B.S. in Family and Child Studies

The Family and Child Studies program adheres to University guidelines for upper division. Students completing the BS degree in Family and Child Studies will choose one or more of three concentrations: Child Development Specialist, Child Life, or Family Science. All concentrations provide students with a broad background in child development and guidance, family dynamics, coping strategies, and interpersonal skills. Each concentration includes theory-based courses, application-based courses, and experiential education courses. The Child Development Specialist concentration prepares students to work with children from birth through adolescence in a variety of settings, including youth services/activities, child/family advocacy agencies, education centers, social service agencies, Head Start programs, non-profit and/or faith-based organizations, child protective services, child care facilities, residential facilities, child development and/or parent education training facilities, and community organizations. Graduates are prepared to directly enter into their professional careers and they are also prepared to apply for graduate school in areas such as: social work, education (curriculum and instruction, administration/education leadership), counseling (community, school, marriage, and family therapy), human/child development, or psychology (school, social, and child). The Child Development Specialist concentration is not a teacher certification program. The Child Life concentration prepares students to become child life specialists. After completing the BS degree in Family and Child Studies, graduates must complete an internship and pass a national certification examination to become Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS). Child life specialists work primarily in the hospital setting, although some graduates have obtained jobs working with children in social service and community agencies, and in bereavement programs. The Family Science concentration prepares students to work with families in a variety of settings, including family service and youth agencies, aging facilities, family life education, cooperative extension, employee assistance programs, and law or public policy. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree and course requirements, graduates are eligible for certification as a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations. Many students completing this concentration pursue graduate studies in family studies, child development, counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, gerontology, early intervention, or seminary.