The Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Science and Human Development prepares students for careers working with individuals, children, youth, and families as practitioners and educators in a multitude of community, school, and workplace settings. Our unique, interdisciplinary approach provides students with both theoretical foundations and their applications for working with people. Students examine the various cultural, community, and socioeconomic contexts in which families function and study interventions used to support individuals and families across the life span, from infancy to old age. They learn approaches grounded in social justice, diversity, and equity, and have opportunities to practice new skills with community engagement experiences.
The Families, Children and School Settings-K6 concentration is designed to provide a pathway for students to pursue teacher certification in Elementary Education (K-6). Minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 both overall and in the major. Students who wish to pursue K-6 teacher certification in Elementary Education must apply and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Once admitted, students will be matriculated into the B.A. in Elementary Education program as a second major.
Admission to the Teacher Education program is a separate process that students complete sophomore to junior year. Please visit the Teacher Education Program website for the required professional sequence of courses and other important program requirements, guidelines, and procedures. Students also are strongly advised to review the Teacher Education Program Handbook.
Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 24 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | 36 | |
| Teacher Education Program Requirements | 51 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Family and Child Studies Core | ||
| FSHD 101 | Introduction to the Content Areas in Family Science and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 248 | Family Life | 3 |
| FSHD 304 | Research Methods for Studying Families and Human Development | 3 |
| FSHD 315 | Community Engagement | 3 |
| or FSHD 316 | Service-Learning Experiences with Families and Children | |
| FSHD 418 | Working with Diverse Families and Children | 3 |
| FSHD 445 | Poverty and Families | 3 |
| Developmental Core | ||
| FSHD 214 | Child Development I | 3 |
| FSHD 314 | Child Development II: Adolescence | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Complete 9 credits of any available FSHD courses. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Second Major in Elementary Education
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Speech: Communication Requirement (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| D. Fine and Performing Arts | ||
| Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course. | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | ||
| Philosophical Orientation to Education (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course. | 3 | |
| H. Mathematics | ||
| Mathematics in Elementary Schools I (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| I. Natural Science Laboratory | ||
| Complete one 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course. | 4 | |
| J. Physical Education | ||
| Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course. | 1 | |
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | ||
| Historical Foundations of American Education (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| 2. Global Cultural Perspectives | 3 | |
| 3. Social Science Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Psychology (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| L. Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| Perspectives on Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a Democracy (Fulfilled in the Teacher Education sequence.) | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on placement exam complete one or two sequential courses in one language. | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Poverty and Families (Fulfilled in major.) | ||
| Total Credits | 3-6 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 |
| 4 | 6 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Spring | Credits | ||
| Apply to the Teacher Education Program | |||
| EDFD 220 | 3 | ||
| MTHM 201 | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FSHD 314 | 3 | ECSE 339 | 3 |
| MTHM 302 | 3 | ECEL 408 | 3 |
| READ 399 | 3 | ||
| ECEL 279 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECEL 412 | 1 | ECEL 414 | 9 |
| ECEL 410 | 2-3 | ECEL 421 | 3 |
| ECEL 427 | 3 | ||
| READ 408 | 3 | ||
| 9-10 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits 55-56 | |||