Academic Catalog

Child Development and Family Studies, Bachelor of Arts

The Child Development and Family Studies Program prepares students for professional work with young children between the ages of birth to six years. Additionally, students are prepared to work with families from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.  Upon graduation, students will have opportunities to pursue positions as childcare practitioners in child development centers, family learning centers, as teachers in private school settings, Early Head Start and Head Start Programs as well as parent educators in learning centers.

General education requirements for this major consist of coursework in liberal arts thus establishing a broad knowledge base prior to professional coursework. The professional sequence provides knowledge, skills and dispositions in child development, curriculum, and assessment of children from birth to six years of age. Professional courses also include effective ways to communicate and work with families of young children. After completion of the major coursework, students have a semester long internship in a child care or learning center to complete the program.

General Education Courses
I. Communication
English:
Select two of the following:6
Composition I
Composition II
Speech:
SPCH U201Foundations in Oral Communication3
II. Mathematics, Logic & Natural Sciences
Mathematics:
Select one of the following:3
Probability and Statistics
College Mathematics
College Algebra
Basic Concepts of Elementary Mathematics I
Natural Science (w/ lab):
Select one of the following:4
Descriptive Astronomy
and Descriptive Astronomy Laboratory
Introductory Biology I
and Introductory Biology I Lab
General Biology
and General Biology Lab
Botany and Society
and Botany and Society Laboratory
Chemistry and Society
and Chemistry and Society Lab
Chemistry of Living Things
and Chemistry of Living Things Lab
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry Lab
General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis
and General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis Lab
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab
Historical Geology
and Historical Geology Lab
Environmental Geology
and Environmental Geology Lab
Introduction to Physical Science
and Introduction to Physical Science Laboratory
Natural Science:
Select one of the following:3
Foundations of Human Physiology
and Foundations of Human Physiology Laboratory
Genetics and Society
Human Biology and Society
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Environmental Science
Natural Disasters
Geology of the Southeast
Elementary Statistics
Psychological Statistics
III. Information Technology
Information Technology:
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Computer Technology
Introduction to Computer Science
Intro to Digital Studies
Survey of Information Technology
Introduction to Digital Safety
Strategies for Information Discovery
Intro to Music Technology
IV. Fine Arts, Humanities & History
Fine Arts:
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Art
History of Western Art: Prehistory - Middle Ages
History of Western Art: Renaissance - Modern
Introduction to Music
History of American Popular Music
Introduction to Theatre Art
Fundamentals in Acting
History:
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to World History I
Introduction to World History II
History of the United States to 1877
History of the United States from 1865
Humanities:
Select one of the following:3
African American Culture
American Studies, 17th - 19th Century
American Studies, 20th Century
Introduction to Creative Writing
Survey of American Literature I
Introduction to Philosophy
Political Philosophy
Contemporary Moral Issues
Comparative Religion
Introduction to Southern Studies
V. Foreign Language & Culture
Foreign Language:
Select one of the following: 33
American Sign Language I
American Sign Language II
Introductory French I
Introductory French II
Introductory German I
Introductory Spanish I
VI. Social & Behavioral Sciences
Social & Behavioral Science:
Select two of the following:6
Understanding Other Cultures
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
American National Government
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Interpersonal Communication
Leadership Development I
Introduction to Women's & Gender Studies
VII. General Ed. Electives
Select any approved general education course or courses3
Major Requirements 1
EDCF U201Introduction to Early Care and Education3
EDCF U346Introduction to Family Studies3
EDCF U350Development of the Young Child I3
EDCF U352Curriculum Methods and Standards I4
EDCF U354Exceptional Children and Early Intervention3
EDCF U356Family Interaction and Communication3
EDCF U449Mental Health and Play Therapy3
EDCF U450Development of the Young Child II3
EDCF U452Curriculum Methods and Standards II4
EDCF U454Guidance and Assessment Methods3
EDCF U455Legal and Ethical Issues in Early Care and Education3
EDCF U456Working with Parents in Diverse Settings3
EDCF U458Internship12
EDEC U349Creativity and Play3
EDFO U210Foundations of Education3
EDFO U341Introduction to Exceptional Learners/ Special Education3
EDFO U333Educational Development of the Lifelong Learner3
ENGL U245Business Writing3
or ENGL U371 Grant Writing
Major Electives or Child Advocacy Studies 215-21
Child Development and Family Studies majors must select 15 credit hours of Option 1: Major Electives or Option 2: Child Advocacy Studies Minor (18-hour minimum)
Option 1 or Option 2
Total Hours123-129
1

A minimum grade of 'C' is required for all courses.

2

Students choosing the Child Advocacy Studies Minor must choose PSYC U101 Introduction to PsychologySOCY U101 Introduction to Sociology, or CRJU U101 Introduction to Criminal Justice as one of the Social & Behavioral Science General Education courses to allow the Child Advocacy Studies Minor to reduce from 21 credit hours to 18 credit hours.

3

The minimum acceptable level of competency is completion of the 101 level of a language. Students who place into the 102 or higher level of a language satisfy the language requirement but will have additional hours in general education electives, if hours are required by their degree program. 

Option 1: Major Electives

Select five of the following:15
Introduction to Child Maltreatment
System Responses to Child Maltreatment
Business Writing
Grant Writing
Topics in Psychology
Psychology of Learning and Memory
Psychology of Personality
Individual and Society
Sociology of Families
Total Hours15

Option 2: Child Advocacy Studies Minor1

Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Criminal Justice
CAST U301Introduction to Child Maltreatment3
CAST U401System Responses to Child Maltreatment3
CAST U402Prevention and Intervention Strategies3
CAST U499Child Advocacy Internship3
Select two of the following:6
Developmental Psychology
Sociology of Families
Criminal Trial Practice
The Juvenile Justice System
Victimology
Women and Crime
Child Sexual Exploitation
Total Hours21
1

Final responsibility for satisfying degree requirements as outlined in the USC Upstate Academic Catalog rests with the student.