Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Child and Family Studies Major, BS in Health and Human Sciences


Child and Family Studies Major

The department’s major is designed for students whose educational and career goals are focused on studying and working with children and families within educational programs, community services, and other professional settings. The major is designed to accommodate the special interests or strengths of students and allows for flexibility and individualization. Students design a program of study in consultation with their advisor that includes a core of required courses, a complement of specialty courses supportive of individual interests, and a 12-hour practicum that will complete their program of study. All students graduating with a child and family studies major will have in-depth knowledge about children and families, a broad integrative perspective, and means for application.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Sciences • Child and Family Studies Major


First Year Hours Credit
ENGL 101 *, ENGL 102 * 6
1Natural Sciences Electives * 7
2Arts and Humanities Electives * 6
3Quantitative Reasoning Electives * 6
   
Second Year  
CFS 211  3
CFS 220 * 3
4History Elective 3
5Foreign Language Electives* 6
6Psychology/Sociology Electives 6
7Social Sciences Elective * 3
8Specialty Area Electives 6
9Elective 3
   
Third Year  
CFS 213  3
CFS 320  3
CFS 385  3
CFS 395  3
8Specialty Area Electives 15
10Advanced Social Sciences Electives 6
   
Fourth Year  
11CFS 405 * 3
12CFS 470 , CFS 472 , CFS 480 , or CFS 490  12
8Specialty Area Electives 6
10Advanced Social Sciences Electives 6
9Elective 2
   Total 120
   
* Meets University General Education Requirement .
1 Select two courses from the Natural Sciences list  – University General Education Requirement. At least one of the courses must have a laboratory.
2 Select two courses from the Arts and Humanities list  – University General Education Requirement.
3 Select one mathematics and one statistics course from the Quantitative Reasoning list  – University General Education Requirement.
4 Select any history-prefix course.
5 A sequence of a modern foreign language at the 200 level or above must be selected. Select a sequence from the list of intermediate foreign language sequences in the Cultures and Civilizations list  – University General Education Requirement.
6 Select two of the following – PSYC 110 *, PSYC 210 , PSYC 220 ; SOCI 110 *, SOCI 120 *.
7 Select any course from the Social Sciences list  – University General Education Requirement. CFS 210 * and CFS 220 * and the courses used to meet the Psychology/Sociology Elective requirement may not be used.
8 SPECIALTY AREAS  Students must complete a total of 3 specialty areas of 9 credit hours each for a total of 27 credit hours. Students wishing to emphasize one specialty area may satisfy two of their three specialty areas by taking 18 credit hours in that area. A course may be counted in one specialty area only and may not be used to fulfill any other elective requirement. Teacher licensure students will take a total of 34 credit hours for their specialty areas plus an additional 3 credit hours from their advanced social science electives. 
9 At least 54 hours in 300-400 level courses are required.
10 A total of 12 hours selected from 300-400 level child and family studies courses or 300-400 level sociology, history, psychology, political science, anthropology, educational psychology, counselor education, or recreation and leisure studies courses. Teacher licensure students must take CFS 353  to fulfill 3 of the required hours.
11 Meets Communicating through Writing (WC) and Communicating Orally (OC) requirements.
12 Students pursuing the Early Development and Learning (PreK-K) licensure must complete the CFS 472  practicum and those pursuing the early childhood education (PreK-3) licensure must take the CFS 470  practicum. CFS 470 , CFS 480  and CFS 490  require a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (2.7 for CFS 472 , including transfer credits); completion of all prerequisites enforced by the registration system; a minimum grade of C in all child and family studies courses; completed application; student conduct and criminal background clearance. CFS 470 , CFS 472 , and CFS 480  must be completed in one semester. CFS 490  may be completed over several semesters.

Program Policies and Progression Requirements


The department’s major is designed for students whose educational and career goals are focused on studying and working with children and families within educational programs, community services, and other professional settings. The major is designed to accommodate the special interests or strengths of students and allows for flexibility and individualization. Students design a program of study in consultation with their advisor that includes a core of required courses, a complement of specialty courses supportive of individual interests, and a 12-hour practicum that will complete their program of study. All students graduating with a child and family studies major will have in-depth knowledge about children and families, a broad integrative perspective, and means for application.

