Child and Family Studies Family Studies B.A.
The Family Studies concentration is designed for students seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamics of family relations and the interaction of the family with society. Students explore family structures and dynamics (including parent-child relations), families from different cultures, contemporary issues, family law, family violence and other dysfunctions, environmental influences, and other specific areas of interest. Graduates commonly seek employment in public and private social work (protection, foster care, adoption, family support, group homes, child support, etc.), family life education programs, child and family advocacy, abuse shelters and programs, family resource centers, parenthood education, gerontology, cooperative extension, or related areas. Advanced studies often are pursued in counseling/therapy, family studies, social work, human development, gerontology, or other human services fields.
Degree Requirements
A major in Child and Family Studies, with an Area of Concentration in Family Studies, is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:
Required CFS Core Courses
| CFS 130 | Lifespan Human Development | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 145 | Consumer Decision Making | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 207/WGS 207 | Family Relations (WGS) | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 221 | Fundamentals of Nutrition | 1 Course Credit |
Required Capstone Coursees
| CFS 480 | Senior Research Seminar | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 441 | Family Resource Management | 1 Course Credit |
Required Collateral Course
| SOC 100 | Sociology of Everyday Life | 1 Course Credit |
| | or | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology | 1 Course Credit |
Required Distribution Courses:
| CFS 237 | Human Environments I | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 238 | Human Environments II | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 245 | Community Resources-Families | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 317 | Parent Child Relations | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 350 | Family Law and Policy | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 362 | Cont Family Issues & Poverty | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 366/WGS 366 | Cross-Cultrl Persp-Fam (WGS) | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 380 | Methds of Instructnl Delivery | 1 Course Credit |
| CFS 186/286/386/486 | | |
| CFS 395/495 | | |
| PSY 231/CFS 231 | Social Gerontology (CFS) | 1 Course Credit |
CFS 186/286/386/486 and 395/495 must be approved by the CFS Program for this particular area of concentration. For each of these courses, only one credit shall count toward the major concentration requirement.
Exploring the Major— In addition to taking key General Education requirements, students considering any Child and Family Studies concentration should enroll in CFS 130, CFS 145, CFS 207 (also WGS), and CFS 221 during their first and second years, if possible. If CFS 237, 238 or 317 is selected from the list of optional courses, the course can be taken during the second year.
Admission to the Major— Admission into the major requires the following: an overall GPA of 2.00; an average GPA of 2.3 in CFS classes completed at the time of declaration of major; a successful formal interview and positive recommendation by an assigned CFS faculty member assigned by the Program Chair; completion of a handwritten, well-constructed essay explaining why the student wants to become a CFS major; and a majority vote of acceptance by the CFS faculty. A student who has been formally accepted into another major at Berea and wants to transfer to a CFS major must make this request in writing to the Program Chair of the CFS Program. A student who is eligible for the declaration of major process, is currently enrolled in his/her first CFS class, and is interested in pursuing a CFS major should contact the Program Chair of the CFS program.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)—CFS 130, CFS 145, CFS 207 (also WGS), and CFS 221 are prerequisites for upper-level courses and are offered every regular term. Upper-level courses sometimes are offered only once a year or in alternate years, so early curricular planning is very important. If a student elects to take CFS 395/495 to fulfill a major requirement, the Internship may be completed after the first year is completed. However, the Program recommends that CFS Internships be completed after the sophomore or junior year. Most CFS Internship placements are during the Summer terms. Students, including those with a dual concentration, may use only one program-approved 395/495 to meet a concentration requirement.
Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major—In addition to completing the core course requirements and specified courses within the area of concentration, each student must satisfy program standards for effectiveness in written and oral communication.
Other Considerations and Recommendations—Recommended electives for this concentration are CFS/PSY 231, HLT 111 and HLT 224. Also, for students who are planning to pursue a Master of Social Work degree, MAT 104 and BIO 101 are recommended. For students pursuing double concentrations, if the student chooses to complete two Internships or two Special Topics courses, the two courses must be judged qualitatively different by the Program.