Graduate Program

Graduate Advisor
All students are assigned an initial advisor upon acceptance into the program with the option of selecting a new advisor later in collaboration with faculty.

Student Information Contact
Simpson Hall, (505) 277-4535
Contact an office staff member for application materials and information about the application process.

Application Deadlines
Master’s and doctoral applicants in Family Studies:

Priority Deadline
Fall semester: March 15
Spring semester:            October 15                 
Summer session: March 15

Degrees Offered

  • Master of Arts in Family Studies (M.A.)
    Concentrations: Family Life Education; Family Relations; Human Development in Families.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Family Studies (Ph.D.)

Graduate programs are designed to prepare students for a variety of career options, including family specialists and others concerned with supporting families as educators and learners. Employment opportunities are available in schools, universities, community agencies, business and industry, and many other settings where work is directed toward education, prevention, support and research with individuals and families.

The graduate unit offers work leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Family Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Family Studies. All M.A. students must fulfill the general admission requirements and the Plan I (with thesis) or Plan II (without thesis) requirements set forth earlier in this Catalog. M.A. students who plan to acquire research skills or to pursue a doctorate are encouraged to follow Plan I. A Master’s degree is prerequisite to application for the doctoral program. Students applying for the doctoral program are required to provide the results of performance on the GRE taken within the past five years.

The M.A. in Family Studies may be pursued in one of these concentrations:

  • Family Life Education*
  • Family Relations
  • Human Development in Families

Contact the graduate unit office for more information about specific requirements for all programs.

* Students wishing to apply for the Certified Family Life Educator designation of the National Council on Family Relations refer to the NCFR Web site.


Master of Arts in Family Studies

All M.A. in Family Studies students must fulfill the general admission requirements and the Plan I or Plan II requirements set forth in the preceding College of Education section in this Catalog and in the sections on graduate studies at the University of New Mexico. The M.A. in Family Studies may be pursued in one of the three following concentrations: Family Life Education, Human Development in Families or Family Relations. Students completing the Master’s degree with a concentration in Family Life Education will be eligible to apply for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) certificate from the National Council on Family Relations. Instructions and more information may be obtained from the Program Office in Simpson Hall.

The Master’s in Family Studies offers flexibility in developing a program of studies to meet the interests of the student. Applicants are expected to have completed 18 credit hours of social and/or behavioral science courses (e.g., anthropology, family studies, psychology, sociology) prior to admission. Additional information and the required application form are available from the graduate unit office and the Family and Child Studies program entry on the College of Education Web site. Acceptance into the Master’s program is based upon ratings of several factors, including scholarship, academic background (especially in the social/behavioral sciences), work experience, letters of recommendation, a personal statement and multicultural experience. Prospective students must first apply for admission to Graduate Studies.

The requirements for the Master’s degree in Family Studies consist of 42 credit hours.

Concentration in Family Life Education

Credit 
Hours

Core Requirements 24
FS 500 Family Studies Professional Seminar * 1,1
FS 503 Seminar in Human Growth and Development 3
FS 517 Family Interaction Theories 3
FS 543 Managing Family Resources 3
FS 570 Research Methods in Family Studies 3
FS 571 Application of Family Research 1
FS 581 Seminar: Legal, Ethical and Policy Issues in Family Studies 3
FS 584 Multicultural Issues: Working with Families 3
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics 3
Other Required Family Studies Courses 9
FS 411 Family Life Education 3
FS 501 Parent Education 3
Elective 3
Other 9
  Elective outside the program 3
-and-  
  Plan I (thesis option)  
FS 599 Thesis 6
-or-  
  Plan II (without thesis)  
FS 595 Advanced Field Experience 3
  Elective outside the program 3
  Total Required Credit Hours 42


* Taken twice for a total of 2 credit hours (Fall first enrollment, Spring with FS 571). See academic advisor for this requirement.

Note: For a student to be eligible for CLFE, HED 212 or PSY 231 must be completed.

Concentration in Family Relations

Students completing the Master’s degree with a concentration in Family Relations will be prepared to work in various Family Relations settings following graduation. Instructions and more information may be obtained from the Program Office in Simpson Hall.

Credit
Hours

Core Requirements 24
FS 500 Family Studies Professional Seminar * 1,1
FS 503 Seminar in Human Growth and Development 3
FS 517 Family Interaction Theories 3
FS 543 Managing Family Resources 3
FS 570 Research Methods in Family Studies 3
FS 571 Application of Family Research 1
FS 581 Seminar: Legal, Ethical and Policy Issues in Family Studies 3
FS 584 Multicultural Issues: Working with Families 3
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics 3
Other Family Studies Courses 15
FS 546 Family Systems 3
FS 560 Family Counseling 3
FS 595 Advanced Field Experience 3
Development Issues in Families (must take 2 of 3): 6
FS 502
-or-
FS 504
-or-
FS 508
Infancy and Early Childhood

Middle Childhood and Adolescence

Adulthood and Aging
Other Required Courses 3
COUN 517 Theories of Counseling 3
Total Required Credit Hours 42


* Taken twice for a total of 2 credit hours (Fall first enrollment, Spring with FS 571). See academic advisor for this requirement.

