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Child and Family Studies

The 124-credit B.S. degree program in child and family studies provides students with a broad foundation in the range of issues in child and family studies across the life span. Students are expected to complete 19 credits of specialization in child or family development in addition to the 19-credit program requirement core. The program can include a minor. A specialization in gerontology may also be included for family development students. Students must consult with an advisor for specific distribution of credits.

College Requirements
Liberal Arts Core (60-65 credits)   

WRT 105,205 Writing Studio 1 and 2 6
  Mathematics or foreign language sequence 6-8
NHM 225 Nutrition in Health 3
  Natural science and mathematics cluster 12-15
PSY 205 Foundations of Human Behavior
3
PSY 336 Psychology of the Adolescent
3
SOC 248 Ethnic Minorities and Group Relationships 3
  Social science electives 6
PHI 191 Ethics and Value Theory and
additional humanities cluster
12
  Critical Reflections on Social Issues 6

Program Requirement Core
(19 Credits)
CFS 201 Family Development 3
CFS 202 The Development of the Young Child in the Family
3
CFS 255 Interpersonal Competence 3
CFS 363 Introduction to Gerontology 3
CFS 388 Human Sexuality 3
CFS 395 Seminar on Family and Child Intervention 3
HSH 101 First-Year Gateway
1
In the junior year, students must choose one of the following two specializations.

Child Development (19 credits)
CFS 345 The Developing Infant 3
CFS 331 Social Relationships and Peer Play or  
CFS 358 Prosocial and Moral Development 3
CFS 365 Language Development in Children and Families 3
CFS 432 Foundations and Principles of Early Childhood Education 4
CFS 335 Issues and Perspectives in Early Childhood Education 3
CFS 433 Child Practicum 2-3
  Electives 21-26
    124

Family Development
(18 credits)
CFS 387 Intimate Relationships and Gender-Roles 3
CFS 448 The Contemporary American Family and Community or  
CFS 447 Principles and Practice in Parenting 3
CFS 467 Child and Family in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
3
CFS 487 Critical Incidents in Family Development or  
CFS 478 Power, Conflict, Violence and the Family 3
CFS 493 Family Practicum I
3
CFS 494 Family Practicum II 3
  Electives 21-26
    124
Child and Family Studies Minor
Students pursuing programs in other areas of study may choose a minor in child and family studies. The minor program requires the completion of 18 credits. To be admitted to the program, students must submit a petition to the chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies and the recorder in the College of Human Services and Health Professions.

Required core courses
CFS 201 Family Development 3
CFS 202 Development of the Young Child in the Family 3
CFS 345 The Developing Infant
3
CFS 363 Introduction to Gerontology 3

Plus two elective courses to be chosen from the following menu:
    CFS 331    CFS 388
    CFS 335    CFS 432
    CFS 358    CFS 447
    CFS 365    CFS 467
    CFS 377    CFS 485
    CFS 387    CFS 487

Early Childhood Minor
Students pursuing programs in other areas of study may choose an early childhood minor program in child and family studies. The minor program requires the completion of 19 credits. To be admitted to the program, students must submit a petition to the chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies and the recorder in the College of Human Services and Health Professions.

Required core courses
CFS 201 Family Development 3
CFS 202 Development of the Young Child in the Family 3
CFS 432 Foundations and Principles of ECE
4

Plus three elective courses to be chosen from the following:
CFS 331 Social Relationships and Peer Play 3
CFS 358 Prosocial and Moral Development 
3
CFS 377 Children in Black Families 3
CFS 467 Child and Family in Cross-Cultural Perspectives 3


Interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology
The interdisciplinary minor in gerontology provides an opportunity for students to focus academic work on the older population. It requires the completion of 18 credits, 12 of them above the 300 level. To be admitted to the program, students submit a Declaration of Minor form to their faculty advisor, the gerontology minor coordinator, and their home college dean’s office.
    Students also may apply for a certificate of achievement in gerontology from the University Gerontology Center, 426 Eggers Hall, 315-443-2703.

Required core courses (3 credits each)
CFS 363 Introduction to Gerontology
SOC 364 Aging and Society

Two from the following: (3 credits each)
RCS 281 Personal Financial Management
NHM 225 Nutrition in Health
PSY 337 Psychology of Adult Life: Maturity and Old Age

Choice of two additional courses from the following: (3 credits each)
CFS 487 Critical Incidents in Family Development
RCS 564 Consumer Perspectives
NHM 325 Nutrition in the Hospitality?Industry
NHM 342 Nutrition in the Life Span
AAS/SOC 353 Sociology of the African American Experience
ANT/WSP 363 Anthropology of Family Life
ECN 355 Economics of Health and Medical Care
ECN/WSP 358 Economics of U.S. Poverty and Discrimination
REL 551 Ethics and the Health Professions

Note: Experience credit in the student’s program of study (e.g. CFS 470) may also be used for 1 to 3 credits. To ensure adequate gerontological content, the experience credit petition must be reviewed by the coordinator of the gerontology minor.

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