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About Us Who are we? We are a group of dedicated professionals with a lot of experience working with families, couples, agencies and communities. Our department is devoted to the study of families, children and youth, and we are focused on making a real difference in their lives. Some of us are licensed marriage and family therapists, some are experts in child development and others have spent their careers involved in the study of families and the individuals who make up families. The teaching, research and service we do has meaning for our own lives, as well as the lives of those in the communities where we live. In addition, each faculty member provides personal attention to the careful academic advising of students in this major. Finally, each faculty member is active in professional organizations, participating as officers and leaders and presenting information for the benefit of other professionals, childcare providers and family service organizations. General Information: Undergraduate students with a major in child and family studies and an emphasis in family relations select, in addition to the general education and college core, coursework in child and family studies focusing on the understanding of families as systems and the diverse factors that affect the quality of family members’ lives across the lifespan. This combination of courses assures students receive the breadth and depth necessary for success in a variety of rewarding careers working with children and families. Students not only study theoretical frameworks used to explain human development and to understand families, but also acquire practical knowledge and skills that can be applied in their daily lives. This broad knowledge of families and children is acquired through such courses as: FAM 151 Interpersonal Relationships Laboratory and field experiences are integral to students' preparation, with the goal of providing the best academic foundation within a real-life context. The Center for Child Development, accredited by the National Academy for the Education of Young Children, offers all students opportunities to observe and participate in directed experience with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Some of these courses involving laboratory and field experiences include CD 350 Child Development Students graduating with an emphasis in family relations often work with families through community agencies or human service organizations (e.g., Planned Parenthood centers, boys and girls clubs, group home workers, case managers, child protective services workers, juvenile probation officers, activities directors in a nursing home, etc.; in addition, some students have been successful in business). Other graduates go on to do graduate work in marriage and family therapy, family studies and child development. Graduates who complete the course requirements for the child and family studies degree may be eligible for provisional membership in the National Council on Family Relations Certified Family Life Education Program.
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