About

Do you want a rewarding career in which you make a difference in the lives of people of all ages and their families? Do you have a passion for volunteering and community service?

The bachelor's degree in family and community services at East Carolina University is designed to provide you a strong foundation in research, theory, and practice in child development and family relations, while allowing you the flexibility to personalize the program to fit your career goals.

Beyond the classroom, students have the opportunity to gain real-life experiences through community-service projects, service-learning, and a capstone internship experience. A bachelor's degree in family and community services provides a solid foundation for an advanced degree in areas like marriage and family therapy, occupational therapy, counseling programs, or child development and family relations.

ECU Advantage

The degree in family and community services can prepare you to work in a variety of public and private agencies and organizations that provide services to children and families such as family life education programs, juvenile services, substance abuse treatment centers, domestic violence programs, youth development programs, adoption agencies, cooperative extension services or programs serving the elderly.

This degree can also prepare you for employment with business and industry in human resources, employee assistance, and consumer service programs. Recent alumni are working in public service agencies, have started their own foundations, and continue to improve the lives of children and families.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Eboni Baugh (336-W Rivers Building; 252-328-5714; baughe@ecu.edu)

Freshmen may declare family and community services as their major. Students must achieve and maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA to remain in the program. Transfer students must have completed at least 12 s.h. at East Carolina University and a minimum GPA of 2.5 to declare. In addition, students must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all HDFS courses required for the major. Students earning less than a C (2.0) in a prerequisite major course must repeat the course before the subsequent upper level course may be taken.

Students in the Family and Community Services, BS may select one of two concentrations: family science or child development. The family science concentration is intended for those interested in work with community agencies that provide a broad array of services to families. The child development concentration is intended for those interested in work with community agencies that provide a variety of services to children. (Note: Students who meet course requirements for the certification in family life education must make application to the National Council on Family Relations. The Department of Human Development and Family Science will verify completion of degree requirements, but meeting other requirements for certification is the responsibility of each student.)

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • COMM 2020 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication OR
  • COMM 2410 - Public Speaking

  • PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
2. Core - 31 s.h.
  • HDFS 1103 - Individual, Family, and Romantic Relationships
  • HDFS 2000 - Child Development I: Prenatal Through Early Childhood
  • HDFS 2001 - Child Development II: Middle Childhood Through Young Adulthood
  • HDFS 2280 - Introduction to Child, Family, and Community Services
  • HDFS 3306 - Guiding Children's Behavior
  • HDFS 3560 - Exploring Professions and Practices in Family Science
  • HDFS 4000 - Introduction to Child and Family Research
  • HDFS 4303 - Families and Cultural Diversity
  • HDFS 4366 - Family Life Education
  • HDFS 4380 - Grant Writing, Fundraising, and Leadership Development
  • HDFS 4410 - Professional Seminar
3. Concentrations - 35 s.h.

(Choose one concentration.)

    Family science
    • HDFS 2400 - Introduction to Gerontology
    • HDFS 3002 - Family Systems and Parenting Across the Life Cycle
    • HDFS 3215 - The Family As Consumers
    • HDFS 4006 - Families, Sexuality, and Gender Roles
    • HDFS 4007 - Public Policy and Legal Issues Affecting Families
    • HDFS 4313 - Health and Well-Being of Families and Communities
    • HDFS 4991 - Family Science Internship
    • 8 s.h. of advisor approved CDFR electives
    • 8 s.h. of advisor approved HDFS electives
    Child development
    • HDFS 2124 - Interaction Techniques for Working with Young Children
    • HDFS 3150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Intervention
    • HDFS 3321 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum
    • HDFS 3600 - Play in the Lives of Children
    • HDFS 3715 - Global Perspectives in Early Childhood
    • HDFS 4406 - Early Childhood Leadership and Collaboration in Administration
    • HDFS 4408 - Administration of Programs for Young Children
    • HDFS 4992 - Child Development Internship
    • 6 s.h. of advisor approved HDFS electives
4. Minor or general electives to complete requirements for graduation.
    For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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