OU-Tulsa Offers Master’s Degree in Childhood Well-Being
Beginning this summer, the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education will offer a master of arts in childhood well-being exclusively on the OU-Tulsa campus. This degree will bring together a variety of disciplines to provide an education in holistic well-being for the young child.
The program will provide students insight and training in the areas of education, health, family and community, and economic well-being of children. These skills will be valuable to a number of professions, including child and family advocates, education practitioners, policymakers and public officials, allowing them to focus on the needs of children and families, particularly those who are vulnerable and at risk for poor outcomes. The multi-disciplinary focus of this degree allows students to interact with faculty from social work, urban design, public administration, education and allied health.
“The needs of children in Oklahoma are great,” said Dr. Kyong Ah Kwon, associate professor in early childhood education in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education and director of the master’s in childhood well-being program. “Many of them approach adulthood having dealt with significant trauma and stress, and with few advantages. However, by learning more about how to support families and children, education professionals can make significant strides in mitigating the impact of childhood trauma. This unique and innovative interdisciplinary program will provide ample opportunities to advance students’ understanding of children and their environment from a holistic perspective and build a capacity to address this deep-rooted issue of trauma.”
By Bonnie Rucker
Article Published: Wednesday, May 19, 2021