Child and Family

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Marriage and Family Studies has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Child and Family Program

Department of Marriage and Family Studies
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Child & Family Therapy Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Marriage and Family Studies has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Child and Family Program

Department of Marriage and Family Studies

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Child & Family Therapy


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the Department Child and Family Services faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102


  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the message of the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Learn all about CFS in FAM 251: Intro to Family Studies

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop
  • Learn about couples and families in FAM 356: Sexuality & Intimacy and FAM 452: Parenting & Family Skills


  • Present at URCI Festival or other conference
  • Finish strong by completing your Capstone course FAM 485: Ethics
Grow Spiritually
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Participate in Chapel, including CFS Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer

  • Participate in Chapel, including CFS Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities during Missions Week
  • Volunteer in the Abilene community
  • Grow through the Brooks-Sullivan weekly Bible Study
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Volunteer with a family-service organization
  • Lead CFS Chapel
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Participate in Chapel, including CFS Chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Receive and extend blessings to others at Senior Blessing
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder assessment
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff, or older student mentor in the Child & Family Services program
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders

  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (SRWC, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization
  • Learn about your family through a genogram

  • Mentor a younger student in the Department of Child & Family Services
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization

  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role and mentoring future student leaders
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities to study abroad at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Attend events hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Study Abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig, or Montevideo
  • Attend Events hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness summer internship
  • Help implement an OMA, ISA or Carl Spain Center event
  • Apply to be a Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, or other international service opportunities
Grow Professionally
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating by activating your Handshake profile
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Learn new creative possibilities through Creative U
  • Develop a rĂ©sumĂ© and participate in a mock interview
  • Get a summer job or internship–preferably something related to your field of interest

  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members to write recommendations
  • Create a LinkedIn Profile
  • Identify and get approval for a field experience and/or practicum site
  • Connect with professionals at TxCFR
  • Explore career options at the MFT Open House
  • Finalize a rĂ©sumĂ©
  • Secure letters of recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Gain field experience in FAM 495: Practicum

Exploring Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

 

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.