Bachelor of Science in Family Science
Understanding the Family
Family Science is a discipline that focuses on families, the challenges they face, and how to help them meet those challenges, and improve their quality of life.
Science-based Understanding
As a discipline, Family Science is based on social sciences, which means you will take courses in research design, data analysis, and theory. This scientific background will help you understand how research, theory, and practice are related, and how you can apply this information to your work with families. You will also take courses in:
- Family Resource Management—how families manage time, energy, money, space, and helping them to manage these resources better.
- Human Growth and Development—changes and milestones that people go through as they age from womb to tomb; knowing what to expect as people get older allows us to help them prepare for such changes.
- Family Policy—developing policies and programs to help families with issues such as child care, child abuse, aging, and then analyzing how these policies and programs impact families.
- Family/Parent Education—preparation, presentation, and evaluation of educational programs designed to enhance quality of life for families and parents.
Career Opportunities
This major provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, community social work, urban planning, family policy, student services, among other areas. This major provides work-ready experiences (including applied coursework and an internship) that lead to employment in the human services following graduation with the bachelor’s degree:
- Case managers
- Child welfare specialists
- Juvenile justice specialist
- Victim advocates
- Substance abuse prevention and treatment services workers
- Care home activities directors
Did you Know?
CNN Money rated the Family Science major as, "the top major you never heard of that could get you a job when you graduate with a bachelor's degree."
CFLE Certification
The coursework required by the W's Family Science major is approved by the NCFR (National Council on Family Relations) CFLE program for provisional certification. Family Science majors can become a provisional Certified Family Life Educator by completing their abbreviated application form during their final term at the W or within two years of graduation. This abbreviated application process allows graduates of approved programs to bypass the national standardized exam for CFLE certification. Graduates of approved programs have five years post-graduation to complete 3200 hours of practice to become fully certified CFLE’s.
For more information on CFLE: http://www.ncfr.org/cfle-certification/what-family-life-education.