B.A.A.S. Child Development and Family Studies
Overview
The B.A.A.S. in Child Development and Family Studies offers a flexible program that allows students to utilize their workforce training and experience toward obtaining their degree. Most courses taken for the A.A.S. in Child Development are transferable as well.
Jump Right In
Students can obtain up to thirty-three hours of workforce credit toward their degree through three avenues: workforce-based college credit hours (such as CDEC courses) will transfer, each year of documented work experience at a licensed childcare facility counts toward workforce credit, and documented training hours can count towards workforce credit.
Designed With You in Mind
Our program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge, leadership skills, and cultural competence to work with children and families. This is a hybrid/blended program with courses offered in a face-to-face, hybrid, or online setting, with all CHFS courses offered online at least once every two years to serve our outreach students.
Accreditations
Related Programs
Estimated Completion
120 credit hours (4 years)
Application Process
Cost
Locations Available
1Admission to the off-campus locations such as Fort Worth, Waco, and Online require a minimum of 24 transferable credit hours, a 2.0 GPA and that a student be TSI complete.
Department
College
Plan Your Future
Early in the course sequence, students will spend time observing and assessing children in child care settings. Later in their coursework, students will work directly with teachers and children to gain first-hand experience prior to entering their internship semester.
CHFS students complete a 225 hour semester-long internship working with children and families. Internship placements vary widely and can include childcare centers, early childhood intervention agencies, advocacy organizations, adoption/foster care agencies, and hospital settings.
Career Services offers students a wide variety of professional development opportunities that can translate into careers. A few of these programs include:
Career counseling and My Plan
Handshake
Mock Interviews
Resume Assistance
Business Etiquette Dinners
And much more!
Program Objectives
The goals of the Child Development and Family studies program at Tarleton State University are to:
- Provide students with a strong foundation for working with children and families in a variety of capacities.
- Promote diversity and multicultural education.
- Tailor each student’s education to their desired career.
- Enhance each student’s writing and critical thinking skills.
- Use and model best practices in all areas of our program.
- Continue to grow and learn as a faculty so that students get the most current information and best experience possible for their career.
Coursework Highlights
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| CHFS | 3300 | Child Development |
| CHFS | 3305 | Management of a Licensed Childcare Facility |
| CHFS | 3315 | Concept Development in Early Childhood |
| CHFS | 3344 | Creative Arts and Literature for Children |
| CHFS | 4309 | Parenting |
| CHFS | 4317 | Environments in Early Childhood |
| KINE | 3380 | Adapted Physical Activity |
| SOCW | 3303 | Social Work in Diverse Populations |
For a full list of courses, please refer to this degree’s advising guide.
Facilities and Features
The TAPS program provides resources for students who are also parents on the Stephenville and Fort Worth campuses. Family-based activities for parenting students are held throughout the year.
Each spring, the CHFS program hosts at least two Service Day projects that benefit children and families in many communities. Students on the Stephenville campus will have the opportunity to perform service in person, and distance learners are offered a project that allows them to participate near where they live.
The CHFS Club provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to socialize, provide community service, and learn more about the overall field of child and family studies.