FAMILY STUDIES AND SOCIAL WORK
(FSW–Education and Allied Professions)

418/518  Family Life Education Process (3)

In-depth examination of family life education programs. Principles of education used to develop curricula for a variety of family life education settings. Program implementation and evaluations covered. Students have opportunity to present a family life education component in a real or simulated setting.

442/542 Family Financial Management (3)

Decision-making principles applied to the use of economic and other resources to achieve personal and family goals. The impact of diverse standards of living, values, life styles, stages in the life cycle, and the economic/political environment on financial decisions explored. Not open to School of Business majors. Credit not applicable for both FSW 442/542 and FIN 305.

450/550  Special Problems (1-4; for any degree: maximum 4 of FSW 550, or 600, or 550 and 600 combined)

Conference course in a special area. Prerequisite: upperclass or graduate standing in family studies and social work.

451/551 Family Violence (3)

Analysis of research and theory on family violence, including physical abuse of children, sexual abuse, neglect, premarital abuse, wife abuse, gay/lesbian battering, elder abuse, prevention, and intervention. Basic framework is ecological/feminist, emphasizing an examination of family dynamics as well as broader historical, social, and patriarchal contexts. Cross-listed with SOC and WMS 451/551.

461/561  Marital Distress and Divorce: Implications for Family Life Professionals (3)

Analyzes marriage, divorce, and remarriage in cultural and socioeconomic context. Antecedents of divorce, including contextual and social-psychological factors influencing levels of marital distress, are reviewed. Consequences (including remarriage) of marital instability for adults, children, and society are identified. Educational policy and programmatic implications are discussed.

462/562 Family Policy, Law and Ethics (3)

Examines the relationship between family policy and contemporary U.S. families' well-being. A family life span framework is used to identify policies and laws at the federal and state levels. Processes of development, implementation, and evaluation of family policies and laws explored.

465/565 Child Maltreatment (2)

This seminar focuses on scope, problems, and issues related to child maltreatment in America. Emphasis placed on problem identification and program implementation for schools and other social service settings. Summer only, as a workshop. Offered infrequently.

466/566  Later Life Families (3)

Examination of family kinship patterns during old age. Topics include relations with spouse, adult children, siblings and other kin, as well as widowhood, grandparenthood, etc. Cannot be substituted for SOC 466/566.

467/567 Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting (2)

This seminar focuses on scope, problems, and issues related to adolescent pregnancy and parenting in America. Emphasis placed on development of educational and supportive services in schools and other settings. Summer only, as a workshop.

475/575  Family Theories (3)

Analysis of selected theories of the family. Emphasis placed on conceptual knowledge, understanding of the importance of family theories and in-depth analysis of several theoretical frameworks, such as family process, conflict, symbolic interaction, and structural-functionalism. Prerequisite: six hours of family relations courses and upperclass or graduate standing, or by permission of instructor.

481/581, 481.A/581.A Adolescent Development in Diverse Families (3)

Provides a broad interdisciplinary examination of the field of adolescent development from contextual and international perspectives. Focus includes sensitivity to racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity while studying persons 10 to 20 years of age within family systems. Prerequisite: FSW 475/575 and EDP 101 or PSY 111. Cross-listed with EDP 481/581.

491/591  Seminar in Family Studies and Social Work (1-4)

Considers a problem in an area as announced for the semester. Prerequisite: advanced standing, permission of instructor, 12 hours in family and child studies including six hours of advanced credit.

494/594  Field Experience with Families and Children (2)

Students participate in a professional work environment, prepare written and oral reports, and participate in seminars. Students build upon previous knowledge and experiences by working in, and critically appraising, a professional setting related to families and/or children. Allows students to gain career knowledge and critically appraise career options. Prerequisite: approval of instructor.

600 Independent Reading (1-4; for any degree: maximum 4 of FSW 550, or 600, or 550 and 600 combined)

Planned reading in any field in family studies under the guidance of a member of the department. Prerequisite: advanced standing, nine credit hours in family studies and social work and approval of the plan by department chair.

617 Education for Human Sexuality (3)

Reviews current information on biological and social aspects of human sexuality, specifically directed at graduate training for educators (i.e., school personnel, social service agencies, etc.). Differences in cultural background examined to provide an understanding of how cultural differences affect sexual learning, meaning, and behavior, and how they undergird pedagogy and class/group dynamics. Cross-listed with PHS 617.

620 Practicum in Family Life Education (2-4)

Students develop a topic within the family life education area and present a series of lectures or speeches, workshop, or extensive written materials. Participate in an oral presentation within an educational or community setting. Presentation grounded in contemporary research within family and child studies. Prerequisite: FSW 518, 566, 575, 681, 695, or permission of instructor.

660 Family Differences in the U.S. (3)

This seminar focuses on families living in various subcultural settings in the United States. Particular attention directed toward family relationships across the family life cycle.

681 Parenting Theories and Applications (3)

Provides an in-depth exploration of theories about parenting and their practical applications for a variety of family settings. Focus includes sensitivity to racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity issues. Prerequisite: introductory parenting course, such as FSW 381.

685 Family Systems and Stress (4)

In-depth understanding of theory and research related to family systems and stress. Emphasizes the family as a system and how families identify, manage, and adapt to internal and external stressors. Discussion of family life education and other intervention techniques. Offered infrequently.

691 Advanced Seminar in Family Studies and Social Work (1-4)

Advanced study of family studies and social work as announced for the semester. Prerequisite: graduate standing. Offered infrequently.

695 Applied Research Techniques in Family Studies (4)

Techniques for research in child and family studies. Family studies research examined from the perspective of the consumer or producer of research.

700.A Master's Thesis: Independent Research (1-3; maximum 6)

Thesis option relies on development of new knowledge through data generation and analysis, theory development, or similar activity. Students produce a written document while working independently with supervision of a graduate faculty committee. Prerequisite: 16 graduate credit hours, including FSW 575 and 695, EDP 667, and permission of instructor.

700.B Master's Thesis: Professional Application (1-3; maximum 6)

Students study a problem or issue related to a specific professional setting. Includes exploration of literature, grounding issue to a theoretical framework, and developing an implementation plan. Students apply their theoretical approaches to the problem or issue within a specific professional setting. Students go into the field, implement their plan, analyze results, and submit a written document that includes literature review, theoretical framework, implementation plan, and evaluation of the plan. Typically, this entails two semesters. Prerequisite: 16 graduate credit hours, including EDP 667, FSW 575 and 695, and permission of instructor.