Family studies is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses careers in social and human services, social work, marriage and family therapy, community services, education, policy, law, communications and business. If you’re interested in discovering the connections between the family unit and the community and studying human development and child socialization, a degree in family studies may be right for you.
A Bachelor of Science in Family Studies will not only give you a variety of career path options, but it can have long-term benefits for you and those you work with. In fact, studying human development can help you appreciate the lifelong development of others, better understand yourself and your own family, help you interact with kids and learn to identify problems.
Careers with a Bachelor’s in Family Studies
Professionals with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies are qualified to work in multiple different fields that require knowledge of relationships between individuals, families and the overall socio-cultural experience. Earning a degree in family studies prepares graduates for careers as a researcher, community service manager, social worker, substance abuse counselor, grant writer, after-school program director, advocate and more. It also provides a solid foundation for graduate studies in education or counseling.
Some areas open to those with a bachelor’s in family studies include:
- Research: Researcher is one of the highest–paying positions among family studies professionals. Responsibilities vary from employer to employer, but they can range from preparing questionnaires and conducting field research to briefings based on research and social policy recommendations. Some career paths include survey researcher, political scientist and sociologist.
- Social Work: If you’re interested in pursuing a career in social work, counseling or psychology, a degree in family studies is a good starting point. Some of the more popular careers are social worker, marriage and family specialist, school psychologist, rehabilitation counselor and social worker for children, youth and families.
- Education: Careers in education are a logical career path for those with a degree in family studies. Jobs can range from K-12 teachers, adult literacy educators, family support counselors and youth workers.
- Advocacy and Non-Profit Work: Professionals with a background in family studies have many options in advocacy and non-profit careers. Some people in local and national organizations combine their knowledge of intervention and healthy human development with good administrative and management skills to work for non-profit organizations. These tasks include program coordination and planning, community development information materials and advocating social
- Business: Working well with others and understanding group dynamics is important in the business world. Combining the knowledge gained from a bachelor’s degree in family studies with employment relations, communications and business administration can lead to a career as a human resource specialist, public relations director, employee assistance specialist or family financial counselor.
Additional jobs available to family studies professionals can include case manager, community organizer, development officer, clinical case manager, program developer, crisis hotline worker, curriculum developer, family policy analyst, mediator and consultant.
How Much Money Can be Made with a Bachelor’s in Family Studies?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the minimum degree requirement for entry-level positions in social work is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education qualifies you to be a caseworker or residential counselor. The number of social workers is projected to increase to more than 790,000 by 2026. The average annual income for those with a bachelor’s in family studies is $48,291, according to June 2021 data from PayScale.
On average, a child life specialist earns of $40,000 a year, the annual salary for a program manager for a non-profit organization is $50,000, and an executive director can make $74,000 a year. Salary ranges can vary due to levels of education, experience and location.
Honing A Variety of Skills
The Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from Lamar University is a versatile online program that is designed to prepare you for a broad range of careers in education, policy, advocacy and more. Students take classes that span a variety of subjects including courses titled Intimate Relationships, Community Resources, Diverse Family Structures, Family Violence, Sociology of Sexuality and Nutrition/Diet.
With the knowledge gained from a B.S. in Family Studies, as well as hands-on experience, students qualify to work with private, non-profit or government agencies.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online Bachelor of Science in Family Studies program.
Sources:
PayScale: Bachelor of Science, Child & Family Studies Degree
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Careers in Social Work: Outlook, Pay, and More
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