Degree: Bachelor of Science
Career Opportunities
Students completing the BS degree in Family and Child
Studies will choose one or more of three concentrations:
Applied Child Development, Child Life, or Family Science. All
concentrations provide students with a broad background in
child development and guidance, family dynamics, coping
strategies, and interpersonal skills. Each concentration includes
theory-based courses, application-based courses, and
experiential education courses.
The Applied Child Development concentration prepares
students to work with children of all ages in a variety of settings.
Graduates may find employment in social agencies, child care
settings, and related programs. The Applied Child Development
concentration is not a teacher certification program.
The Child Life concentration prepares students to become
child life specialists. After completing the BS degree in Family and Child Studies, graduates complete an internship and pass a
national certification examination to become certified child life
specialists. Child life specialists work primarily in the hospital
setting, although some graduates have obtained jobs working
with children in social and community agencies, bereavement
programs, and early intervention programs.
The Family Science concentration prepares students for a
variety of human services positions, including community
support services; counseling and youth agencies; law or public
policy; and employee assistance programs. Approximately half
of the students completing this concentration enter graduate
programs in social work, marriage and family therapy, seminary,
and others.
For complete information concerning our B.S. Family and Child Studies please view our current Catalog
