Professionals in child and family studies are people-oriented professionals who work with individuals and families in areas ranging from child and youth services to gerontology. Their services are increasingly in demand in a variety of contexts: schools, child-care facilities, family service agencies, and corporations. Many graduates choose to work in the classroom. With a teaching license in early childhood education, you can teach in programs for young children (birth through age 8), and with a vocational teaching license in family and consumer sciences education, you are qualified to teach from grade 4 through adult.

Ohio University’s programs in child and family studies can help you find the focus that will be the most fulfilling and give you the training and skills that you need to succeed. The programs are grounded in the foundation of a liberal arts education and also include a multicultural perspective that is especially important to those working with children and families.

This program meets the requirements for teaching children age 3 through grade 3. It prepares you to teach in nursery schools, child-care centers, Head Start programs, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and the primary grades (1-3).*

Teachers of young children need a broad education, so the early childhood education curriculum includes a variety of coursework in science, math, social science, and the arts, as well as courses in child and family development and in the early childhood, kindergarten, and primary curriculum. Many courses include practical experience in preprimary and primary classrooms, and the program includes both a preprimary experience in the Child Development Center or other area preschool program and a primary teaching experience in a public school.

The School of Human and Consumer Sciences collaborates with the College of Education to produce a well-rounded program in Early Childhood. Students take classes from both colleges to prepare them for teaching children age 3 through grade 3.

This program prepares you to work with clients at various developmental stages, including children, adolescents, families at mid-life, and senior citizens. It includes family and child development classes in the School of Human and Consumer Sciences with a life span emphasis, as well as courses relating to issues that include diversity in families, family ties and aging, human sexuality, death and dying, and human services field exploration. Required courses from other departments include psychology, sociology, and social work. Also required are a 75 hour junior practicum and a 400 hour quarter of full-time field experience in human services. These provide practical experience and the opportunity to apply theory and course content to real-life situations. If you choose to add the optional undergraduate gerontology certificate to your degree, you also will gain in-depth knowledge and skills for careers that involve working with older adults.

Ohio University does not have a certified Child Life Specialist (CLS) program. However, the Family Studies program is the recommended major if you are interested in pursuing this profession. Please be aware that this is an extremely competitive field, and you need to be willing to take some extra steps in order to be competitive for an internship. This includes maintaining a high GPA and having specific field experiences. It is highly recommended that you take the following two classes: HLTH 230, Medical Terminology and HSLS 378, Sign Language.

Family studies graduates find employment in many areas of human services, including child and family services, adolescent group homes, rehabilitation centers, community programs for the developmentally disabled, senior citizen centers, family planning centers, mental health agencies, probation services, emergency shelters, adult foster care, hospice, hospitals, 4-H programs, and other agencies that assist families and individuals in crisis.

Ohio University’s program in family and consumer sciences education qualifies you for a vocational teacher license in family and consumer sciences.* Coursework provides in-depth knowledge in child and family studies as well as an understanding of nutrition, consumer education, textiles, and interior design. General and professional education classes also are part of this program.

Family and consumer sciences education prepares you for a career in helping individuals enter the adult world by teaching them about parenting and family roles, personal development, nutrition and wellness, resource management, and life planning. Teaching in these areas can be an exceptionally rewarding career that allows you to make a visible difference in the lives of others. The most common settings are junior and senior high schools, but educators in this field also work in extension and adult programs.

*All students in teacher licensure programs (early childhood and family and consumer sciences) must attain the standards for admission to professional education, including a grade-point average of 2.75.