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WVU Morgantown

Youth and Family Sciences, B.S.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

The undergraduate program in Youth and Family Science offers a Bachelor of Science degree option.

Youth and Family Sciences

The Youth and Family Science major is designed for students who are interested in adolescents and families. Students complete coursework related to family issues, family interaction, human growth and development, human sexuality, and youth and family concerns.  All students are required to complete field experiences at agencies focused on youth and families.  This major is best suited for students interested in working with older children, adolescents, and/or families in youth development or family development programs in community agencies.

Admissions

High school and other students interested in a career in youth and family sciences can apply and be directly admitted to the Youth and Family Science program. If they meet the following criteria:

Incoming Freshmen

Direct Admission

  • Enter with a 2.5 GPA (High school)
  • Earn a C or better in all CDFS or SPED coursework
  • Comply with field and major professional and dispositional standards

Current WVU Undergraduate Students and Students Transferring from Another College/University

This population includes transfers from outside of WVU as well as major transfers from within WVU.

This option requires students to

  • Enter with a 2.5 overall GPA
  • Earn a C or better in all CDFS or SPED coursework
  • Comply with field and major professional and dispositional standards

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

University Requirements
General Education Foundation Requirements (2, 5, 6, and 7)13
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1)
6
or ENGL 103 Accelerated Academic Writing
Select one of the following (GEF 3):3
MATH 121
Intro Concepts Of Mathematics
MATH 124
Algebra with Applications
MATH 126
College Algebra
MATH 129
Pre-Calculus Mathematics
MATH 150
Applied Calculus
MATH 155
Calculus 1
MATH 156
Calculus 2
Major Area Coursework
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all major courses.
A minimum grade of C- required in all CDFS courses.
CDFS 191First-Year Seminar1
CDFS 110Families Across the Life Span (GEF 4)3
CDFS 112Introduction to Marriage and Family (GEF 8)3
CDFS 172Health, Safety, & Nutrition in Early Childhood3
CDFS 210Introduction to Parenting3
CDFS 212Development in Early and Middle Childhood3
CDFS 250Research Methods 3
CDFS 412Adolescent Development3
CDFS 413Stress in Families3
CDFS 414Adolescent Problems and Disorders3
CDFS 415Family Interaction and Communication3
CDFS 491AProfessional Field Experience6
Additional Requirements
Minimum Grade of C- required in all Additional Requirements Courses
Select three of the following (GEF 8):9
PSYC 101
Introduction to Psychology
PUBH 101
Introduction to Public and Community Health
SOCA 101
Introduction to Sociology
WGST 170
Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
Select one of the following:3
DISB 381
Lifespan Disability Policy
DISB 385
Disability and Society
SPED 304
Special Education in Contemporary Society
Select two of the following:6
COMM 102
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
COMM 112
Small Group Communication
COMM 202
Interpersonal Communication
COMM 212
Gender Communication
COMM 410
Family Communication
Select one of the following (GEF 8):3
HN&F 126
Society and Food
HN&F 171
Introduction to Human Nutrition
Select one of the following:3
COUN 240
Introduction to Addiction Studies
COUN 303
Introduction to Helping Professions
Select one of the following:3
GERO 212
Introduction to Gerontology
SOCA 312
Death and Dying
Select one of the following:3
COMM 103
& COMM 104
Presentational Speaking
and Public Communication
LDR 201
Principles of Leadership
Select one of the following:3
ASP 220
Introduction to Africana Studies
ENGL 252
Appalachian Fiction
NAS 200
Introduction: Native American Studies
WGST 225
Women in Appalachia
WGST 260Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies3
ACCT 200Survey of Accounting3
AGEE 440Principles of Cooperative Extension2
SOCA 226Sexuality and Society3
SOCA 303Juvenile Delinquency3
General Electives14
Total Hours120

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3Select one of the following:3
MATH 121 (or higher; GEF 3)3
PSYC 101
 
CDFS 1911
PUBH 101
 
CDFS 110 or 112 (GEF 4)3
SOCA 101
 
GEF 24
WGST 170
 
Elective2GEF 53
 CDFS 110 or 112 (GEF 8)3
 CDFS 1723
 GEF 73
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CDFS 2503CDFS 2103
CDFS 2123Select one of the following:3
ENGL 1023
COMM 103
 
HN&F 126 or 171 (GEF 8)3
COMM 104
 
Select one of the following: 3
LDR 201
 
PSYC 101
 GEF 63
PUBH 101
 Select one of the following:3
SOCA 101
 
PSYC 101
 
WGST 170
 
PUBH 101
 
 
SOCA 101
 
 
WGST 170
 
 Select one of the following:3
 
COMM 102
 
 
COMM 112
 
 
COMM 202
 
 
COMM 212
 
 
COMM 410
 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CDFS 4133ACCT 2003
Select one of the following:3Elective3
COMM 102
 Elective3
COMM 112
 Select one of the following:3
COMM 202
 
DISB 381
 
COMM 212
 
DISB 385
 
COMM 410
 
SPED 304
 
COUN 240 or 3033GERO 212 or SOCA 3123
Select one of the following:3 
ASP 220
  
ENGL 252
  
NAS 200
  
WGST 225
  
WGST 2603 
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CDFS 491A3CDFS 4143
CDFS 4123CDFS 491A3
Elective3CDFS 4153
AGEE 4402SOCA 3033
SOCA 2263Elective3
 14 15
Total credit hours: 120

Major Learning Outcomes

Youth and Family Sciences

Upon graduation, all Bachelor of Science students in Youth and Family Sciences will be able to:

  • Recall, explain, apply, and synthesize knowledge in the following seven content areas:
  1. Families and individuals in societal contexts
  2. Internal dynamics of families
  3. Human growth and development across the lifespan
  4. Human sexuality
  5. Interpersonal relationships
  6. Parent education and guidance
  7. Professional ethics and practice
  • Apply knowledge and skills from coursework/content areas to evaluate societal issues and problems that impact families and individuals within families.
  • Demonstrate mastery in the scientific process, scientific inquiry, and family theories through:
    • Critically analyzing relevant literature in the field of family science
    • Interpreting and translating knowledge from empirical studies and theory to applied settings and field work
    • Creating and designed solutions to address issues affecting contemporary families and individuals within families.
  • Demonstrate mastery of knowledge of the seven content areas and current issues in the field of youth and family science via:
    • Explaining, interpreting, and disseminating knowledge about family science to various stakeholders, including laypersons, families, and youth and family science colleagues.
    • Reflecting on their own professional growth across courses and field experiences.
  • Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Department of Curriculum and Instruction/​Literacy Studies
  • Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development
    • Child Development and Family Studies
    • Multidisciplinary Studies
    • Youth and Family Sciences

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