+ Child and Family Community Services

206 Johnston Hall, 419-372-2026

The undergraduate child and family community services (CFCS) program is a multi-disciplinary major that focuses on the study of human development across the life-span from an ecological perspective. The CFCS major is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of individuals and families, the dynamics of relationships and environmental contexts affecting children, families and community services.

This program provides education and experience so that graduates can contribute to areas such as child advocacy, family violence treatment and prevention, residential treatment centers for adolescents, family and community development and service delivery, elder-care facilities and public programs for aged adults, and child-care programs and preschools.

Graduates are also prepared to seek advanced degrees in human development and family studies, child development and related areas. The curriculum emphasizes the development of critical thinking, analytic, communication and management skills as well as current knowledge and theory in life-span human and family development.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in child and family community services are expected to:

• Demonstrate substantive knowledge in life-span human development and family science that is based on the most current research and theory, and that emphasizes important ecological, systemic and contextual factors;
• Show understanding of the importance of developing collaborative partnerships to serve the needs of children, families and individuals across the life-span;
• Articulate and demonstrate professional ethics and conduct in all work with agencies, families, children and individuals;
• Understand and appreciate multiple aspects of diversity of individuals, families, cultures and communities;
• Demonstrate critical and reflective thinking as well as analytic abilities, facility in oral and written communication, and management skills;
• Understand the impact of public and private policies at multiple levels on children, families, education and the professions involved with children, families and individuals across the life-span.

Content (59 hours)

• F&N 207 (3)
• FCS 405 (3)
• HDFS 105, 106, 107, 302, 321, 328, 407, 408, 421, 425, 427, 429 (36)
• PSYC 101 (4)
• SOC 101 (3)
• Select 10 hours from: HDFS 322; FCS 389, 489