Who should go into this major?
If you enjoy working with people and are concerned about the welfare of child and families you will enjoy a career in Child and Family Studies.
What can I do with a degree in CFS?
Child and Family Studies professionals work in a variety of settings. With an undergraduate degree, job opportunities are varied and plentiful.
Opportunities typically include entry level jobs in Human Services, such as Department of Social Services Caseworker, case workers for other types of agencies such as county foster care, Catholic Charities, YMCA, Boys Club and Girls Club, violence intervention programs, homeless shelters, family service agencies, programs that work with pregnant teens, probation, alcohol and drug education programs, and developmentally disabled adults and children. There are also opportunities with Head Start, daycare centers and preschools, and nursing homes.
Students who decide to pursue graduate education can do so in a variety of areas. Students are well prepared to enter graduate programs in Child and Family Studies, Social Work, School Counseling, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Education.
What is Child and Family Studies?
Focus of program includes:
- lifespan, human development perspective
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- study and understanding of family dynamics and relationships
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- understanding the impact of the environment (i.e., family, school, community, culture) on children and families.
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Faculty are a highly qualified group of professionals who are dedicated to assist students in developing a fuller understanding of the self and the family. This field of study is personally fulfilling for students, and it helps them become more objective, thoughtful individuals, sensitive to individual differences and gain an appreciation of diversity. The program encourages students to make meaningful contributions to their communities and to be advocates for children and families.
Coursework and requirements:
Students take a variety of courses in child and family studies with a great deal of flexibility in choosing elective courses. The curriculum is flexible enough to allow students to design their program of study around their areas of interest. We also incorporate service learning and practical experiences so that students leave the program with some concrete skills applicable to employment opportunities. All students are required to do a minimum of a 120 hour internship.
Family Life Education Certification:
Students majoring in Child and Family Studies are eligible to receive provisional certification as a Family Life Educator (CFLE) by the National Council on Family Relations. Family life education (FLE) is the education effort to strengthen individual and family life through a family perspective. The objective of family life education is to enrich and improve the quality of individual and family life. While various professionals assist families, it is the family life educator who incorporates a family systems approach to individual and family issues. Students interested in receiving their CFLE may do so by completing the requirements in the major and electing to take a course in human sexuality, adulthood development, marriage and family relationships, and parent education. A CFS faculty member can advise students about requirements for CFLE.
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