FAMILY STUDIES, M.A. (Minimum of 30 Credits is required for this degree.)

The Master of Arts Degree in Family Studies is directed toward preparation of persons for professional positions in family life education, action programs, and advanced study in family science. Its focus is on the role of the family in human development, meeting social-economic needs of persons throughout the life cycle, and examining the family as a significant subsystem in the total bio-social ecosystem.

The program is broad in scope, and can be flexibly designed to meet the needs of individual students with particular areas of interest. An interdisciplinary base, primarily from the social sciences but with contributions from the arts and humanities, is used. The family is viewed from several major system orientations: developmental, interactional, social exchange, and ecological.

Students with basic backgrounds in the social sciences and/or humanities or from such fields as education, home economics, social work, and health professions may be admitted to the program.

Major Objectives of the Family Study Program
Provide education in family science for persons in a variety of professions which require understanding of family systems.

Prepare people for positions with social services, community action, health programs, and similar programs serving families where persons with backgrounds in family studies are needed as team members.

Prepare people to teach family life/sex education programs in community colleges, institutions of higher education, adult education programs, extension services, and other educational programs.

Prepare students for advanced graduate study family science.

At present, two options are possible for Family Studies Majors:

INTRA-DEPARTMENTAL FOCUS: Emphasis is upon courses in family life, and child/human development. The program is designed for students who need a broad background for such positions as college teaching, extension, and family service agencies.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY FOCUS: Emphasis is on family life and interpersonal relationships. Courses in FCE and courses from other departments may be included in the major.

Students in Family Studies are urged to be innovative in designing unique applied experiences in their master's program. Field experiences, individual studies, and research projects can be arranged both within and outside the Department.

Required Courses
FCE 801	-	Family Ecosystems
FCE 845	-	Foundations of Family Study
FCE 847	-	Theories of Family
and/or
FCE 850	-	Theories of Management & Decision Making in the Family
FCE 880	-	Research Method
Select One Course in Quantitative Methods
AEE 891	-	Advanced Research Analysis
CEP 822	-	Approach to Educational Research (only for Plan B students or as the prerequisite for CEP 933 for Plan A students.)
CEP 933	-	Quantitative Methods in Educational Research (designed for students with prior course work in statistics.)
FCE 881	-	Quantitative Methods in Family and Child Ecology
FCE 892	-	Seminar:  Quantitative Methodology & Data Analysis
STT 421	-	Statistics I
PSY 815	-	Quantitative Research Design and Analysis in Psychology
Suggested Courses
FCE 405	-	Work and the Family
FCE 413	-	Adult Development & Family: Middle & Later Years
FCE 442	-	Ethnic Minority Families in America
FCE 444	-	Interpersonal Relationships in the Family
FCE 445	-	Human Sexuality in the Family
FCE 454	-	Family Financial Management
FCE 470	-	Current Issues in Family and Child Ecology
FCE 810	-	Theories of Child Development
FCE 811	-	Child Development: Ecological Perspectives
FCE 813	-	Adulthood and Aging in the Family: Ecological Perspectives
FCE 814	-	Parenthood and Parent Education
FCE 830	-	Survey of Marriage and Family Therapy Theories
FCE 847	-	Theories of the Family
FCE 848	-	Divorce and Remarriage Interventions
FCE 871	-	Methods of Teaching Adults
FCE 872	-	Program Design and Development
FCE 873	-	Administration and Management of Human Services Programs
FCE 890	-	Independent Study
FCE 891	-	Topics in Family and Child Ecology
FCE 894	-	Laboratory and Field Experience