Family Communication (Certificate)

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This is a valuable certificate for students planning to enter careers or graduate study in fields like psychology, counseling, family studies, social work, medicine or nursing, law, aging, pastoral care, human services, media or communication technology. 

Families are fundamental social systems, but they vary tremendously in terms of makeup and dynamics. Explore family interactions in depth through this specialized certificate.

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The certificate program in family communication focuses on issues affecting communication in the family and complements the current communication program by bringing together an array of courses that have implications for the family unit, such as courses in new media and health. Students are encouraged to also take courses in other disciplines that complement family-related communication courses.

This program is offered by the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

At A Glance

Family Communication (Certificate)

Application requirements

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:

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Program requirements

The certificate in family communication consists of 19 credit hours (a minimum of 12 credit hours must be upper division). Six upper-division credit hours must be completed through courses offered by the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Six credit hours may be shared with major requirements. Four courses must be selected from at least two content areas listed. The courses listed are suggested and actual courses should be selected in conjunction with an academic advisor. A one credit hour exit portfolio is required and may be taken after a minimum of 12 hours toward the certificate has been completed. All courses used to satisfy requirements for the certificate must be passed with a "C" or better.
Required Courses -- 6 credit hours
Content Area Courses -- 12 credit hours
Content Area course (6)
Upper Division Content Area course (6)
Select four courses from at least two content areas. At least six hours must be upper-division. A minimum six credit hours must be in non-COM courses. Listed courses are suggestions; courses for the certificate should be selected in conjunction with the certificate advisor.
Social and Cultural Elements of the Family
Health and Family Development
Technology, Media and the Family
Community Application
Family Communication Portfolio -- 1 credit hours
Notes: The communication portfolio is a synthesis of the student's family communication academic experience. The portfolio itself integrates each student's experience with theory and concepts from coursework. The portfolio may take a variety of forms, to be negotiated by each student and the instructor. This course is to be taken after a minimum of 12 credit hours toward the certificate have been completed.
Listed courses are suggestions; courses for the certificate should be selected in conjunction with the certificate advisor.
Depending on a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Degree requirements

The certificate consists of 19 credit hours: 12 credits must be upper-division, six must be noncommunication credits, and a one-credit exit portfolio course is to be taken after a minimum of 12 credits have been completed. Twelve of the 19 credits must be ASU credit. Six credits may be double-counted with one's ASU major. Each class must be passed with a "C" (2.00) or better.

Required Core Courses: (6)
COM 411 Communication in the Family, SB (3)

Select one:
COM 312 Communication, Conflict and Negotiation (3)
COM 410 Interpersonal Communication Theory and Research, SB (3)
COM 417 Communication and Aging (3)

Four courses must be selected from at least two content areas listed below: (12)

Social and Cultural Elements of the Family
AFR 370 Family, Ethnic and Cultural Diversity, SB, C (3)
ASB 346 Marriage and Family Diversity, SB, C (3)
COM 316 Gender and Communication, SB, C (3)
COM 410 Interpersonal Communication Theory and Research, SB (3)
FAS 301 Introduction to Parenting (3)
FAS 331 Marriage and Family Relationships, SB (3)
FAS 370 Family, Ethnic and Cultural Diversity, SB, C (3)
FAS 435 Advanced Marriage and Family Relationships, L or SB (3)
SBS 440 Family Studies (3)
SOC 415 The Family, SB (3)

Technology, Media and the Family
COM 424 Television Studies and Criticism (3)
COM 457 New Media (3)
ENG 244 Introduction to Researching Family History (3)
MCO 473 Sex, Love and Romance in the Mass Media, SB (3)

Health and Family Development
ALD 403 Aging, Lifespan Development and the Family (3)
ALD 420 Health Issues and Older Adults, SB (3)
ALD 431 Caregiving for Older Adults (3)
CDE 430 Infant/Toddler Development in the Family, SB (3)
COM 417 Communication and Aging (3)
CRJ 204 Juvenile Justice (3)
FAS 332 Human Sexuality, SB (3)
FAS 431 Parent-Adolescent Relationships, SB (3)
FAS 436 Sexuality in Mid-Life and Beyond (3)
PSY 341 Developmental Psychology, SB (3)
PSY 443 Abnormal Child Psychology, L or SB (3)
PSY 444 Adolescent Psychology and Psychopathology (3)
SOC 312 Adolescence, SB (3)

Community Application
COM 314 Inner-City Families: The Cycle of Poverty (3)
COM 484 Internship (in consultation with faculty advisor)

Portfolio
COM 498 Pro-Seminar: Family Communication Portfolio (1)*

The communication portfolio is a synthesis of students' family communication academic experience. The portfolio itself integrates each student's family communication experience with theory and concepts from family communication courses. The portfolio may take a variety of forms, to be negotiated by each student with the instructor. This course is to be taken after a minimum of 12 credits toward the certificate have been completed.

*substitutions allowed with faculty advisor approval

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Enrollment requirements

The certificate in family communication is open to all ASU undergraduate majors. Students wishing to pursue this certificate should consult an academic advisor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences to ensure the appropriate set of courses is taken and the required paperwork is submitted.

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Career outlook

This is a valuable certificate for students planning to enter careers or graduate study in fields like psychology, counseling, family studies, social work, medicine or nursing, law, aging, pastoral care, human services, media or communication technology.

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