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Family Life Education

This option is available in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. It was introduced in response to a certification process developed by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). NCFR is the leading national organization for professionals concerned with promoting and enhancing the quality of family life. NCFR sponsors the only national program to certify family life educators.

After completing the recommended preparatory course work in this department, it is possible to get two types of certification from NCFR:

  • Provisional Certification from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is available to students who complete the approved courses that correspond to the ten substance areas from an approved program, but without the minimum two years of work experience.
  • Full Certification from the NCFR is available to students who graduate from an approved academic program and have completed at least two years of work experience as a family life educator. The work experience of the student has to be submitted, reviewed, and approved by an NCFR review committee.

Interested students should contact the Family Life Education Coordinator, Dr. Nilufer P. Medora, Family and Consumer Sciences (562) 985-4488 or at medora@csulb.edu

Option in Family Life Education (120 units)

This option provides an academic and professional background for work with children, adults, couples, and families. It offers an interdisciplinary foundation in several areas that influence and enhance the quality of life of children, adults, couples, and families based on education, enrichment and prevention. Fieldwork opportunities where students have direct experiences with individuals and families in the community are provided for qualified students.

Requirements

Take all of the following courses:

  • CDFS 111 Preschool Child (3)
    Prerequisites: None.
  • CDFS 312 Family and Personal Development (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements; PSY 100 or SOC 100 or ANTH 120; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 319 Family Stress and Coping (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements; ANTH 120 or PSY 100 or SOC 100 or consent of instructor; students must have scored 11 or higher on the GWAR Placement Examination or completed the necessary portfolio course that is a prerequisite for a GWAR Writing Intensive Capstone.
  • CDFS 402 Child and Family Law (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 312; upper division standing.
  • CDFS 410 International Families: Families in Cross-Cultural Perspectives (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 312; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 411 Individual Child Study and Guidance (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 311 or CDFS 314 or HDEV 307 or PSY 361; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 413 Child and Family in the Community (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" of better in CDFS 312; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 418 Parent Education (3)
    Prerequisites: Upper-division standing and at least 6 units of upper division child development and family studies or equivalent courses, or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 419 Family Life Education (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 413; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.
  • CDFS 492B Internship in Family Life Education (3)
    Prerequisites: Student must be a major in Family and Consumer Sciences in the option of Family Life Education; have senior standing; have a 2.5 overall GPA or a 3.0 major GPA; have approval of a faculty advisor in Child Development and Family Studies; have completed CDFS 413 and CDFS 419 each with a grade of "C" or higher. A course in which a grade lower than "C" is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in any course for which it is a prerequisite. Students receiving a grade lower than a "C" may proceed with other courses with approval of the Area Coordinator. CDFS 492B may not be taken concurrently with CDFS 492A or FCS 392A.
  • CAFF 321 Family & Consumer Resource Management (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, one or more Exploration courses, and upper division standing.
  • FCS 299 Introduction to FCS (1)
    Prerequisites: None.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 299.
  • FCS 499 Professionalism and Leadership in Family and Consumer Sciences (1)
    Prerequisites: FCS 299, CAFF 321, 12 units of upper division course work in Family and Consumer Sciences. Must be taken in one of the last two semesters prior to graduation.
    Not open for credit to students with credit in FCSE 499.
  • HSC 425 Human Sexuality and Sex Education (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing. Recommended: PSY 100.
  • NUTR 132 Introductory Nutrition (3)
    Prerequisites: Any GE Foundation course.
  • PSY 100 General Psychology (3)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: GE A1 requirement.

Take one the following courses:

  • ANTH 120 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)
    Prerequisites: Any GE Foundation course.
  • Another approved Global Issues course (3)

Take one of the following courses:

  • GERN 400 Perspectives on Gerontology (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation, one or more Exploration courses, and upper-division standing.
  • HDEV 357 Approaches to Adulthood Through Aging (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, upper-division standing, ANTH 120 or HDEV 180 or PSY 100 or SOC 100 with a "C" or better.

Take one of the following courses:

  • CDFS 311 Prenatal Development and Infancy (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111, upper division standing.
  • CDFS 314 The Older Child (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 111; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.

Take the following course:

  • CDFS 412 Family Interaction (3)
    Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in CDFS 312; upper division standing; or consent of instructor.

Take 9 units of advisor-approved electives. Three of the 9 units must be upper division.

In addition, a course in which a grade lower than "C" is received must be retaken and successfully completed prior to enrolling in a course for which it is a prerequisite. A student receiving a grade lower than a "C", may proceed with other courses with the approval of the Child Development and Family Studies Area Coordinator. Each course on the student's program planner must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.


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