Family Studies

Faculty

Kristie B. Chandler, Chair, Assistant Professor
Clara E. Gerhardt, Professor
Jonathan C. Davis, Associate Professor

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Family Studies Major, B.A.
Family Studies Major with Child Development Education Concentration, B.A.

Family studies is the study of how individuals grow and develop across the life cycle-particularly in the context of personal, marital, and family relationships. Family studies courses expose students to both practical and theoretical content in areas such as dating and relationship formation, marital relationships, human sexuality, parenting, families and society, lifespan development, gender roles, and multicultural perspectives. The philosophy and broad principles required to plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs designed to optimize family functioning, represent some of the specialized skills of the Family Life Educator.

This discipline concerns the study of an individual’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual development from birth through adulthood and how that individual development impacts the family unit. It studies family dynamics from a systemic, developmental framework. The societal issues confronting families, including family law and family economics, are examined. The theories and research which attempt to explain and predict family functioning from an individual and societal perspective are emphasized.

Mission Statement

To promote and support healthy family life, to teach and to learn about family life in its diversity, as families are the fabric of society.

Certification

The family studies major recognizes the crucial role of families in society. The family studies curriculum focuses on personal relationships and their connection to and impact on human living and development. Since 1999 the family studies curriculum has met the requirements for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation awarded by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR; www.ncfr.org).

Degree Programs

The Department of Family Studies (FAMS) offers a major in family studies culminating in a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree.

For students interested in obtaining a master of science in education with Class A certification for preschool through sixth grade, the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies offers a fifth-year nontraditional graduate program in early childhood and elementary education. Detailed requirements are described in the Teacher Education section of this catalog.

The department also offers a minor in family studies.

Social Entrepreneurship and Non-Profit Management Minor (Brock School of Business)

While not a requirement for a family studies degree, some students may benefit from declaring a minor. There are numerous possibilities throughout the academic programs available at Samford. Many family studies majors are attracted to job opportunities available through non-profit and not-for-profit organizations. A family studies major, coupled with a minor in social entrepreneurship and nonprofit management through the Brock School of Business, may increase job marketability. If interested, please refer to the Brock School of Business section of this catalog to review the requirements for the minor.

Concentration in Child Development Education

In addition to the general family studies major, a concentration in child development education is available. This concentration leads toward a specialized career as a professional educator in a child development setting. Its focus is on working with children and families in the pre-school setting, with specific emphasis on early childhood curriculum. Samford University utilizes the Samford Children’s Learning Center (CLC) as a practicum setting. This concentration represents a collaboration between the Departments of Family Studies and Teacher Education with students taking courses in both disciplines. Students interested in this concentration must notify their advisor during the fall semester of their sophomore year.

Career Options

The program is designed to prepare students for professional careers in the helping professions, in human service agencies, the non profit sector, or for graduate school and research. Career options include family life education, parenting education, helping professions, elder care services, family and social services, child development, youth ministry, and education.

While family studies is a solid foundation for a career in the helping professions, a master’s degree or higher may be required to practice and be employed at a competitive level. A significant portion of family studies students plan to attend a master’s degree program in areas such as social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, early childhood education, occupational therapy and seminary.

Competencies

Samford University focuses on the following competencies in its educational approach: written, oral, quantitative, and information literacies. Students who complete a family studies degree:

Have an understanding of an individual’s physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual development from birth through adulthood and how that individual development impacts the family unit.
Have an understanding of family dynamics from a systemic, developmental framework.
Have an understanding of the societal issues confronting families including family law and family economics.
Have an understanding of the philosophy and broad principles required to plan, implement, and evaluate educational programs designed to optimize family functioning.
Have an understanding of the theories and research which attempt to explain and predict family functioning from a micro (individual) and macro (societal) level perspective.
Have completed an internship in a child and/or family social/community agency.
Have received conditional approval as Certified Family Life Educators (CFLEs) recognized through the National Council on Family Relations.

University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements

See University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required courses. General Education Requirements are detailed in the individual degree tables, with some exceptions. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, consult University Core Curriculum and General Education Requirements and Physical Activity Program for a list of applicable courses.

For the family studies major (FAMS), a student can satisfy the language requirement by taking up to 16 credits (language 101, 102, 201, 202).* However, the requirement can be waived if the student demonstrates proficiency on the Samford foreign language placement exam.

*Four credits of language (202 or higher for FAMS majors only) will be applied to the general education language requirement while the balance of language credits will be applied to general electives.

Programs

Major

Minor

Family Studies Minor

Courses

Family Studies