Family Studies
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The Family Studies Department offers three career completer opportunities unique to Overlea High School. Career Completer programs include: Child Care Services, Human Services, and Retail Merchandising & Visual Presentation. A completer program is part of each student’s high school graduation requirements.

Courses in Family Studies may be taken as an elective or as part of a career completer. Fashion Strategies and Nutrition and Foods classes are open to ninth grade students and are part of career completer programs. Other courses are open to students in grades 10-12.

Career completer programs in Family Studies allow students to earn college credit as part of these programs in high school. All of the completer programs have an internship experience option that students may elect in their senior year.

Whatever the future plans of the student may be, one can learn valuable life skills in management, decision making and content specific areas. By taking a Family Studies class during high school, a person can develop competencies that will enable him or her to balance their future careers and family life, and earn college credit.

Child Care Services Career Completer

Students who are interested in pursuing a career in teaching or working with children are encouraged to register for the child development classes and the child care services career completer program. High school students can earn their 90 hour certificate* and six college credits as part of this completer program. Internships in elementary schools or child care centers provide opportunities for you to work with children and professionals in this career field. The demand for teachers in all content areas is high. The State and local colleges have devised financial incentive packages for students who are planning to attend colleges to become a teacher. Find out if this is a career field that you would enjoy by taking classes while you are at Overlea. Visit the Family Studies Department for more information.

*The 90 hour certificate is required by the State of Maryland to work with children in child care centers.

Human Services Associate

Students investigate job possibilities, practice work readiness skill, and explore careers in the board and rapidly growing human service field. Professionals in the human services field work with clients in a variety of settings to help them change behaviors. The types of clientele typically served are studied. Strategies used in recognizing, counseling, and helping people in need are studied in depth.

Retail Merchandising and
Visual Presentation Career Completer

This completer combines courses in Art, Business and Family Studies. Students who are interested in the fashion industry, interior design, merchandising, or visual presentation will have opportunities to explore associated career fields in this completer program. Internship experience takes place in the senior year in the student’s selected field of interest.

Course Descriptions

Nutrition and Foods I

Course 6603000 1 credit

The contribution of food to life-long wellness is studied in this course. Laboratory experiences are used to help students learn about the nutritive, psychological, and social aspects of eating. Consumer information related to food is included.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 9-12. This course is part of the Childcare Services Career Completer.

Intercultural Nutrition and Foods

Course 6521000 1 credit

This course focuses on regional foods in the United States as well as the cuisine of cultures and countries throughout the world. The effect of climate, history, geography, technology, and life style upon dietary practices and methods of food preparation are explored. Students are provided opportunities to prepare and sample foods of each region and culture studied.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. Prerequisite Course 6520100 Nutrition and Foods

Intercultural Nutrition and Foods A/B

Course (A) 652110.0 1/2 credit

Course (B) 652120.0 1/2 credit

The course description is the same as for the 1 credit class. A is the fall semester and B is the spring semester. Each semester will cover different regions of the United States and countries. The semester class allows students flexibility in scheduling ½ credit classes.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. Prerequisite course – Nutrition and Foods.

Living with Biotechnology

Course 6545400 1/2 credit

Developments in biotechnology which impact personal and family living such as bio-engineered foods, irradiated foods, genetic counseling, intra-fertilization, and genetic fingerprinting are investigated. This course helps to fulfill the technology credit required for graduation.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 9-12.

Fashion Strategies

Course 660400 1/2 credit

In this course students learn to make decisions about the selection, purchase and care of apparel. Clothing styles and choices are examined from historical, consumer, and psychological viewpoints. Laboratory experiences are included.

NOTE:
Students must supply fabric and supplies for one project. This is a required course for the Retail Merchandising & Visual Presentation Career Completer.

Residential and Interior Design

Course 6604100 1/2 credit

This course includes the study of the housing needs of individuals and families and the ways to satisfy these needs. Selecting, financing, furnishing and decorating are studied.

NOTE:
This course is required for the Retail Merchandising & Visual Presentation Career Completer.

Child Development I

Course 6602000 1 credit

Topics of study include influences on parenthood practices, child development, encouraging development, guiding child behavior, and responsibilities of parenthood. Students participate in a child development laboratory for preschool age children.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. This course is required for the Child Care Service Career Completer. Students will earn 15 hours for Student Service Learning from their laboratory experience. Students who are thinking about a career in teaching would find this a valuable experience.

Child Development II

Course 6602104 1 credit

Students apply knowledge of child guidance, growth and development to working with young children in day care settings. Methods and materials for teaching young children

are studied in depth. This course helps to prepare students for careers in the area of child development.

NOTE:
Successful completion of CD I and approval by faculty teaching Child Development/ERP I is required.

This course is for students in grades 11-12.

This course is required for the Child Care Services Career Completer. Students will earn 15 hours for Student Service Learning for their laboratory experience. Students will complete a portfolio.

Education for Responsible Parenthood II (leadership)

Course 6513200 1 credit

Students investigate ages and stages of child growth and development not studied in ERP I. Impacts of current social issues and technical developments on child growth and development are examined. Students will work in the child development laboratory, prepare learning materials for preschool children and assist Child Development I students in planning and working with preschool age children.

NOTE:
Successful completion of CD I and approval by faculty teaching Child Development/ is required. This course is for students seeking additional experience working with children.

Child Development Internship / Community Work Experience

Course 6602400 2 credits

The child care services program prepares students to assist with the care and guidance of infants and young children under the supervision of professional personnel. The child care services worker plans, organizes, and conducts activities which promote physical, interpersonal, motor, mental, and social growth and the development of acceptable behavior, cleanliness, eating, playing, resting, and toilet behaviors.

NOTE:
Successful completion of Child Development I ,Child Development II and approval by faculty teaching Child Development II is required before taking this course.

Students must be in grade 12.

Students will be placed in off campus work settings and must provide transportation.

Students will update portfolios.

Decisions in Family Living

Course 6602300 1 credit

In this course, students study the contributions that families make to individuals and society. Course topics include communication, family relationships, family structures and life styles, human sexuality, management of family resources and the establishment of one’s independence and a home environment.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. This course is part of the Child Care Services and Human Services Career Completer.

Independent Living:

Course 6608000 1/2 credit

In this course, students learn practical skills for becoming independent. Topics include money management, career development, consumer skills, balancing work and family, interpersonal relationships, housing selection, and food decisions.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. This course is required for the Human services Career Completer.

6606000 1 credit

This course offers an introduction to careers in the helping professions such as geriatric aide, mental health worker, job coach, physical therapy assistant and social worker. Students will develop skills needed to obtain employment in these fields such as evaluating clients’ needs, developing treatment plans, and establishing professional relationships.

NOTE:
This course is for students in grades 10-12. This is an introductory course for the Human Services Career Completer.

Course 6606500 2 credits

Course 6606700 1 credit

The Human Services Internship is a 1-2 credit option in the senior year with teacher approval. It is the final course in the Human Services Career completer. Internship positions could be obtained in the areas of social services, criminal justice, allied health fields, or gerontology, depending on the interest of the student. Students who have completed all the requirements of the Human Services Career Completer could earn up to 6 credits toward a degree in Human Services at Catonsville Community College.