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. 

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 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.

The 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). All courses used to satisfy requirements for the certificate must be passed with a "C" or better. A one credit hour exit portfolio is required and may be taken after a minimum of 12 hours toward the certificate has been completed. 12 of the 19 credit hours must be ASU courses and six credit hours may be shared with major requirements. Four courses must be selected from at least two content areas listed below. The courses listed are suggested and actual courses should be selected in conjunction with an academic advisor.
Required Courses -- 6 credit hours
Content Area Courses -- 12 credit hours
Courses must be selected from at least two content areas listed below (minimum six upper-division credits).
Community Application
Health and Family Development
Social and Cultural Elements of the Family
Technology, Media and the Family
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 course work. 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.
Depending on 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.

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