Family Science, B.S.
Visit the Social and Behavioral Department page for more information on the program and access to advising.
Program Description
The Family Science, BA/BS equips students with the knowledge and skills to strengthen individual and family well-being through evidence-based practices and interventions. Rooted in the competencies required for Certified Family Life Educators, this program emphasizes relationship skills, ethical decision-making, and family systems theory. Graduates are prepared to serve different populations and apply effective communication and conflict management strategies in both personal and professional settings.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| General Education Requirements | 30 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing | 3 |
| or ENGL 1005 | Foundations of Academic Writing | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3) (recommended) | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra (6) (recommended) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics (3) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra (5) | ||
| College Algebra (4) | ||
| College Algebra with Preliminaries (5) | ||
| College Algebra for Business (3) | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Heritage (3) | ||
| American National Government (3) | ||
| American History (3) | ||
| US Economic History (3) | ||
| US History to 1877 and US History since 1877 (6) | ||
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| Biology | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 36 Credits | |
| FAMS 1150 | Marriage and Relationship Skills | 3 |
| FAMS 1500 | Human Development Life Span | 3 |
| FAMS 2400G | Contemporary Family Relation | 3 |
| FAMS 2705 | Ethics for Family Interventions | 3 |
| FAMS 2800 | Teaching Human Sexuality | 3 |
| FAMS 3050 | Clinical Practice for Helping Professions | 3 |
| FAMS 3250 | Applied Parenting | 3 |
| FAMS 4400 | Family Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| FAMS 4500 | Family Life Education Methodology | 3 |
| FAMS 4660 | Family Resource Management | 3 |
| FAMS 4670 | Family Dynamics and Systems | 3 |
| Complete one of the following (students with extraordinary circumstances may petition the internship coordinator for an acceptable substitution for internship credit): | 3 | |
| Community Practicum (3) 1 | ||
| Stronger Families Practicum (3) 1 | ||
| Elective Requirements | 54 Credits | |
| Complete 24 hours of electives (19 of which must be upper division). Students should select courses that complement Family Science or that meet their personal goals. | 24 | |
| Complete any course 1000 or higher. | 30 | |
- 1
Students must earn a B- or better for graduation requirements.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 120 credits, 40 of which must be 3000 level or higher.
- Minimum overall UVU GPA of 2.0 upon graduation.
- Minimum 2.5 program GPA upon graduation.
- Residency hours – minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
- All major course work taken to meet Behavioral Science requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
- Successful completion of at least two WE courses.
Note: Please see department advisor for explanation of all program requirements, a list of recommended classes, and for assistance with creating an academic plan for graduation.
Note: If a student has completed an associate degree through another institution, the required general education courses may be waived.
Note: Students need to pass ENGL 1010 Introduction to Academic Writing CC or ENGL 1005 Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC and ENGL 2010 Intermediate Writing/Academic Writing and Research CC or ENGL 2010H Intermediate Academic Writing with a C or higher for the Family Science degree courses.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGL 1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing or Foundations of Academic Writing | 3 |
| Quantitative Literacy | 3 | |
| FAMS 2400G | Contemporary Family Relation | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing | 3 |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Biology | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 2 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| FAMS 1150 | Marriage and Relationship Skills | 3 |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| FAMS 1500 | Human Development Life Span | 3 |
| FAMS 2800 | Teaching Human Sexuality | 3 |
| American Institutions | 3 | |
| Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| FAMS 3050 | Clinical Practice for Helping Professions | 3 |
| FAMS 4500 | Family Life Education Methodology | 3 |
| FAMS 2705 | Ethics for Family Interventions | 3 |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| FAMS 4400 | Family Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| FAMS 3250 | Applied Parenting | 3 |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| FAMS 4810R or FAMS 4820R | Community Practicum or Stronger Families Practicum | 2 |
| FAMS 4670 | Family Dynamics and Systems | 3 |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| FAMS 4660 | Family Resource Management | 3 |
| Elective (Any course 1000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-division - 3000 or higher) | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
An online graduation plan offers students a flexible yet structured approach to their academic journey. While this sample serves as a general guideline, individual plans may differ based on Math and English placement scores. Meeting with an academic advisor is strongly recommended to customize plans and ensure all graduation requirements are met.
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) are Certified Online Courses, meeting UVU’s high standards for quality and accessibility.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing * | 3 |
| QL Requirement | 3 | |
| SS GE | 3 | |
| FAMS 2400G | Contemporary Family Relation * | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing * | 3 |
| Fine Arts GE | 3 | |
| Biology GE | 2 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| FAMS 1150 | Marriage and Relationship Skills * | 3 |
| Physical Science GE | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| FAMS 1500 | Human Development Life Span * | 3 |
| FAMS 2800 | Teaching Human Sexuality * | 3 |
| American Institutions GE | ||
| Persoanl, Professional and Civic Growth | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| FAMS 3050 | Clinical Practice for Helping Professions * | 3 |
| FAMS 4500 | Family Life Education Methodology * | 3 |
| FAMS 2705 | Ethics for Family Interventions * | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| FAMS 4400 | Family Policy and Advocacy * | 3 |
| FAMS 3250 | Applied Parenting * | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Elective | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| FAMS 4810R or FAMS 4820R |
Community Practicum * or Stronger Families Practicum |
2 |
| FAMS 4670 | Family Dynamics and Systems * | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| FAMS 4660 | Family Resource Management | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 112 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Design educational interventions that address the developmental, relational, and systemic needs of individuals and families.
- Integrate core competencies from the National Council on Family Relations into family life education practices.
- Apply communication and conflict management strategies to address challenges in interpersonal and family systems.
- Engage with individuals and families across varied contexts through effective, community-based approaches.
- Evaluate and apply evidence-based information to guide ethical decisions and professional practices in family life contexts.