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The Family Studies and Human Services Program is for students who have an interest in the helping professions. Our Program supports career goals involving direct outreach with individuals, families, and communities to improve their quality of life. Family Studies and Human Services offers two major pathways: 1) Child, Youth, and Family Studies and 2) Human Services.
Students who are interested in becoming elementary school teachers, social workers, counselors, early childhood educators, or special educators are advised to consider a degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies (CYFS). The degree is also appropriate for students seeking career pathways such as parent educators, family advocates, youth workers, social service caseworkers, program directors/administrators, and classroom assistants. Students gain an interdisciplinary perspective on children, youth, and families, a broad understanding of family systems, and a working knowledge of the diverse socio-cultural contexts in which children and families develop.
The Child, Youth, and Family Studies major content integrates theory with practice through a liberal arts foundation, coursework in professional development, practicum experience, and professional documentation that prepares students for professional roles as well as graduate school. Students may choose focused elective courses in early childhood education, youth work, family life education, elementary education, human services, or child life.
The Family Studies and Human Services program also offers a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies, which can be completed in close alignment with the Families and Society Junior Cluster.
In both the Child, Youth, and Family Studies major and minor a strong emphasis is placed on preparing students to become change agents, creating a more just world for children, youth, and families. Both the CYFS major and CYFS minor can be completed online or in person, through careful planning with an advisor.
The Human Services major is interdisciplinary and prepares individuals for culturally responsive work in the field of human and social services. Graduates will be equipped to address the spectrum of human need in settings such as schools, behavioral health agencies, healthcare settings, and aging and disability agencies.
The Human Services major is offered fully online and structured to meet the needs of professionals working in the field, including an opportunity for students to receive credit for prior learning.
Child, Youth, and Family Studies B.A./B.S.
Students who are interested in becoming elementary school teachers, social workers, counselors, early childhood educators, or special educators are advised to consider a degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies (CYFS). The degree is also appropriate for students seeking career pathways such as parent educators, family advocates, youth workers, social service caseworkers, program directors/administrators, and classroom assistants. Students gain an interdisciplinary perspective on children, youth, and families, a broad understanding of family systems, and a working knowledge of the diverse socio-cultural contexts in which children and families develop.
The Child, Youth, and Family Studies major content integrates theory with practice through a liberal arts foundation, coursework in professional development, practicum experience, and professional documentation that prepares students for professional roles as well as graduate school. Students may choose focused elective courses in early childhood education, youth work, family life education, elementary education, human services, or child life.
The Family Studies and Human Services program also offers a minor in Child, Youth, and Family Studies, which can be completed in close alignment with the Families and Society Junior Cluster.
In both the Child, Youth, and Family Studies major and minor a strong emphasis is placed on preparing students to become change agents, creating a more just world for children, youth, and families. Both the CYFS major and CYFS minor can be completed online or in person, through careful planning with an advisor.
Requirements
In addition to meeting the general University requirements, majors must complete the following program components:
Required Courses (42 credits)
Choose 4 credits from the following interdisciplinary course list:
| BBE 442 | Elementary Mathematics Methods for Dual Language Learners | 3 |
| BSt 316 | Issues in African American Education | 4 |
| ChLa 450U | Latinos in Education | 4 |
| ECED 428 | Educational Rights and Inclusive Environments in Early Childhood | 3 |
| Ed 150 | Teaching as a Career | 2 |
| ELP 451 | Social Foundations of Education | 4 |
| SpEd 417 | Introduction to Special Education | 4 |
| SpEd 418 | Survey of Exceptional Learners | 3 |
Choose 16 credits of CFS electives from the following list:
| CFS 101 | Introduction to Child and Family Studies | 2 |
| CFS 313 | Mothers, Mothering, and Motherwork | 4 |
| CFS 318U/BSt 318U | Black Families in the U.S. | 4 |
| CFS 320U | ABCs of Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| CFS 330U | American Families in Film and Television | 4 |
| CFS 340U | Queer Families | 4 |
| CFS 350U | Interpersonal Violence: Impact on Children & Families | 4 |
| CFS 360 | Critical Disability: Impacts on Children, Youth, & Families | 4 |
| CFS 382U | Mental Health in Families | 4 |
| CFS 385U | Working with Diverse Families | 4 |
| CFS 386U | Youth Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Education | 4 |
| CFS 388U | Sexual and Reproductive Justice in the United States | 4 |
| CFS 390U | Sexuality and Family Systems | 4 |
| CFS 393U | Community Resources and Family Support | 4 |
| CFS 399 | Special Studies | 1-4 |
| CFS 410 | Selected Topics | 1-12 |
| CFS 440 | Critical Youth Studies | 4 |
| CFS 450 | Youth Work Practice | 4 |
| CFS 460 | Grief and Loss in Families | 4 |
| CFS 462 | Child Life and the Hospitalized Child | 4 |
| CFS 486 | Parent and Family Education | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 62
All courses submitted to satisfy the requirements for a major in Child, Youth, and Family Studies must be passed with a grade of C or above. In addition, courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling program major requirements.