This is a career that lets individuals make a difference in the lives of children. Students will learn how kids grow and develop from birth through adolescence and get the hands-on experience they need to work with young people in a variety of settings, from schools to clinics to hospitals. It also prepares them to enter a competitive graduate program in psychology or the social sciences. By choosing the concentration in child and adolescent development, psychology majors gain an in-depth understanding on the unique physical, social, psychological and cognitive needs of young people. The program stresses experiential learning, so students will have plenty of opportunities to gain real-world experience by doing internships, a practicum or research and volunteer projects. In fact, in many courses they can even choose to work in the field over writing a research paper. The professors will work with them to find opportunities that best match their interests.