Family Life Education is an interdisciplinary field of study that draws from various disciplines such as psychology, education, sociology, communications, law and public policy, economics, theology, and home management. It provides an understanding of human development, family systems, and interpersonal relationships.
Certification as a Family Life Educator is provided by the National Council on Family Relations. To qualify, applicants must have coursework in ten substance areas and two years of experience in the field. This major has been designed to fulfill those ten substance areas. In the near future, the College will apply to become an approved program by the NCFR, which will streamline the application process for certification.
Employment
Family life educators find employment in a wide variety of settings:
- Family ministries in churches,
- family service agencies,
- foster care, food stamp programs,
- Meals-On-Wheels,
- nursing homes,
- hospital, day care centers,
- community mental health centers,
- public health clinics,
- group homes,
- senior centers,
- government agencies,
- parks and recreation departments,
- educational institutions,
- and department of corrections.
Graduates completing this degree will be able to:
- Understand concepts and principles of healthy marriages and families;
- Articulate their own attitudes and values about family issues;
- Develop and implement programs of instruction and guidance that will build and equip healthy families;
- Analyze and assess global and local needs of today’s families;
- Exercise interpersonal and professional skills that contribute to a positive family environment.