The mission of the CDFR master's graduate program in the Department of Child Development and Family Relations is to prepare students for advanced -level positions in the discipline as well as for doctoral study and research in child and family centered programs. The course work allows students to study families across the life span from an ecological perspective with an orientation to practice and education. Attention is given to the discovery and application of knowledge through a core curriculum, specialized areas of study, a research component, and thesis or internship options.

The mission of the CDFR master's graduate program in the Department of Child Development and Family Relations is to prepare students for advanced -level positions in the discipline as well as for doctoral study and research in child and family centered programs. The course work allows students to study families across the life span from an ecological perspective with an orientation to practice and education. Attention is given to the discovery and application of knowledge through a core curriculum, specialized areas of study, a research component, and thesis or internship options. All students study material that provides a strong foundation in research and theory including child development theories, family theories, human development, program planning and evaluation, research methods, and statistics. Students may use electives to concentrate in an area of interest, such as gerontology, early intervention, special education, child life, community college instruction, or communication. The program of study is tailored to the individual needs and interests of students.