B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies
Overview
The B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies is designed for students who want to work with children and families outside of the public school setting. The degree’s three tracks help students tailor their education to their desired career path and provide them with the necessary background to obtain specific certifications upon graduation.
Degree plans
- Child Life Education
- Early Childhood Education
- CHFS Family Life Education
- BAAS Child Development and Family Studies
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
Department
College
Plan Your Future
Students will gain hands on experience working with young children in a classroom setting. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to work with children in child care or preschool settings as teachers and directors, early childhood intervention, and state licensing. Through a combination of work experience and education, students can obtain a Director Licensure for Licensed Child Care programs or an Early Intervention Specialist certification as desired.
Family Life Education courses focus on parenting, family resource management, and human intimacy and sexuality. Graduates go on to work in advocacy, adoption/foster care, or family life education, and they are eligible to test for their Certification in Family Life Education through the National Council on Family Relations.
The Child Life track contains coursework and experiences that prepares students to become a certified Child Life Specialist through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) upon successful completion of the prescribed coursework as well as the ACLP practicum, internship, and certification exam.
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.
Coursework Highlights
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| CHFS | 1304 | Infant and Toddler Development |
| CHFS | 3300 | Child Development |
| CHFS | 3316 | Human Intimacy |
| CHFS | 3333 | Family Financial Management |
| CHFS | 4309 | Parenting |
| CHFS | 4317 | Environments in Early Childhood |
| CHFS | 4345 | Child Life |
For more information on courses, please refer to the university catalog.
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.