Teaching:  Child and Family Studies

The teaching child and family studies at Keystone is an education degree for individuals interested in human development and working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. Students have many opportunities to engage in coursework and fieldwork in authentic environments and explore the complexity of human behavior in real-life settings. Providing students with a sound social sciences foundation, the theories and processes of lifespan development, and emphasizing the framework for the ways in which families and communities coalesce, this degree provides important links between human development and practice. A hallmark of the program is a semester-long agency-based field experience.

Classes are small and allow for varied opportunities to work with faculty. This is a non-certification program. The curriculum is organized to foster the development of skilled teachers who can utilize best practices for planning and preparing environments and instruction in early childhood and primary- grade settings. Graduates will be self-directed individuals who can communicate effectively, make informed decisions, think critically and creatively, and examine ethical issues in order to enhance educational excellence.

Real World Experiences

Classroom experiences give you school-based observation and participation each semester. There’s simply no better preparation for future teachers than real world experience. Observing how students react to different styles of instruction and learning how to adjust in response, will prepare you for a successful career in education.

• Field experiences begin the first semester
• Pre-student teaching placements
• 14 weeks of student teaching last semester