BS Family and Community Services
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.
The FCS program prepares students to work with individuals and families across the lifespan. Within FCS, students have the opportunity to choose one of two concentrations: family science (for those interested in working directly with families or in family life education) or child development (for those interested in working with infants, toddlers, and preschool children).
Admission Requirements
Students can declare this major their freshman year.
Other requirements:
- FCS majors much achieve and maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in the program.
- Students must achieve a minimum grade of C or better in all HDFS required courses.
Program Requirements
Four Year Plans
A 352 hour internship within a community or early childhood setting is completed during the last semester of the program.
Delivery Method(s)
This program is offered in an on-campus, face to face format and in a 100% online, DE format.
Accreditation Information
Family science students are automatically eligible to apply for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential through the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR).
Institutional and Professional Licensure Disclosures for Enrolled and Prospective Students
ECU degree programs satisfy the professional licensure and/or certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for these exams. However, requirements in other states may be different.
If you are considering a degree program that may, would, could or potentially lead to a professional license and/or certification, please note that at this time ECU may or may not be able to advise whether a program meets requirements outside of North Carolina. Prior to enrolling in a degree program, please discuss this important topic with your program of interest.