Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies - Childhood Studies Concentration George Mason University

The program provides students with an in-depth understanding of childhood in historical, contemporary, and global contexts and prepares them for careers in a wide variety of areas, including preschool teaching, child welfare and advocacy, child health and wellness, juvenile justice, youth programming, and other human services areas.

The Childhood Studies concentration is designed to prepare students to understand childhood from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program provides students with an in-depth understanding of childhood in historical, contemporary, and global contexts and prepares them for careers in a wide variety of areas, including preschool teaching, child welfare and advocacy, child health and wellness, juvenile justice, youth programming, and other human services areas. In addition, the program emphasizes collaboration and community involvement and incorporates study in child policy, parenting, and family development.

All students have opportunities to

• conduct independent research
• engage in globally-related activities through coursework and language study at Mason and abroad
• participate in many forms of public service
• prepare for their future careers through internships, career-focused minors, and other college-to-career activities

Undergraduate training in Childhood Studies also prepares students for graduate study in multiple Mason programs, including Educational Psychology, School Psychology, Special Education, Criminal Justice, Public Health, Social Justice and Human Rights, Social Work, and Public Policy, among others.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

Students pursuing a BA in Integrative Studies must complete a minimum of 30 credits of (INTS) coursework, with at least 15 credits at the 300 and 400 levels.

Integrative studies students complete INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies and INTS 491 Senior Capstone and choose a concentration from the options below. Before registering, students should see an advisor to help plan their degree program to meet Mason's requirements. The advisor also can help students choose electives or a minor.

Required Course

• INTS 391 Understanding Integrative Studies 1
• INTS 491 Senior Capstone 3

Total Credits 4

Concentration in Childhood Studies (CHDS)

Students complete the following coursework:

Required courses

• INTS 312 Images and Experiences of Childhood: Social Construct, Literature, and Film 3-6
• INTS 316 Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core) 4
• INTS 317 Issues in Family Relationships (Mason Core) 4 or INTS 321 Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)
• PSYC 100 Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) 3
• PSYC 211 Developmental Psychology (Mason Core) 3
• PSYC 313 Child Development 3
• STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) 3-4 or SOCI 313 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)

Total Credits 23-27

Additional courses

Select three courses from the following: 9-18

• COMM 367 Children and Media
• CONF 392 Youth and Conflict
• ENGH 452 Critical Study of Children's Literature
• HEAL 350 Health Interventions for Vulnerable Populations
• INTS 305 Conflict Resolution and Transformation
• INTS 310 Violence and Gender
• INTS 319 Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)
• INTS 321 Parent-Child Relations (Mason Core)
• INTS 331 The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
• INTS 344 Youth, Music, Social Change
• INTS 419 Youth Resistance and Advocacy
• NUTR 295 Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)
• NUTR 420 Strategies for Nutrition Education
• NUTR 421 Community Nutrition
• NUTR 422 Nutrition throughout the Life Cycle
• NUTR 423 Nutrition and Chronic Illnesses
• NUTR 466 Nutrition and Weight Management: Obesity, Anorexia, and Bulimia
• PHED 360 Sport-Based Youth Development
• PSYC 314 Adolescent Development
• PSYC 324 Personality Theory
• PSYC 325 Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 362 Psychology of Gender
• PSYC 414 Behavior Disorders of Childhood
• SOCW 415 Child and Family Welfare
• SOCI 302 Sociology of Delinquency
• SOCI 360 Youth Culture and Society (Mason Core)
• Other relevant courses with the approval of the advisor

Total Credits 9-18

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with electives to bring the degree total to 120.