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The Major Family Studies is the study of how individuals grow and develop across the life cycle-particularly in the context of personal, marital, and family relationships. Family Studies courses expose students to both practical and theoretical content in areas such as dating and relationship formation, gender roles, marital relationships, human sexuality, parenting, family dynamics, and families and society. The family studies major (FAMS) recognizes the crucial role of families in society. The FAMS curriculum focuses on personal relationships and their connection to and impact on human living and development. Since 1999 the FAMS curriculum has met the requirements for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation awarded by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR, www.ncfr.org).

This discipline concerns the study of an individual's physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual development from birth through adulthood and how that individual development impacts the family unit. It studies family dynamics from a systemic, developmental framework. The societal issues confronting families, including family law and family economics, are examined. The theories and research which attempt to explain and predict family functioning from an individual and societal perspective are emphasized.

Students who complete the Family Studies curriculum exhibit an understanding of the following areas:
. An individual's physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual development from birth through adulthood and how that individual development impacts the family unit
. Family dynamics from a systemic, developmental framework
. Societal issues confronting families including family law and family economics
. Philosophy and broad principles required to plan, implement and evaluate educational programs designed to optimize family functioning
. Theories and research which attempt to explain and predict family functioning from an individual and societal perspective

In addition to the general family studies major, a concentration in child development education is available. This concentration leads toward a specialized career as a professional educator in a child development setting. Its focus is on working with children and families in the pre-school setting, with specific emphasis on early childhood curriculum. Samford University utilizes the Samford Children’s Learning Center (CLC) as a practicum setting. This concentration represents a collaboration between the Departments of Family Studies and Teacher Education with students taking courses in both disciplines. Students interested in this concentration must notify their advisor during the fall semester of their sophomore year.

. The Department of Family Studies (FAMS) offers a major in Family Studies culminating in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
. The Family Studies Department also directs a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree with an area concentration in Counseling Foundations which is only offered through the evening program of adult studies. Information: Reba Clark: rmclark@samford.edu
. For students interested in obtaining a Master of Science in Education with Class A Certification for preschool through sixth grade, the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies offers a Fifth Year Nontraditional Graduate Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
Information: Janet Smith: jasmith@samford.edu

 

The greatest gift we can give to the world is creating a continuous,
uninterrupted, loving family structure. 
~Aldona Laita  (2002)