In consultation with their faculty advisor, students will select at least 27 credit hours from the list of courses meeting departmental requirements for specialty areas. Students must complete a total of three specialty areas of 9 credit hours each. Students wishing to emphasize one specialty area may satisfy two of their three specialty areas by taking 18 credit hours in that area. A course may be counted in one specialty area only and may not be used to fulfill any other elective requirement.

Students electing to pursue the early development and learning (PreK-K) or the early childhood education teacher licensure preparation (PreK-3) specialty areas will take a total of 34 credit hours in this specialty area plus an additional 3 credit hours from their advanced social science electives.

Progression Requirements

Students are expected to know the criteria they must meet in order to progress into a practicum (CFS 470 , CFS 472 , CFS 480 , or CFS 490 ) and to regularly monitor their progress in meeting these criteria. Students will not be allowed to progress into the practicum until these criteria are met. If students do not appear able to meet these criteria, they are encouraged to work closely with their advisor to plan an alternative educational program. Specific information on how to apply for the practicum is available from the student’s advisor. Students must work closely with their advisor to ensure that they understand the requirements for progression and that they strictly follow the application process for the practicum experience of their choice.

Prior to the Practicum

  • Apply for the practicum by completing the application one year prior to the intended practicum semester.
  • Complete the self-disclosure forms allowing university personnel to obtain student conduct and criminal background information one year prior to the intended practicum semester. The department’s undergraduate committee will evaluate any negative background check.

Prerequisites for the Practicum

  • Completion of all prerequisites enforced by the registration system.
  • A cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (A cumulative GPA of at least 2.7, including transfer credits, is required for students electing the CFS 472  practicum option).
  • A minimum grade of C in all child and family studies courses.

Certified Family Life Educator

Students interested in applying for certification as a Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations must complete five courses from the Family Life Education specialty area – CFS 240 , CFS 345 , CFS 360 , CFS 440 , and COUN 480 . These courses are in addition to the Child and Family Studies core courses. Contact your advisor for specific information about becoming a Certified Family Life Educator through the department’s approved program of study.

Early Development and Learning (PreK-K)

The child and family studies major provides the undergraduate preparation needed for a student who would like to be licensed to teach early development and learning (PreK-K) in the State of Tennessee. This licensure program prepares students to teach children with and without disabilities, birth through age 6. Students who wish to pursue this licensure must complete the early development and learning (PreK-K) specialty area and complete the CFS 472  practicum. Upon completion of 60 undergraduate hours, including completion of CFS 350 , students will complete the admission process to the early development and learning (PreK-K) licensure program. Students interested in this licensure should work closely with their advisor to ensure that they understand and meet teacher education program requirements and that they strictly follow the application process.

Early Childhood Education Teacher Licensure (PreK-3)

The child and family studies major can provide the undergraduate preparation needed for a student who would like to be licensed to teach early childhood education in the State of Tennessee (PreK-3). The early childhood education licensure option is offered in conjunction with a master’s degree in child and family studies (early childhood education concentration). Students who wish to pursue this option must take the early childhood education licensure (PreK-3) specialty area and the CFS 470  practicum as an undergraduate. Upon attainment of senior status (i.e., 90 hours), students will complete the admission to teacher education process (see details in the teacher education section of this catalog) and simultaneously make application for admission to the MS with a major in child and family studies (See the Graduate Catalog for details.) Acceptance into the teacher licensure program is contingent upon acceptance into the department’s master’s program. Students interested in this option should work closely with their advisor to ensure that they understand and meet the teacher education program requirements and the requirements for graduate study and that they strictly follow the application process.

Service Learning Honors Program

Child and Family Studies majors have the opportunity to participate in the college’s Service Learning Honors Program. For eligibility and requirements, see Service Learning Honors Program.