Child and Family Studies Major
The Child and Family Studies major prepares students to work with children and families throughout the lifespan in a broad range of settings. The program is designed to provide a thorough understanding of how to work with children and families in multiple contexts. The program includes child and family development classes that include diversity in families, the impact of stress and trauma, and emotional and behavioral considerations when working with children and families. Professional skill development is an essential part of the program and intended to give students the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed by child and family services specialists be they future educators, educational specialists, social workers, or counselors.
Standard #1: Young Children’s Development. The practitioner understands how young children grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Standard #2: Diversity and Differences. The practitioner uses understanding of individual differences and diversity among children and families to ensure inclusion in multiple contexts.
Standard #3: Developmentally Appropriate Environments. The practitioner works with others to create environments that support individuals and families, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement and social interaction.
Standard #4: Content Knowledge. The practitioner understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) and creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for young children and families to assure mastery of the content.
Standard #5: Application of Content and Assessment. The practitioner understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage young children in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving. He/she uses multiple methods of assessment to engage young children in their own growth, to monitor progress, and to guide his/her decision making.
Standard #6: Professional Learning and Leadership. The practitioner engages in ongoing professional learning, uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, and adapts practice to meet the needs of each young child. The practitioner also seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to collaborate with young children, families, colleagues, other professionals, and community members.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Recommended CCC Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Diversity | ||
| Schools in Society w/ Field | ||
| Social Science | ||
| Cognition & Learning w/ Field | ||
| Writing Intensive | ||
| Cognition & Learning w/ Field | ||
| Mission-Overlay | ||
| Intro to Special Edu w/Field | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CFS 101 | Intro to Child &Family Studies | 3 |
| EDU 121 | Child Development | 3 |
| EDU 150 | Schools in Society w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 151 | Cognition & Learning w/ Field | 3 |
| SPE 160 | Intro to Special Edu w/Field | 3 |
| CFS 290 | CFS Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| CFS 350 | Crgvr Prof Prtnrshps &Advocacy | 3 |
| CFS 400 | Internship: Child & Family St | 3 |
| Select three courses: | 9 | |
| Teaching and Learning | ||
| Found of Early Child w/ Field | ||
| Assessment and Evaluation | ||
| Language and Culture w/ Field | ||
| Social Emotional Development, Mental Health, and Health | ||
| Soc/Emo Dev/Lrn: Erly Chld | ||
| Trauma in Infan & Early Child | ||
| Inclusive Classrooms w/ Field | ||
| Communities, Systems, and Advocacy | ||
| Adolescent Development w/Field | ||
| Fam School & Comm:Diverse Soc | ||
| Language and Culture w/ Field | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Free Electives
Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CFS 101 or EDU 150 |
Intro to Child &Family Studies or Schools in Society w/ Field |
3 |
| EDU 121 | Child Development | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Non-Native Language | 3-4 | |
| World History | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDU 151 | Cognition & Learning w/ Field | 3 |
| CFS Concentration Course 1 | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CFS 101 or EDU 150 |
Intro to Child &Family Studies or Schools in Society w/ Field |
3 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CFS 290 | CFS Professional Prep Seminar | 1 |
| CFS Concentration Course 2 | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPE 160 | Intro to Special Edu w/Field | 3 |
| CFS Concentration Course 3 or Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CFS 350 | Crgvr Prof Prtnrshps &Advocacy | 3 |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity | 3 | |
| CFS Concentration Course 3 or Elective | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CFS 400 | Internship: Child & Family St | 3 |
| Free Electives | 9-12 | |
| Hours | 12-15 | |
| Total Hours | 117-122 | |