Baton Rouge - We are pleased to announce that the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has approved the Child and Family Studies undergraduate program at LSU as offering coursework that meets the standards and criteria required for the provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. The Academic Program Review (APR) Committee has reviewed our program and determined that it includes an internship and course work that adequately covers the 10 Family Life Education (FLE) content areas required for the CFLE designation.

"After years of planning, the LSU Child and Family Studies BS degree program has achieved program status as a Certified Family Life Education program through our professional body, the National Council on Family Relations. This significant national recognition puts the CFS program at LSU in league with some of the largest and most prestigious human development and family sciences programs around the country," says Laura Ainsworth, PhD, Child & Family Studies Program Director and MS Graduate Coordinator.

Because our curriculum has been approved by NCFR, our graduates now qualify to complete the CFLE-approved program application. In order to qualify, students must have completed the specified course or courses under each of the 10 Family Life Education content areas, plus an internship. 

The NCFR defines Family Life Education as the professional practice of equipping and empowering family members to develop knowledge and skills that enhance well-being and strengthen interpersonal relationships through an educational, preventive and strengths-based approach. Family life educators have knowledge based in the discipline of family science, and they are employed in a variety of settings and roles. 

The CFLE credential is a rigorous and nationally recognized standard in Family Life Education and validates a professional's experience and knowledge as a Family Life Educator. Each approved program has a list of coursework that has been approved by the NCFR to meet the requirements. Students in the program must complete all courses on the checklist with grades of a C- or better to qualify, plus an internship. Recent graduates of CFLE-approved academic programs can apply for provisional or full certification. 

"This is a tremendous benefit to our undergraduate students as a credential they are eligible to take with them into a competitive job market. I am so proud of this accomplishment which, along with the revitalization of the masters program in CFS and the growth in the new Child Life Specialist curriculum, places LSU’s Child and Family Studies program on the cutting edge of educational offerings to our students and of service to our community," stated Pamela Monroe, PhD, Director of the LSU School of Social Work.

About the Child and Family Studies Program

The Child and Family Studies (CFS) undergraduate degree at LSU is an exciting integration of theory, research, and practice from multiple disciplines with a unique blend of liberal arts and professional education. The major focuses broadly on child development and family dynamics, with special emphases on parenting throughout childhood, couples in dating, marital, and cohabiting relationships, social and psychological development, interactions between family members, influences on child and family well-being, cultural variation among families, and practical application of knowledge about individuals and families.

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About the School of Social Work

The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) aspires to be a leading graduate school of social work, a vibrant center of intellectual development, a leader in promoting and supporting diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices. The Child and Family Studies (CFS) undergraduate and graduate degrees integrate theory, research, and practice to focus on child development and family dynamics.

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About The College of Human Sciences & Education

The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The College is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Library and Information Science, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs and 18 graduate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 977 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is continually working to improve its programs. 

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