FAMILY STUDIES
The B.A. and B.S. in Family Studies focuses on the development of individual, couple, and family wellness across the lifespan. Particular attention is given to the interactions among individuals, families, communities, and cultures. The Family Studies degree is designed to prepare students for (a) professional careers in a variety of human service areas, including by not limited to, child and family services, community mental health, consumer affairs, county and state extension, child life specialists, family life and parents education, marriage education and enrichment, youth services, and gerontological services; (b) leadership roles in church, school, and community; (c) effective functioning in marital and family roles; and (d) graduate education in counseling and family related fields.
The curriculum for the undergraduate major in Family Studies follows the Certifies Family Life Educator guidelines established by the National Council on Family Relations. Students will take a series of courses in each of the eleven Family Life Substance areas identified by NCFR.
Graduates of the family studies program will have met all of the standards and criteria needed for Provisional Certification as a Family Life Educator, a designation granted by the NCFR. Currently, the minimum requirements for becoming a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) include a baccalaureate degree and two years’ experience as a family life educator if the degree is in a family-related field.
Courses
Requirements for FST Major: 36 hours
FST 2311 Marriage and the Family
FST 2330 Professional Development in Psychology and Family Studies
FST 3355 Lifespan Development
FST 3360 Parent-Child Relationships
FST 3365 Family Stress, Crisis, and Resilience
FST 4300 Human Sexuality
FST 4360 Family and Community
FST 4370 Family Life Education
FST 4371 Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy
FST 4380 Practicum in Family Life Education
COM 3370 Family Communication
FIN 2312 Personal Finance
Click to view a list of courses available through the Department of Psychology.
Honors Program Psychology majors may choose to apply for admission to the Academy of Freedom multidisciplinary honors program. Providing an innovative approach to the academic program, the Academy enables students to combine their specialized major with coursework grounded in an understanding of the American free enterprise system. Through advanced study in such areas political science, history, psychology and sociology, students gain a better understanding of their role in today's society. Challenging projects enable students to hone their research and writing skills for further study in graduate school.
Beyond the Classroom At the heart of every area of social science is research. Each academic discipline provides opportunities for students to learn and apply statistical research procedures to problems and issues in their fields.
Scholarships There are a number of scholarships, grants and loans available through the university's financial aid program.