Child and Family Studies, Bachelor of Science with a Concentration in Child Development (B.S.)
This major offers three concentrations. The Child Development concentration prepares graduates to teach or direct early childhood programs (birth through age 8). Career opportunities include Head Start, profit or non-profit child care/agencies, and family resource centers. The Family Studies Concentration prepares graduates to work with individuals and families in a variety of social service settings. Positions are available in family resource centers, community agencies, profit and non-profit organizations that provide services for children, youth, adults and families. The Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education concentration leads graduates to Kentucky public school certification for teaching children birth through age five. Graduates learn to prepare individual education plans for children who experience developmental delays and support plans to assist families of those children. IECE majors will teach in private agencies serving infants to two years and public school settings (Pre-K, three and four year olds, and kindergarten not connected with primary programs for first through third grade). To be granted a degree in Child and Family Studies students must have a “C” or better in all CDF and supporting courses.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of a degree in Child and Family Studies graduates will be able to:
- assess developmental, political, social, cultural, economic and technological influences on the well-being and diversity of individuals, families and communities;
- design and implement a range of services for individuals, children and families;
- utilize and interpret appropriate individual, family and program evaluation measures;
- access community resources and collaborate with community agencies/services; and
- evaluate and monitor their professional development.
The Child Development concentration prepares graduates to teach or administer in any private early childhood program. Graduates may also be employed as a trainer for resource and referral agencies or serve as Education Coordinator in early childhood facilities.
Admission and Progression Requirements for Child and Family Studies Concentrations Child Development and IECE
All students who are accepted by EKU’s Admission office and declare their major as Child and Family Studies are admitted to the University as pre-Child and Family Studies majors. However, admission to the pre-Child and Family Studies program does not guarantee admission to the Child and Family Studies program. To be admitted to the Child and Family Studies program the following criteria must be met:
- Minimum of 45 hours with a 2.75 overall GPA,
- GPA of 3.0 with a grade of “C” or better in each course in the following courses
Course List Code Title Hours CDF 203 Philosophical & Historical Foundations of the EC Profession 3 CDF 235 Child Development: Conception-Eight Years 3 CDF 236 Interaction and Guidance 3 CDF 246 Creative Activities and Materials for Young Children 3 CDF 310 Observation and Assessment in ECE 3 CDF 327S Family Involvement with Young Children 3
Once these requirements have been met, the student must apply to the Child and Family Studies Program Director for a change from the pre-Child and Family Studies program to the Child and Family Studies program.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 19.0701
Summary Checklist for General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Element 1 | ||
| A: Written Communication | 3 | |
| B: Written Communication | 3 | |
| C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Element 2 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Element 3 | ||
| A: Arts | 3 | |
| B: Humanities | 3 | |
| Element 4 | ||
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Element 5 | ||
| A: Historical Science | 3 | |
| B: Social Behaviorial Science | 3 | |
| Element 6 | ||
| Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| General Education | 36 | |
| Student Success Seminar | ||
| HSO 100 | Student Success Seminar (waived for transfers with 30+ hrs.) | 1 |
| Writing Intensive Course (Hrs. incorporated into Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives category) | ||
| Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) | ||
| ACCT - Early Childhood Development, Family Studies and Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education majors will fulfill ACCT with the following. (These courses are included in the Major totals) | ||
| Early Childhood Practicum | ||
| Family Studies Practicum | ||
| Clinical VI: The Professional Semester (Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education) | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| CDF 132 | Introduction to the Family | 3 |
| CDF 235 | Child Development: Conception-Eight Years 1 | 3 |
| CDF 236 | Interaction and Guidance | 3 |
| CDF 327S | Family Involvement with Young Children | 3 |
| CDF 424 | Diversity Awareness Prof Prac | 3 |
| CDF 437 | Family Stress and Resilience | 3 |
| NFA 317 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| FCS 400 | 3 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: 2 | ||
| Child Development | 49-51 | |
Family Studies | ||
Interdisciplinary Early Childhood | ||
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| Choose from 12-15 hours of supporting courses | ||
12 hours of Child Development | ||
12-15 hours of Family Studies | ||
12 hours of Interdisciplinary Early Childhood | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose from 10-20 hours of free electives | 10-20 | |
8-11 hours of Child Development | ||
17-20 hours of Family Studies | ||
0 hours of Interdisciplinary Early Childhood | ||
| Exit Requirements | ||
| PRAXIS Examination | ||
| Students must register for and take the PRAXIS exam which correlates to their degree program, per College of Education requirements. Refer to Degree Works for exam details. The PRAXIS exam must be taken prior to student teaching. | ||
| Total Hours | 120-132 | |
- 1
Course meets Professional Education Requirements.
- 2
May include substantial practicum hours, as mandated by program accrediting bodies.
Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CDF 203 | Philosophical & Historical Foundations of the EC Profession | 3 |
| CDF 246 | Creative Activities and Materials for Young Children | 3 |
| CDF 310 | Observation and Assessment in ECE | 3 |
| CDF 363 | Early Childhood Literacy | 3 |
| CDF 399 | Early Childhood Practicum | 3-6 |
| CDF 405 | Prog Plan for Infant & Toddler | 3 |
| CDF 406 | Prog Plan for Preschool Chldrn | 3 |
| CDF 450 | Early Childhood Practicum 1 | 9 |
| CDF 538 | Research Analysis in Child and Family Studies | 3 |
| CDF 547 | Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| Choose from 12 hours of the following: | 12 | |
| Special Education in Early Childhood | ||
| Early Childhood Health Care | ||
| Early Child Sensorimotor Development | ||
| Addictions | ||
| Children's Services | ||
| Total Hours | 48-51 | |
- 1
CDF 450 Early Childhood Practicum is a 9 credit hour course and requires a 3.0 GPA in major requirements prior to enrolling.