The bachelor's in family life education program is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), and includes coursework which leads to the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. It is also endorsed by Focus on the Family. In 2007, SAU had the highest percentage of graduates nationally to become family life educators through the NCFR.

According to the Winter 2010 issue of Network, NCFR's newsletter for certified family life educators of the National Council on Family Relations, Spring Arbor University's family life education program held the top spot among NCFR's top 15 approved programs (as based on the number of graduates applying to be Certified Family Life Educators through the Abbreviated Application process).

Family life education is an applied field of study with a conceptual foundation drawn from psychology, education, home management, sociology, law, economics, social work, philosophy, biology and theology. The Bachelor of Arts degree is conferred upon successful completion of all graduation requirements. View the family life education brochure [PDF]. A minor in family life education is also available.

Learn more about how you can add an early childhood development certificate to your family life education degree.

Career opportunities

• Social Services: Family service agencies, foster care, legal services, referral programs, food stamp programs, Meals-on-Wheels and transportation programs.
• Health Services: Nursing homes, hospitals, day care centers, community mental health centers, housing projects and public health clinics.
• Program Planning: Group homes, senior centers, government agencies, parks and recreation departments, educational institutions, religious organizations and department of corrections.

Program strengths and emphases

The major centers on gaining insight into human development, dynamics of relationships, and the science and practice of family life education and consultation. Further refinement of skills increases this base of knowledge and the student’s ability to assess and analyze human dynamics and skills in communication, interviewing and problem-solving. The major requires 42 credits.

Students in this program will:

• Gain knowledge about concepts and principles relevant to family living;
• Explore personal attitudes and values;
• Identify and understand the attitudes and values of others;
• Provide guided learning experiences relevant to preventing family problems;
• Develop interpersonal skills that contribute to family well-being; and
• Gain practical experience through a required independent study project.

Early Childhood Development Certificate

• Add an Early Childhood Development certificate to your BA in Family Life Education.
• Earn an Early Childhood Education associate’s degree from your local community college either before beginning FLE or before the internship portion of the FLE program.
• Complete your internship in an early childhood setting with supervision by a FLE academic coordinator through Spring Arbor University.
• Appropriate for those wishing to work with young children in Head Start, Child Protective Services, 4C’s or other family-related fields.
• For details, contact your admissions specialist.