Academics

Academics in CFS

The Department of Child & Family Studies (CFS) offers four academic programs: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (CABH); Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT); and Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (CRMHC). Five graduate certificates are also offered.

Applied Behavior Analysis

ABA focuses on meaningful behavior change to increase the quality of life for individuals in all walks of life. Our nation’s current demand for skilled behavior analysis practitioners is outpacing the field’s current capacity for training them. To help meet the growing demand, USF’s ABA Program offers options for students to reach their academic goals.

Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health MS

The Master of Science in Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health (CABH) Program was established in 2014 to support the growing demand for professionals to serve in public and non-profit agencies and schools that work with diverse children and adolescents experiencing behavioral health challenges. Thesis and applied tracks are offered.

Marriage & Family Therapy

The MFT program trains and educates students to be competent marriage and family therapists who will help to meet the growing job demand for the state of Florida. Graduates of the program will be eligible for licensure in the state of Florida as marriage and family therapists.

Clinical Rehab and Mental Health Counseling

The CRMHC Master's Program at USF trains a workforce of professionals that promote quality behavioral health care for all, particularly people with disabilities. Both non-thesis and thesis programs provide high quality teaching and inspire learning in rehabilitation and mental health counseling and related disciplines.

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates are specialized graduate-level credentials reflecting knowledge of the most up-to-date research in the selected field. Once completed, the certificate is notated on transcripts, and a USF certificate of completion is awarded. Certificate completion increases a student’s competitiveness, enhances their performance, and helps prepare them for the changing nature of business.

Undergraduate Certificate

A certificate is a non-degree program designed to provide students with specialized knowledge.

Specialized Training/Scholarships

CFS offers several specialized training and scholarship opportunities for graduate students: Institute for Translational Research Education in Adolescent Drug Abuse (ITRE), Rehabilitation Scholars (RSA) Program, and Project EBAS: Enhancing Behavior Analytic Services.

Behavioral Health Concentration with COPH

CBCS and CFS work with the USF College of Public Health (COPH) to jointly offer a specialty concentration in behavioral health as part of the Master and Doctoral programs in the USF College of Public Health.