Fields of Study

Family and Child Studies: Master of Science

For information contact:
Director of graduate studies
Department of Family Studies and Social Work
101 McGuffey Hall (513-529-2323)
www.muohio.edu/familystudies

Note:The Family and Child Studies program requirements and course offerings are currently undergoing substantial revision. The information given below represents the general outline of the program. However, specific details were not available at press time. Please contact the FSW office for more information.

This program is designed to meet the increasing demand for qualified professionals to serve the needs of families and their members within a complex, rapidly changing, and globalized society. Students are prepared for careers in a variety of settings (i.e., community, educational, social service, government, and business) and for additional education in advanced fields of study (such as earning a Ph.D. in Family Studies or related fields). Core courses provide a strong foundation in the requisite professional theories and methodologies for creating new knowledge of diverse families. All students contribute to the field by producing a thesis on an original topic that advances the current state of knowledge.

Please note that the program does not include a social work, therapy, or counseling option. However, many of our graduates do enter these fields, typically after obtaining additional education. The program does have an option preparing students for certification as a Family Life Educator.

The National Council of Family Relations verifies that Miami's graduate program in Family and Child Studies provides coursework meeting all standards and criteria neeeded for the provisional Certified Family Life Educator designation. Students interested in becoming a Certified Family Life Educator should check with the director of graduate studies for current requirements.

Admission Requirements

In addition to Graduate School admission requirements, the department requires three letters of reference and a letter of intent that includes a statement of interests, accomplishments, and professional goals. Contact the director of graduate studies or visit our Web page at www.muohio.edu/familystudies.

Program Requirements

The Family and Child Studies program is 34 semester hours including six hours of thesis preparation, or about nine courses in addition to the thesis. The program offers breadth of knowledge as well as opportunity to specialize in an area of choice. Three core courses offer a foundation in theories and research methodologies. A field experience (internship) is also required. Students select courses that will help develop capacities for creating and disseminating knowledge in their area of interest. Independent study is available and encouraged.

Course work focuses on topics such as family and child development, parenting, divorce, family life education, family stress, family diversity, and adolescence. Professors work closely with students in a mentoring relationship to allow for specialization in a particular topic of interest (such as parenting children with special needs, teen pregnancy, religion and marital adjustment, adjustment of children after divorce, balancing work and family, fathering, parental stress, social competency in adolescents, etc.)

Students contribute to the profession by completing a thesis that is of the quality that the results can be published. Students can complete their thesis using data already collected by professors, work jointly with professors to collect data, or collect their own data. These data can then be used to develop papers to present at professional conferences or to submit for publication, as well as for the thesis project. The Department encourages professional development by having students and professors working closely together on projects (such as research and family life education). Developing family life education materials, presenting papers, and publishing are important ways for graduate students to build professional skills and develop a reputation as an expert in the field.

Students can select from two thesis options:

1. Independent Research ( FSW 700A). This option relies on the development of new knowledge through data generation and analysis, through theory development, or similar activity. Generally, students select a topic of interest, complete a literature review, gather and analyze the data, and draw the conclusions. Rather than analyzing data, the project can have a theory creation aspect, be a comprehensive literature review, or be the development of a family life education strategy.
2. Professional Application ( FSW 700B). With this option, an intervention program that is specific to an identified professional setting is designed and implemented. Students explore professional literature, ground the issue and intervention to a theoretical framework, and develop an intervention plan. Students then implement the intervention and analyze the results (i.e., program evaluation).

In both cases, students are mentored to develop knowledge that contributes to the professional field and shows them how to publish the results of their thesis projects.

The FSW Graduate Handbook contains further information and program requirements.