A Note from the Department Head

Welcome to the Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville! You will learn about the courses we teach, our research programs, the role of our department at the University of Tennessee, and how we provide service to our community, state, children, and families. Links from this website allow you to access information about our undergraduate and graduate programs. CFS has a very fine faculty composed of talented researchers, teachers, and professionals who provide service to children and families. A major theme of our department that structures much of our departmental curricula and research efforts is “children, youth, and families at-risk.”

Undergraduates can take a wide array of courses on children, youth, and families through available options in child development, early childhood education, and family studies. A major focus of ours is the linkages that children and families have with peers, schools, community agencies, sources of social policy and varied cultural contexts. Important features of our programs include the internships and field placements we provide that allow students to apply knowledge in career-related settings. A notable example is our teacher licensure program in early childhood education that provides teacher training, both for the early elementary and preschool years.

Child and Family Studies is a great place to pursue a graduate degree. We have both masters and doctoral degree options in family studies, child development, and early childhood education. Graduate assistantships are available and the department’s faculty members provide highly sophisticated graduate courses, research training, and collaborative research possibilities. Nationally recognized and/or funded research efforts include such topics as the consequences of marital conflict for youth development, foster care, parental influences on adolescent social competence, father involvement in families at risk, youth and political violence, family stress, family violence, the development of youth problem behavior, family economic uncertainty, early literacy development, child care, early learning environments, inquiry-oriented teaching, and children’s play. Graduate work in CFS prepares students for faculty positions in higher education, state and federal research agencies, careers in public education, leadership positions in child care as well as service provider and administrative positions in human service agencies.

Contact us about any questions and become even more acquainted with the Department of Child and Family Studies!

Vey M. Nordquist, Ph.D

Contact the Department of Child and Family Studies

1215 W. Cumberland Avenue
115 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1912

Phone: 865-974-5316
Fax: 865-974-2742

Contact CEHHS

335 Claxton Complex 1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718