation, and felt-safety.

In these roles, students act as the primary staff member responsible for creating an attachment‑rich, sensory‑rich, and therapeutic environment. They demonstrate strong attunement, insight, and adaptability as they meet the unique needs of their camper and support meaningful growth throughout the camp experience.

Students can participate in a variety of TBRI‑informed camps, including:

• Hope Connection 2.0
• TBRI camps across the U.S., including Oregon, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas

These experiences offer powerful opportunities to practice trauma‑informed caregiving, strengthen relational skills, and support children and families in healing‑centered environments.

Student Organizations

Child Development students can get involved in two student‑led organizations that serve children and families through creative, community‑centered projects:

Frogs 4 Children  

https://engage.tcu.edu/organization/frogs4children  

• A vibrant, all‑majors service organization dedicated to supporting children in the Fort Worth community through mentoring, outreach events, educational activities, and partnerships with Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Once Upon a Room (OUR)  

https://engage.tcu.edu/organization/na46  

• A compassionate service organization that brings joy and comfort to hospitalized children by creating personalized room makeovers, assembling day bags, and participating in hospital outreach events in partnership with Cook Children’s Medical Center.