Program Overview

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Child & Family Studies: Family Studies Degree

The Child & Family Studies: Family Studies degree is a Bachelor's Degree program that focuses on families or family members at all stages of life in social service, government, and education.

Degree Type

• Bachelor's Degree

Program Type

• Undergraduate

Location

• Main Campus - Cape

College

• Education, Health & Human Studies

Department

• Child & Family Studies

Program Overview

The Family Studies program integrates theory, research, and practice to develop interpersonal skills and professional practice. It is an approved Certified Family Life Educator program overseen by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). The program includes coursework that follows the standards and criteria needed for students to become Provisional Certified Family Life Educators.

Program Objectives

• Gain an in-depth understanding of family structures, dynamics, and interactions along with developmental issues across the lifespan.
• Develop skills in assessing, creating, and implementing interventions to improve family interactions.
• Be trained to work with a wide variety of populations and gain real-world experience at agencies that serve children, seniors, and developmentally disabled adults.
• Complete a Family Service Internship, which is the capstone of integrated study.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a Family Studies degree can pursue careers in:

• Social and community service management
• Marriage and relationship therapy
• Child and family services
• Gerontology
• Non-profit organizations

Internship and Employment Opportunities

Recent Family Studies degree graduates have found employment in:

• Aging Matters Agencies
• Big Brothers/Sisters Program
• Councils on Aging
• Crisis Center
• ChildCare Facility
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
• Department of Family Services
• Department of Mental Health
• Department of Health and Senior Services
• Disability Programs
• Domestic Violence Shelters
• HeadStart Family Services
• Mental Health Centers
• Military Family Support Centers
• Non-profit organizations, i.e. United Way
• Parent Education Programs
• Pregnancy Centers / Teen Pregnancy Services
• Retirement Homes / Assisted Living Facilities
• Youth Development / Mentoring

Graduate Degree Options

The Family Studies program provides a solid foundation for pursuing a graduate degree in:

• Child and Family Law
• Child Development
• Family Studies
• Gerontology
• Gender Studies
• Lifespan / Human Development
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Medical Family Therapy
• Mental Health Counseling
• Social Work
• School Counseling

Program Requirements

Required Courses:

• CF102 Relationships in the 21st Century (3)
• CF120 The Child: Development from Conception to Adolescence (3)
• CF209 Introduction to Family Theories (3)
• CF220 Emerging Adulthood (3)
• CF410 Culture, Ethnicity, and the Child (3)
• CF430 Parent-Child Interaction (3)
• CF520 Professional Ethics and Practice (3)
• ED535 The Trauma-Informed Professional (3)
• FE200 Family Resource Management (3)

Family Studies Option:

• CF206 Adult Development and Aging (3)
• CF275 Resilience Across the Lifespan (3)
• CF303 Introduction to Gender (3)
• CF340 Family Policy Law and Advocacy (3)
• CF360 Family Life Education (3)
• CF402 Relationships of Commitment (3)
• CF445 Social Perspectives of Sexuality (3)
• CF485 Family Studies Senior Seminar (3)
• CF565 Family Service Internship (3)

Pre-Counseling Track (Optional)

Completing the pre-counseling track will fulfill the minor requirement.

• CF209 Introduction to Family Theories (3)
• CF275 Resilience Across the Lifespan (3)
• ED535 The Trauma-Informed Professional (3)
• PY101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
• PY440 Abnormal Psychology (3)
• PY441 Introduction to Clinical Psychology (3)
• PY442 Psychotherapy (3)
• PY444 Childhood Psychopathology (3)

General Education Requirements

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

• Social and Behavioral Sciences 6 hours
• Constitution Requirement 3 hours
• Written Communication 6 hours
• Oral Communication 3 hours
• Natural Sciences 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
• Mathematics 3 hours
• Humanities & Fine Arts 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
• Additional requirements 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
• Civics examination

Four-Year Sample Plan

First Year

Fall Semester (13 Hours)

• UI100 (1)
• EN100 (3)
• CF102 (3)
• General Education (3)
• General Education (3)

Spring Semester (15 Hours)

• CF120 (3)
• General Education (3)
• General Education (3)
• General Education (3)
• General Education (3)

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average

Second Year

Fall Semester (15 Hours)

• CF209 (3)
• CF360 (3)
• FE200 (3)
• General Education (3)
• General Education (3)

Spring Semester (15 Hours)

• CF206 (3)
• CF220 (3)
• CF303 (3)
• General Education (3)
• Minor Course (3)

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average

Third Year

Fall Semester (15 Hours)

• CF213 or CF405 (3)
• CF402 (3)
• CF410 (3)
• Minor Course (3)
• Minor Course (3)

Spring Semester (15 Hours)

• CF275 (3)
• CF340 (3)
• CF430 (3)
• Minor Course (3)
• Minor Course (3)

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average

Fourth Year

Fall Semester (16 Hours)

• CF445(3)
• ED535 (2)
• General Education (3)
• Minor Course (3)
• Elective(4)

Spring Semester (15 Hours)

• CF485 (3)
• CF520 (3)
• CF565 (3)
• Minor Course (3)
• Elective (3)

Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average

Related Programs

• Family & Consumer Sciences Education
• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology