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Welcome to the Department of Child and Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University.  In the ten years since the major was developed, we have grown to approximately 900 majors who earn a B. A. Degree in Child and Adolescent Development (CAD).  Students choose one concentration from among four, depending upon their career interests:  Young Child and Family; School Age Child and Family; Youth and Family Services; and Research and Public Policy.  We are an interdisciplinary department and offer courses from a variety of departments on campus such as Health Education; Social Work; Recreation, Parks & Tourism; Elementary Education, Psychology; and Communication Studies.  Students find that this interdisciplinary degree enriches their knowledge and understanding of children, youth, and familes.

The CAD faculty are committed to excellence in their teaching and to providing students with opportunities to engage in research and community work.  The faculty are engaged scholars with expertise in human development with specializations in infants & toddlers, young children, adolescents, families, policy, as well as in social welfare. They conduct applied research in a wide variety of areas ranging from adolescent health and Hmong teens, to leadership in early care and education, cross-national care giving, and family prevention approaches in social work. 

Many of our majors transfer here from community colleges in Bay Area such as City College of San Francisco, Cañada College, Skyline College, and Diablo Valley College, while other students are native to San Francisco State.  In addition to the degree program here on campus, we offer a B.A. degree completion program on the Cañada College campus through our University Center partnership, as well as a dual language – Spanish/English  -- B.A. degree pilot program.  These partnerships enable students to earn a college degree and remain close to their communities, thereby eliminating barriers that discourage many individuals from pursuing a baccalaureate.  We also offer courses at the City College of San Francisco and College of Marin-Indian Valley campuses.  http://www.sfsu.edu/~apd/cancad.htm

To help students plan their course of study as well as explore career options, we offer both individual and group advising here on campus and at Cañada College.  Please see the links on this website for more information about advising.

Rene F. Dahl, Ph.D.

Department Chair