Department of Human Development and Family Science

Sharon Ballard, Chair, 108 Rivers Building

The mission of the Department of Human Development and Family Science is to educate future leaders and professionals to enrich the wellbeing of individuals, children, families, and communities through innovative teaching, research, service and community engagement. 

The department offers programs that prepare students to work with children and families in educational, governmental, community, and child health fields.

Students interested in teaching young children can choose the birth through kindergarten program, which results in licensure to teach in NC public schools or in private centers. Students interested in teaching middle school or high school can choose the family and consumer sciences program, which results in licensure to teach middle grades or high school in NC public schools. Students complete course work in partial fulfillment for teacher licensure in family and consumer sciences education or birth-kindergarten teacher education from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Students interested in working with families in community, governmental, and family services programs may consider the family and community services program and choose family studies. Students interested in working with agencies that provide education and services to young children such as early intervention, Head Start, developmental day, and exceptional children programs may consider the family and community services program and choose child development. Students complete course work in partial fulfillment of the family life education certification from the National Council on Family Relations, the infant-toddler program personnel certification from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Students interested in working with medically fragile and/or chronically ill children and families may consider the child life program. Students complete course work in partial fulfillment of the child life certification from the Association for the Care of Children’s Health.

Programs

• Birth Through Kindergarten Teacher Education, BS
• Child Life, BS
• Family and Community Services, BS
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education, BS

• Child Development and Family Relations Minor

Courses

• CDFR 1103 - Marriage and Family Relations
• CDFR 2000 - Child Development I: Prenatal Through Early Childhood
• CDFR 2001 - Child Development II: Middle Childhood Through Young Adulthood
• CDFR 2021 - Introduction to Child Life
• CDFR 2123 - Early Experience in Birth through Kindergarten Education
• CDFR 2124 - Interaction Techniques for Working with Young Children
• CDFR 2280 - Introduction to Child, Family, and Community Services
• CDFR 2400 - Introduction to Gerontology
• CDFR 3002 - Child in the Family
• CDFR 3022 - Death, Dying, and Bereavement
• CDFR 3150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Intervention
• CDFR 3210 - Models and Foundations of Early Childhood Education
• CDFR 3215 - The Family As Consumers
• CDFR 3306 - Guiding Children’s Behavior
• CDFR 3321 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum
• CDFR 3400 - Current Issues in Early Childhood Education
• CDFR 3413 - The Hospitalized Child
• CDFR 3560 - Exploring Professions and Practices in Family Science
• CDFR 4000 - Introduction to Child and Family Research
• CDFR 4006 - Families, Sexuality, and Gender Roles
• CDFR 4007 - Public Policy and Legal Issues Affecting Families
• CDFR 4100 - Study Abroad in CDFR
• CDFR 4121 - Social Studies, Math, and Science Curriculum in Early Childhood
• CDFR 4122 - Language and Literacy Curriculum in Early Childhood
• CDFR 4123 - Learning Environments and Teaching Methods in Early Childhood Education
• CDFR 4200 - Assessing Development and Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom
• CDFR 4201 - Assessment for Intervention
• CDFR 4210 - Child Life Practicum
• CDFR 4300 - Birth through Kindergarten Curriculum Adaptations for Diverse Learners
• CDFR 4303 - Families and Cultural Diversity
• CDFR 4313 - Trends and Issues in Family Studies
• CDFR 4320 - Practicum in Teaching Birth-Kindergarten in the Public Schools
• CDFR 4324 - Internship in Birth Through Kindergarten Education
• CDFR 4325 - Internship Seminar: Issues in Birth-Kindergarten Education
• CDFR 4366 - Family Life Education
• CDFR 4380 - Grant Writing, Fundraising, and Leadership Development
• CDFR 4390 - Family Resource Management
• CDFR 4406 - Parent-Professional Collaboration
• CDFR 4408 - Administration of Programs for Young Children
• CDFR 4410 - Professional Seminar
• CDFR 4415 - Child Life Internship
• CDFR 4500 - Independent Study
• CDFR 4521 - Research, Teaching, and Leadership Experiences in CDFR
• CDFR 4611 - Counseling Elders and Their Families
• CDFR 4612 - Family Crises and Resources
• CDFR 4991 - Family Science Internship
• CDFR 4992 - Child Development Internship
• CDFR 4993 - Early Childhood Practicum
• CDFR 5004 - Special Topics in Child Development and Family Relations
• CDFR 5005 - Special Topics in Child Development and Family Relations
• CDFR 5006 - Special Topics in Child Development and Family Relations
• CDFR 5403 - Parent Education
• CDFR 5411 - Counseling Elders and Their Families
• CDFR 5412 - Family Crises and Resources
• CDFR 5420 - Family Intervention Models
• CDFR 5901 - Readings in Aging Studies
• CDFR 5902 - Readings in Aging Studies
• CDFR 5903 - Readings in Aging Studies
• CDFR 5992 - Advanced Preschool Internship
• CDFR 5993 - Advanced Preschool Internship

• FACS 1180 - Housing and Interior Design
• FACS 2003 - Apparel Construction for Secondary Education
• FACS 2004 - Apparel Construction for Secondary Education Laboratory
• FACS 2123 - Early Experience in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• FACS 2380 - Apparel and Textiles for Family and Consumer Sciences
• FACS 4317 - Curriculum Development
• FACS 4323 - Methods of Teaching Family and Consumer Sciences
• FACS 4324 - Internship in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• FACS 4325 - Internship Seminar: Issues in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
• FACS 5007 - Special Problems in Family and Consumer Sciences Education

• FACS 4410 - Professional Seminar
• FACS 4411 - Professional Internship