The Certificate in Family and Child Development is intended for individuals who are working in the field, but who lack specific knowledge about family dynamics and human development, such as professionals employed by social-service agencies, juvenile justice facilities, child welfare programs, educational institutions, or medical fields. It is also intended for students enrolled in graduate degree programs and those in related fields who need to meet continuing education requirements or desire additional academic preparation. This certificate program may be completed online.
Admission to the Graduate School is a prerequisite to admission to the Certificate in Family and Child Development. Students wishing to apply to the Family and Child Development Certificate must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
A student pursuing the certificate program is expected to have a minimum of 6 semester hours of undergraduate course work in human development and family sciences, or the equivalent, including a course in marriage and family relations (3 semester hours) and one course in child or lifespan development (3 semester hours). If deficient, the deficiency courses should be completed during the first semester after admission to the certificate program. The deficiency courses must be met with a grade of B or better.
Admission to the certificate program requires approval of the Family and Child Development Certificate Admissions Committee. Procedures for admission to this certificate and other detailed information are available from the School of Family and Consumer Sciences office. Application deadlines coincide with Graduate School deadlines.
A minimum of 15 credits are required for the completion of the Graduate Certificate in Family and Child Studies. The curriculum is comprised of 9 credit hours of required course work and 6 additional credits of elective courses. Students must maintain a cumulative minimum 3.00 GPA in all course work to continue in the certificate program.
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