Child and Family Studies
Department | Program | Courses
B.A. Degree
with a Major in Child and Family Studies, with an Area of Concentration
in Family Studies
The Family Studies concentration is designed for students seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamics of family relations and the interaction of the family with society. Students explore family structures and dynamics (including parent-child relations), families from different cultures, contemporary issues, family law, family violence and other dysfunctions, environmental influences, and other specific areas of interest. Graduates commonly seek employment in public and private social work (protection, foster care, adoption, family support, group homes, child support, etc.), family life education programs, child and family advocacy, abuse shelters and programs, family resource centers, parenthood education, gerontology, cooperative extension, or related areas. Graduates qualify for Kentucky’s social work registry without further examination. Advanced studies often are pursued in counseling/therapy, family studies, social work, human development, gerontology, or related fields.
A major in Child and Family Studies, with an Area of Concentration in Family Studies, is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:
Required CFS Core Courses—CFS 130, 145, 207 (also WST), 221, and 441 (which includes the Home Management House as a laboratory component).
Required Family Studies Concentration Courses—CFS 217, 350, 362, and 366 (also WST)
Required Distribution Courses—Two (2) course credits, chosen from CFS 237, 238, 313, 315, 186/286/386/486, and 395/495. Both CFS 186/286/386/486 and 395/495 courses must be approved by the CFS Department for this particular area of concentration. For each of these courses, only one credit shall count toward the major concentration requirement.
Required Collateral Courses—SOC 100 and PSY 100
Required Capstone Course—CFS 480
Exploring the Major—In addition to taking key General Education requirements, students considering this concentration should enroll in CFS 130, 145, 207 (also WST), and 221 during their first and second years, if possible.
Admission to the Major—Admission into this major requires the following: an overall GPA of 2.00; a successful formal interview and positive recommendation by an assigned CFS faculty member; completion of a handwritten, well-constructed essay explaining why the student wants to become a CFS major; successful performance in at least one completed or in-progress CFS course; and a majority vote of acceptance by the CFS faculty. A student who already has been formally accepted into another major at Berea and wants to transfer to a CFS major must make this request in writing to the Chairperson of the CFS Department.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)—CFS 130, 145, 207 (also WST), and 221 are prerequisites for upper-level courses and are offered every regular term. Upper-level courses sometimes are offered only once a year or in alternate years, so early curricular planning is very important. If a student elects to take CFS 395/495 to fulfill a major requirement, the Internship may be completed after the first year is completed, however, the Department recommends that CFS Internships be completed during the junior or senior year. Most CFS Internship placements are during the Short and Summer terms. Students, including those with a dual concentration, may use only one department-approved 186/286/386/486 and/or 395/495 to meet a concentration requirement.
Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major—In addition to completing the core course requirements and specified courses within the area of concentration, each student must satisfy departmental standards for effectiveness in written and oral communication.
Other Considerations and Recommendations—Two recommended electives for this concentration are HLT 111 and 224. Also, for students who are planning to pursue a Master of Social Work degree, MAT 103 and BIO 101 are recommended. If the student chooses to complete two of these courses, counting one toward each area of concentration, the two Internships or two Special Topics courses must be judged qualitatively different by the Department.
Curriculum Guide
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