What Can I Do with a Major in…

Child Life Specialist/Child Development 

Child life specialists are part of health-care teams that serve the medical needs of children in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other organizations. They help children and families manage challenging life events and stressful health-care experiences through the use of conversation, play, artwork, and other forms of activities to ease anxiety. Child life specialists are trained in child development and focus on the emotional and developmental needs of children.

Child development majors possess knowledgte of physical, emotional, and mental development of children.  They also study family interactions and the effects of stress and life on families.  Child development majors can work in many settings including hospitals, family centers, and schools.

The following occupations represent some career opportunities available to child life specialists or child development majors. Some will require additional education. For more information visit the Career Center in Lucina 220.

4-H Specialist
Activities Director
Activity Therapist
Adoption Counselor
After-School Program Supervisor
Art Teacher
Art Therapist
Audiologist
Author, Children’s Books
Bibliotherapist
Camp Director
Childbirth Educator 
Child Abuse Counselor
Child Advocate
Child Care Worker
Child Development Specialist
Child Development Supervisor
Child Life Administrator
Child Life Assistant 
Child Protection Social Worker
Child Protective Services Specialist
Child Psychologist
Child Support Enforcement Specialist
Child Welfare Worker
Child, Youth, and Family Counselor
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Program Director
Community Service Worker
Curriculum developer
Day Care Center Director
Dental Hygienist, Children
Elementary School Guidance Counselor
Elementary Teacher
Family Advocacy/Public Policy Specialist
Family Advocate
Family and Consumer Scientist
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher
Family Counselor
Family Life Educator
Group Home Administrator
Head Start Program Director
House Parent, Halfway House
Juvenile Court Caseworker
Juvenile Officer
Mental Health Counselor
Music Therapist
Nanny
Nurse Practitioner
Occupational Therapist 
Obstetrical Registered Nurse
Parent Educator
Patient Relations Representative
Pediatric Dentist
Pediatric Medical Assistant 
Pediatric/School Nurse
Pediatrician
Personal/Home Care Aide
Preschool Teacher
Professor
Public Health Specialist
Recreation Therapist
Sales Representative, Child Care Products
School Social Worker
Social Service Aide
Social Worker
Special Education Teacher
Speech/Language Pathologist
Teacher Aide
Therapeutic Recreation Therapist
Youth Counselor