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FCE Graduates Make A Difference
FCE graduates are leaders in the field nationally, at the state level and in their local communities. FCE counts among its alumni the presidents of two institutions of higher education, numerous department chairpersons and faculty members, unit directors in the Federal government, state government coordinators, legislative advisors, program administrators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, clinicians, educators, researchers, program leaders in the U.S. military, and foundation officers.

FCE Provides Superior Instruction

Graduate student evaluations of FCE courses are among the highest at MSU. In each of the past five years, at least one FCE faculty member has been honored by the University as an outstanding teacher.

FCE Provides Exciting Research Opportunities
The department conducts both basic and applied research. Some research areas of particular importance involve youth at risk, family stress, family resource management, small home business, family values, early childhood education, school-to-work transition, persistent poverty, parenting, human development within the family, youth violence and gangs, and community-based support services. Currently, 70% of the FCE tenure stream faculty are involved in funded research or education projects.

FCE Provides Opportunities for Students to Gain Community Experience
Approximately half of the graduate students in FCE participate in community-based practicums, research projects, internships or course projects as part of their graduate program.

FCE Provides an International Context
FCE faculty and students are involved in a variety of international initiatives including work with Korean scholars, Okinawan students and teachers, projects in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Mexico and Australia. The majority of FCE faculty have international experience and many countries are represented among the FCE student population.

FCE Faculty are Nationally Recognized
Faculty scholarship is visible in publications, presentations at local, state, national and international conferences, and in invited colloquia. The number of secondary, undergraduate, and graduate level textbooks written by department faculty is noteworthy (38 volumes in five years). FCE has, among its members, executive board officers of the five leading national and international professional organizations in the field.

FCE Graduate Students Present at Professional Meetings
Last year FCE graduate students presented papers at the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the National Council for Family Relations, the Society for Research in Child Development, the Gatlinberg Conference, and the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children.

FCE Graduate Student Programs are Individualized
FCE graduate programs are tailored to meet the needs of individual students. Students work with committees of their choosing to create a program that matches the goals they set. In addition to individualized coursework, FCE master's students have a choice between thesis and non-thesis program options. FCE doctoral students have opportunities to select internships to further their professional skills in unique ways.

FCE Graduate Courses are Accessible to Working Students
70% of FCE graduate courses are offered after 5 p.m. to accommodate working students.

FCE Clinical Programs are Accredited

The FCE Marriage and Family Therapy program is fully accredited by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

FCE Administers Two On-Campus Facilities for Graduate Instruction and Research

Last year the Child Development Laboratories at Central School served 300 children and families, 1,000 MSU students, and hosted more than 1,000 visitors. The Family and Child Clinic, housed in the Paolucci Building, provided more than 5,000 hours of service to the community as well as a site for FCE student clinical practice.

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Updated July 18, 2008