Children and Families Major Map
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don’t have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- EDC 240/241, PSYCH 101, SOC 200 and EDT 211
- Enroll in COMP 105 your first semester
- Complete the required clearances for field experiences in schools
Engage: What kinds of activities and organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway - UM-Dearborn’s unique online community where you can complete challenges, earn points, and connect your experience with your courses and professional goals
- Contribute to a community project through the Office of Community Engaged Learning
- Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break
Network: What are important topics in my field?
- Zero to Three Competencies for Prenatal to Age 5
- Early Development and Well-Being
- Learning and Brain Development
Transform: What are the challenges and the strengths in my community?
- Attend a local meeting of your community board
- Volunteer at a local community agency to learn about the community’s needs
- Follow the Michigan Legislature to learn about new bills in education and health and human services
Prepare: What are the career options for people with my major?
- Check out the working opportunities in the Career Services website
- Visit the Wayne Metro Career page
- Visit the Starfish Family Services job opportunities webpage
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- Meet with your academic advisor each semester
- Start to enroll in courses in Area I: Child Studies
- Familiarize yourself with the required cognate courses of the Children and Families program
Engage: What activities and organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Join the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as a student member
- Attend the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children
- Volunteer at Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Network: How do I connect with faculty and students with similar interests?
- Attend Michigan Home Visiting Conference
- Attend Michigan Head Start Annual Early Childhood Training Conference
- Watch for events at the UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center
Transform: What are the challenges and strengths of the Detroit Metro area?
- There is an increased need to support strong, healthy, thriving communities
- Visit the website of a school to follow their news
- Consider enrolling in EDC 439 to learn more about childhood trauma and maltreatment
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- Visit the campus Writing Center
- Meet with your academic advisor
- Visit the CEHHS Curriculum Knowledge Center to check out materials
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- Enroll in EDD 406/410, Strategies in Early Childhood Education, a prerequisite for EDD 411 or EDD 418
- Subscribe to professional journals (e.g. Infants & Young Children)
- Read articles from organizations (e.g. Ounce to Prevention)
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for Student Government or a leadership position in a campus organization
- Volunteer at Child’s Hope
- Represent CEHHS as an Orientation Leader
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Connect with professionals in the field throughout every field experience
- Join the Southeast Michigan Chapter of Michigan AEYC
- Volunteer with Michigan Alliance for Families
- Volunteer on your local interagency coordinating council (LICC)
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local and global challenges?
- Request a field experience with high-needs students outside of your own community
- Become a Diversity Ambassador or participate in a Conversation on Race
- Read articles highlighting challenges facing children and families both locally and globally
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Explore career options in your field to learn about requirements and expectations
- Create or update your LinkedIn account
- Present classroom research at one of the local or state professional conferences
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- Request any needed letters of recommendation from faculty and/or cooperating professionals who know your strengths
- Consider presenting some of your research at Meeting of Minds
- Put forth your best effort in all of your field experiences
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Create a new club or student organization
- Be willing to take leadership roles in group projects for coursework
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work
- Participate in a Mock Interview
- Submit your best paper for the Campus Writing Center Awards
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, the region, and the world?
- Contribute to a community project through the Office of Community Engaged Learning
- Register for an Alternative Spring Break
- Watch for opportunities to participate in community events
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Visit Career Services for advice with job searching and interviewing, resumes, and graduate school applications
- Prepare your resume and have it critiqued
- Participate in the Mock Interview sessions on campus
Most students look forward to a fulltime job after graduation. Many Early Head Start, Head Start, early childhood programs and community agencies in the Metropolitan Detroit area are experiencing high demand for professionals to support the diverse needs of communities with talented and committed individuals who are invested in providing high quality services to children and families.
- Attend one of the job fairs in April and May each year to engage with school districts and other organizations.
- Complete an employment application for community and educational organizations, such as Wayne County Schools Employment
- Network through the Wayne RESA website, Southwest Solutions, ACCESS, Starfish Family Services, or Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency.
- Contact Career Services on campus for assistance with job searching or resume review.
- Contact your professional references to request permission to include their contact information in applications and request letters of recommendation.
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions–figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally.