Child and Family Studies, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
The Child & Family Studies major offers two concentrations: Child Development and Family Studies.
The Child Development concentration prepares graduates to teach or direct early childhood programs (birth through age 8). Career opportunities include Head Start, for-profit or non-profit childcare agencies, and family resource centers.
The Family Studies concentration emphasizes the dynamics of families and relationships across the lifespan. Students explore topics such as parenting, family dynamics, and the family's interaction with society. Graduates are prepared for careers in community agencies, nonprofits, healthcare, and government programs that serve families, as well as for graduate study in family science, counseling, or related areas. The Family Studies concentration is approved by the National Council on Family Relations.
Child & Family Studies Requirements
Students are required to observe and/or interact with young children or school-age children in a number of courses offered by the department. Therefore, students enrolled in these courses — must have a negative TB skin test, a Verified Credentials (VC) criminal record check, a Youth Leader (YLR) background check, and a Child Abuse & Neglect (CAN) check completed. Students with a criminal or CAN record may be required to drop the course and select another major.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CDF 235 | Child Development: Conception-Eight Years | 3 |
| CDF 246 | Creative Activities and Materials for Young Children | 3 |
| CDF 310 | Observation and Assessment in ECE | 3 |
| CDF 349 | Co-op or Applied Learning: Child Development | 0.5-8 |
| CDF 351 | Practicum for Early Childhood Practitioners | 3 |
| CDF 399 | Child and Family Studies Practicum | 3-6 |
| CDF 405 | Program Planning for Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| CDF 406 | Progess Planning for Preschool Children | 3 |
| CDF 443 | Family Studies Practicum | 9 |
| CDF 450 | Early Childhood Practicum | 9 |
| CDF 544 | Early Childhood Development and Program Planning | 3 |
| CDF 744 | Early Childhood Development and Program Planning | 3 |
| CDF 849 | Special Problems in Child Development | 1-3 |
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
- Evaluate and monitor professional development
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 19.0701
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| Essential Education | 30 | |
| Foundations of Learning | ||
| GSD 101 | Foundations of Learning | 3 |
| Upper division courses (hours are distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Essential Ed/Free Electives categories) | 39 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| CDF 132 | Introduction to the Family | 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 327 | Family Involvement with Young Children | 3 |
| CDF 360 | Consumer and Career Finance | 3 |
| CDF 399 | Child and Family Studies Practicum | 6 |
| CDF 424 | Diversity Awareness in Professional Practice | 3 |
| CDF 437 | Family Stress and Resilience | 3 |
| CDF 538 | Research Analysis in Child and Family Studies | 3 |
| FCS 400 | Ethics and Advocacy in Family and Consumer Sciences | 3 |
| NFA 317 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| SWK 440 | Addictions | 3 |
| SWK 456 | Children's Services | 3 |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students must select one of the following Concentrations: | ||
| Child Development | 35 | |
| Family Studies | 21 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Child Development | 7 | |
| Family Studies | 21 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Child Development Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| CDF 203 | Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the EC Profession | 3 |
| CDF 310 | Observation and Assessment in ECE | 3 |
| CDF 363 | Early Childhood Literacy | 3 |
| CDF 405 | Program Planning for Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| CDF 450 | Early Childhood Practicum 1 | 9 |
| CDF 512 | Childhood and Nature | 3 |
| CDF 544 | Early Childhood Development and Program Planning | 3 |
| CDF 547 | Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| LIB 301 | Children's Literature and Related Materials | 2 |
| SED 318 | Special Education in Early Childhood | 3 |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
- 1
CDF 450 Early Childhood Practicum is a 9 credit hour course and requires a 3.0 GPA in major requirements prior to enrolling.
Family Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Human Sexuality, Behavior, and Attitudes (Element 4B) E | ||
| CDF 243 | Introduction to Family Life Programs | 3 |
| CDF 331 | Marriage and Intimate Relationships | 3 |
| CDF 342 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CDF 441 | Family Dynamics in Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| FRM 352 | Family as Consumers | 3 |
| HEA 345 | Drugs, the Individual, and Society | 3 |
| or SWK 310 | Social Welfare Policy History | |
| HEA 380 | Mental Health Promotion | 3 |
| or SWK 420 | Mental Health in Social Work | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
- E
Course also satisfies an Essential Education element. Hours are included within the 30 hours in Essential Education.
Key:
- E
Course satisfies an Essential Education element.
- *
Course must be taken in semester indicated.
Upper division courses: All students are required to have a minimum of 39 hrs. upper division (300-level or above) courses distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Essential Ed/Free Electives categories.
Child and Family Studies B.S. - Child Development Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| GSD 101E | Foundations of Learning | 3 |
| CDF 132 | Introduction to the Family | 3 |
| CDF 203 | Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the EC Profession | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Reading, Writing, and Rhetoric (E-1A) E | 3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 235 | Child Development: Conception-Eight Years | 3 |
| CDF 236 | Interaction and Guidance | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Research, Writing, and Rhetoric (E-1B) E | 3 |
| ELEMENT 1C E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 3A E | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 246 | Creative Activities and Materials for Young Children | 3 |
| NFA 317 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| ELEMENT 2A E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 3B E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 4A E | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 310 | Observation and Assessment in ECE | 3 |
| CDF 327 | Family Involvement with Young Children | 3 |
| ELEMENT 2B E | 3 | |
| ELMENT 4B E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT FLEX E | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 363 | Early Childhood Literacy | 3 |
| CDF 424 | Diversity Awareness in Professional Practice | 3 |
| CDF 437 | Family Stress and Resilience | 3 |
| SWK 440 | Addictions | 3 |
| SWK 456 | Children's Services | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 405 | Program Planning for Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| CDF 512 | Childhood and Nature | 3 |
| FCS 400 | Ethics and Advocacy in Family and Consumer Sciences | 3 |
| SED 318 | Special Education in Early Childhood | 3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 360 | Consumer and Career Finance | 3 |
| CDF 399 | Child and Family Studies Practicum | 6 |
| CDF 544 | Early Childhood Development and Program Planning | 3 |
| CDF 547 | Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 450 | Early Childhood Practicum | 9 |
| CDF 538 | Research Analysis in Child and Family Studies | 3 |
| LIB 301 | Children's Literature and Related Materials | 2 |
| Free Electives | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Child and Family Studies B.S. - Family Studies Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| GSD 101E | Foundations of Learning | 3 |
| CDF 132 | Introduction to the Family | 3 |
| ELEMENT 1A E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT FLEX E | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 235 | Child Development: Conception-Eight Years | 3 |
| CDF 236 | Interaction and Guidance | 3 |
| ELEMENT 1B E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 1C E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 3A E | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 232 | Human Sexuality, Behavior, and Attitudes (E-4B) E | 3 |
| CDF 246 | Creative Activities and Materials for Young Children | 3 |
| ELEMENT 2A E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 3B E | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 243 | Introduction to Family Life Programs | 3 |
| FRM 352 | Family as Consumers | 3 |
| ELEMENT 2B E | 3 | |
| ELEMENT 4A E | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 441 | Family Dynamics in Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| CDF 327 | Family Involvement with Young Children | 3 |
| CDF 437 | Family Stress and Resilience | 3 |
| HEA 380 or SWK 420 |
Mental Health Promotion or Mental Health in Social Work |
3 |
| NFA 317 | Nutrition in the Life Cycle | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 331 | Marriage and Intimate Relationships | 3 |
| CDF 342 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CDF 424 | Diversity Awareness in Professional Practice | 3 |
| SWK 310 or HEA 345 |
Social Welfare Policy History or Drugs, the Individual, and Society |
3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CDF 360 | Consumer and Career Finance | 3 |
| FCS 400 | Ethics and Advocacy in Family and Consumer Sciences | 3 |
| SWK 440 | Addictions | 3 |
| SWK 456 | Children's Services | 3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CDF 399 | Child and Family Studies Practicum | 6 |
| CDF 538 | Research Analysis in Child and Family Studies | 3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |