Department of Family and Consumer Sciences adds new majors
SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University’s Department of Family and ConsumerSciences recently announced that beginning fall 2010, the child and
family sciences degree will be split into three separate majors:
Bachelor of Science in Child Life, Child Development, and Family Life
Education.
Prompted by the Child Life Council’s recently altered requirements for
child life course work, the department saw this as an opportunity to
enhance the visibility of specific majors and streamline student
recruitment before entering the program and before acceptance into
internship, employment or graduate school upon exiting the program.
“All students and prospective students should benefit with the clarity
and easy reference to the specific degree delineations,” said Dr. Beth
Wilson, professor and chair of the Department of Family and Consumer
Sciences.
Wilson reported that all changes were based upon expectations and
requirements held by professional organizations and employers.
“This assures the student that they are getting the most up-to-date
education in their respective fields,” Wilson said.
The Bachelor of Science in Child Life major underwent the most
change, with several classes added, and others dropped or adjusted to
meet the new coursework components of the CLC.
The Bachelor of Science in Child Development major was expanded to
accommodate the knowledge and skills needed for some newer career
choices, specifically in early intervention agencies and government
settings.
No major changes were made to the Bachelor of Science in Family Life
Education major, but Wilson says that the updated title will aid
students and employers in identifying the focus of the specific
degree.
“I expect these changes to provide further assurance for students and
parents that the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is the
right environment for excellent training in these fields,” Wilson
said.
