Development and Family Studies, BS (non–teacher certification)

Degree requirements

Hours required and general/college requirements

A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum ” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Education requirements.

Major requirements

EPSY core, 13 hours

It is recommended that students enroll in DFST 1013 and DFST 1023 during their first term/semester in the program.

Core requirements

Practicum

One 3-hour unpaid practicum (DFST 4023 ) related to the student’s selected emphasis area (see below). Students must complete a minimum of 150 clock hours to meet this requirement. Some students may be required to complete a second practicum. Students should have senior status and have completed DFST 4011 before beginning a practicum. Liability insurance is required for all practicum students. Permission to enroll in a practicum and approval of the practicum site are required. Students must have completed the following courses to be eligible for enrollment in:

Infants or toddlers

Teaching young children (2 years – 8 years)

School-age care and programming

Adolescents

DFST 4133 - Adolescent Development

Administration and/or parent/family life education

Emphasis area

Students must also complete course requirements for one of the following emphasis areas chosen with the advice of a faculty member within the program area:

Family and community, 42 hours

Human development and research, 27 hours

Intervention and administration, 48 hours

Electives

To complete the minimum of 120 hours for the degree.

Other course requirements

Other requirements

An overall minimum 2.50 GPA and a minimum of a C or better in course work in the development and family studies major are required for graduation.

Students who are interested in research and preparing for graduate studies are advised to take a research practicum and complete a senior thesis. Any student who is interested in research should meet with a faculty advisor early in the program to plan an appropriate minor and electives and to seek approval for choosing a senior thesis.

Students majoring in development and family studies must contact the Student Advising Office, Matthews Hall, Room 105, to prepare their degree audits.