With a child development degree, you’ll be ready to make a difference with professional roles in human service and education careers.
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
Online
Online: Family Studies
BS
Online
Online
DEGREE TYPE
Bachelor's Degree
PROGRAM TYPE
Undergraduate
LOCATION
DEPARTMENT
Pave the way for a fearless society.
Earning your degree in family studies prepares you to take on positions that help families at all stages of life. Integrate theory, research, and practice to serve families in a variety of fields.
SEMO's family studies program is an accredited Certified Family Life Educator program. The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) oversees our program, which includes coursework that follows the standards and criteria needed for students to become Provisional Certified Family Life Educators.
Where Bold Ideas Take Shape
Students pursuing a degree in family studies develop skills in assessing, creating, and implementing interventions to improve family interactions. More specifically, you’ll drive real change:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of family structures, dynamics, and interactions, along with developmental issues across the lifespan.
- Continue working, secure an internship, or balance life’s other responsibilities by taking online courses.
- Gain real-world experience through placement in agencies and programs serving young children and parents, pregnant teens, senior adults, low-income families, and the community.
What Can You Do with a Family Studies Degree?
The Family Studies program prepares students for a variety of positions that focus on families or family members at all stages of the life continuum in social service, government, and education.
With real-world experience built into the curriculum, prepare to graduate ready to start your career, or take the next step in your education towards a graduate degree.
Career Opportunities
- Advocacy agent
- Geriatric specialist
- Senior center director
- Victim assistance worker
- Caseworker
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Family Studies Degree Outcomes & Careers
-
$86k
Social and Community Service Manager
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a social and community service manager is $86,100.
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$73k
Marriage and Relationship Therapist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a marriage and relationship therapist is $73,800.
Family Studies Curriculum
The family studies degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. A minor is required. “Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded. Data shows that students who have completed this course in the first two years and have earned the noted grade are most likely to complete this program of study.
Required core courses:
- CF102 Relationships in the 21st Century (3)
- CF120 Foundations of Child Development (3)
- CF209 Introduction to Family Theories (3)
- CF220 Young and Middle Adulthood (3)
- CF410 Culture, Ethnicity and the Child (3)
- CF430 Parent-Child Interactions (3)
- CF520 Professional Ethics and Practice (3)
- ED535 The Trauma Informed Professional (3)
- FE200 Family Resource Management (3)
Family Studies option:
- CF206 Adult Development and Aging (3)
- CF275 Resilience Across the Lifespan (3)
- CF303 Introduction to Gender (3)
- CF340 Family Policy, Law, and Advocacy (3)
- CF360 Family Life Education (3)
- CF402 Relationships of Commitment (3)
- CF445 Social Perspectives of Sexuality (3)
- CF485 Mentoring and Coaching Across Contexts (3)
- CF565 Family Service Internship (3)
Choose 3 hours:
- CF213 Family and Community Resources (3)
- CF405 Family Life Education Practicum (3)
Pre-Counseling Track (Optional)
Optional Pre-Counseling track – no minor required if track is chosen:
- CF209 Introduction to Family Theories (3)
- CF275 Resilience Across the Lifespan (3)
- ED535 The Trauma-Informed Professional (3)
- PY101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
- PY440 Psychopathology (3)
- PY441 Clinical Psychology (3)
- PY442 Psychotherapy (3)
- PY444 Childhood Psychopathology (3)
Choose 6 hours:
CF303 Introduction to Gender (3)CF402 Relationships of Commitment (3)
CF430 Parent Child Interactions (3)
CF445 Social Perspectives of Sexuality (3)
- Child Development
- Childhood Trauma and Outcomes
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in a major program.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
First Year
Fall Semester (13 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- EN100 (3)
- CF102 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CF120 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Second Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- CF209 (3)
- CF360 (3)
- FE200 (3)
- General Education (3)
- General Education (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CF206 (3)
- CF220 (3)
- CF303 (3)
- General Education (3)
- Minor Course (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Third Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
- CF213 or CF405 (3)
- CF402 (3)
- CF410 (3)
- Minor Course (3)
- Minor Course (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CF275 (3)
- CF340 (3)
- CF430 (3)
- Minor Course (3)
- Minor Course (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
Fourth Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- CF445(3)
- ED535 (2)
- General Education (3)
- Minor Course (3)
- Elective(4)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CF485 (3)
- CF520 (3)
- CF565 (3)
- Minor Course (3)
- Elective (3)
Milestone: 2.0 cumulative grade point average
A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.
What will it cost?
Accrediting Body and Accreditation
Graduates of SEMO Online’s family studies program meet the standards to become a Provisional Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relation.
College of Education, Health and Human Studies
This degree is housed within the College of Education, Health and Human Studies. The college boasts programs that train students in mind, body, and soul. So, whether you want to teach, to care, to support, or to fix, we have a program to get you there.
Sarah Kuborn, Ph.D., CFLE
Assistant Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies
I decided to teach because I love helping students succeed and showing them that learning is a lifelong process.
View Department Faculty
Online Learning at SEMO
When it comes to your success, we do whatever it takes. Online learning at SEMO takes the same reputable college courses taught by Southeast faculty and makes them available anytime, anywhere.
Earn Your Degree on Your Schedule.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Getting the Job
Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, and sell your knowledge and experience—if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. Our boldly supportive faculty will provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.
Additional Resources
Alumni are employed by
98% of College of Education, Health and Human Studies graduates are employed or enrolled in grad school within a year.
Location
Office Location
Kent Library 305
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 4610
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701