What do children's hospitals, medical camps, social service agencies, children's homes, crisis intervention services, and community correctional programs have in common? All are actual sites where you will find Family Sciences and Child Life students complete a minimum of 240 hours of practica experiences. Opportunities abound for students to specialize their practica settings to their individual career goals.

Can you see a relationship between classrooms in preschool, kindergarten, junior high, and high school? These sites serve as the facilities for student teaching for Applied Child Development and Family and Consumer Sciences Education students. With over 270 completed hours of supervised student teaching in addition to classroom observation and participation, these education students are well-equipped to succeed in today's classrooms.

Become a Certified Child Life Specialist in a hospital or health care setting where you will work as a member of the pediatric health care team who focuses on the emotional and developmental needs of children, using play and other forms of communication to help reduce the stress of the health care experience for children and their families. With careful planning, students interested in a master's degree in physical therapy can meet the prerequisites for admission to a physical therapy school.

Applied Child Development The applied child development concentration is designed for those students who wish to pursue a career working with children outside of the public school arena. The program does not lead to a state of Louisiana teaching certificate. The program includes courses in human development theory and applications, guidance, parenting, and early childhood programming. The concentration also includes a minimum of 240 clock hours of practice experience with children. This concentration prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings including corporate or private child care, Head start, social service agencies, and parenting programs among others.

Seek employment in child welfare, youth agencies, such as YMCA, programs for the elderly, agencies for adoption and domestic abuse, and juvenile programs in the court system. With a broad-based education in working with families in all stages of the family life cycle, students are prepared for employment in social service, private, and industrial organization. Provides a great foundation for students interested in law and public policy or Christian education and the ministry.

Family Sciences Seek employment in child welfare, youth agencies, such as YMCA, programs for the elderly, agencies for adoption and domestic abuse, and juvenile programs in the court system. With a broad-based education in working with families in all stages of the family life cycle, students are prepared for employment in social service, private, and industrial organization. Provides a great foundation for students interested in law and public policy or Christian education and the ministry.

*Directed Electives chosen by student in consultation with advisor from one of the following concentrations:

Applied Child Development Concentration Directed Electives
Sophomore Year: (8 hours) Family & Child Studies 100, 200; Food & Nutrition 223;
Junior Year: (13 hours) Family & Child Studies 277, 301, 331, 341, 361;
Senior Year: (12 hours) Family & Child Studies 400, 432, 451; Family & Child Studies Elective (3).

Child Life Concentration Directed Electives
Sophomore Year: (9 hours) Family & Child Studies 280, 291; Health Information Management 103;
Junior Year: (14 hours) Family & Child Studies 301, 331, 341, 355, 361;
Senior Year: (12 hours) Family & Child Studies 380, 432, 451; Family & Child Studies Elective (3).

Family Science Concentration Directed Electives
Sophomore Year: (9 hours) Family & Child Studies 100, 101, 200;
Junior Year: (15 hours) Family & Child Studies 301 or 331 or 341, 355, 435, 471; Family & Child Studies Elective (3);
Senior Year: (12 hours) Family & Child Studies 400, 420, 447; Family & Child Studies Elective (3).

Minor in Family and Child Studies
Required courses include Family and Child Studies 201 and 210. A minimum of 15 semester hours should be selected from the following: Family and Child Studies 100, 200, 277, 301, 320, 331, 400, 410, 420, 432, 435, 447, 451, or 471. At least 12 hours must be 300 level or above.

General admission requirements to the University apply to entering freshmen and transfer students.

Upper Division Requirements

Students must be admitted to Upper Division before enrolling in Human Ecology courses numbered 300 or above. Students in Child Life and Family Studies are eligible for Upper Division status ONLY when they can answer YES to the following questions:

1. Have earned a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of University credit including the following courses or approved equivalents/ substitutions: University Seminar 100, 6 hours of mathematics, English 101 and 102, and 6 hours of FCS courses at Louisiana Tech University.
2. Have or will have a cumulative GPA of 2.2 or above on at least 30 hours by the end of the quarter in which they are applying.
3. Have earned a grade of "C" or better in English 101 and 102.
4. Have earned a grade of "C" or better in 3 hours of mathematics.
5. Have earned a passing grade in University Seminar 100.
6. Have earned a grade of "C" or better in all Family and Child Studies courses taken at Louisiana Tech University.
7. Are currently in good academic or administrative standing at the university. (Students who are on academic or administrative probation are not eligible for Upper Division status.)

Students may apply during the quarter in which the qualifications are being met.