Concentration in Human Development in Families

Credit
Hours
Core Requirements 24
FS 500 Family Studies Professional Seminar * 1,1
FS 503 Seminar in Human Growth and Development 3
FS 517 Family Interaction Theories 3
FS 543 Managing Family Resources 3
FS 570 Research Methods in Family Studies 3
FS 571 Application of Family Research 1
FS 581 Seminar: Legal, Ethical and Policy Issues in Family Studies 3
FS 584 Multicultural Issues: Working with Families 3
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics 3
Other Required Family Studies Courses 6
(Must take two of three)
FS 502 Developmental Issues in Families: Infancy and Early Childhood 3
FS 504 Developmental Issues in Families: Middle Childhood and Adolescence 3
FS 508 Developmental Issues in Families: Adulthood and Aging 3
Electives 6
FS FS Elective 3
Elective outside the program 3
Other 6
Plan I (thesis option)
FS 599 Thesis 6
  –or–  
  Plan II (without thesis)  
FS 595 Advanced Field Experience 3
  Elective outside the program 3
  Total Required Credit Hours 42


* Taken twice for a total of 2 credit hours (Fall first enrollment, Spring with FS 571). See academic advisor for this requirement.


Doctor of Philosophy in Family Studies

The conceptual framework for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Family Studies is based on the link between the principles of ecology and systems theory with the study of families. The current interdisciplinary perspective assumes that family dynamics can best be understood within the multiple contexts in which they occur.

With the exception of a 12-credit hour doctoral core, students plan an individualized program with their Committee on Studies that focuses on the area of Family Studies and which may include courses in the graduate unit as well as from other units. To be eligible for the doctoral core courses (advanced seminars in theories, research and legal, ethical and policy issues in Family Studies and Internship), students will be expected to have had graduate courses (Family Studies Master’s Core courses) or their equivalents in human growth and development, family interaction, managing family resources, multicultural issues in working with families and children, introductory statistics and a course in research methods. In addition, students must have 24 credit hours in a secondary discipline and complete 15 credit hours to meet the inquiry skills requirement. All of these components are outlined in the Family Studies Ph.D. Program of Studies.

Contact minor department for specific requirements and/or information.

Credit
Hours
  Core Curriculum 12
FS 581 Seminar: Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues in Family Studies 3
FS 670 Advanced Seminar in Theory and Research in Family Studies I 3
FS 671 Advanced Seminar in Theory and Research in Family Studies II 3
FS 696 Internship 3
  To be eligible for the doctoral core courses, students will be expected to have completed or be currently enrolled in Family Studies graduate courses or their equivalent in:  
FS 503 Seminar in Human Growth and Development 3
FS 517 Family Interaction Theories 3
FS 543 Managing Family Resources 3
FS 570 Research Methods in Family Studies 3
FS 584 Multicultural Issues: Working with Families 3
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics 3
Additional Major Requirements 15
Each student, with his/her Committee on Studies, selects 15 additional credit hours, 9 of which must be in Family Studies.
Other Requirements: 24
Minor (contact minor department for specific requirements and/or information)
Inquiry Skills 15
EDPY 603  Applied Statistical Design and Analysis 3
EDPY 604 Multiple Regression Techniques as Applied to Education 3
EDPY 606 Applied Multivariate Statistics 1-3
  Note: Family Studies students need to take EDPY 606 for 3 credit hours.  
  Additional credits to be determined by the student’s Committee on Studies 6
  Dissertation (minimum) 18
  Total Required Credit Hours 84

Master’s Degree Minor in Family Studies

Family Studies provides a valuable supplement to a number of degree programs and professions. The following minor program comprises a set of required courses from core offerings in theories of human development, family interaction and management of resources and electives from other graduate-level Family Studies offerings to meet individual needs.

Curriculum for Family Studies Minor

A minor in Family Studies at the Master’s level consists of a total of 12 credit hours, 6 of which are to be selected from those courses required of all program majors. These include FS 503 (3), FS 517 (3), FS 543 (3) and FS 584 (3). In addition, with an advisor, the student selects another 6 credit hours of graduate-level Family Studies courses for a total of 12 credit hours.


Beginning with the Spring 2017 term, undergraduate courses offered under the subject codes of Early Childhood Multicultural Education (ECME) and Family Studies (FS) will be offered under a new subject code of Family and Child Studies (FCS). Refer to the tables on the Family and Child Studies program page to determine the new subject code and course number for undergraduate courses previously offered under ECME and FS.


Courses

FS 202. Infant Growth and Development. (3)



FS 213. Marriage and Family Relationships. (3)



FS 281. Introduction to Family Studies. (3)



FS 304. Growth and Development in Middle Childhood. (3)



FS 310. Friends and Intimate Relationships. (3)



FS 312. Parent-Child Interactions. (3)



FS 313. Family Theories and Contemporary Lifestyles. (3)



FS 315. Adolescent Development in the Family. (3)



FS 341. Ecological Aspects of Housing. (3)



FS 343. Family Management Theories. (3)



FS 344. Consumer Decisions. (3)



FS 391 / 591. Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



FS 395. Field Experience I. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



FS 403. Growth and Development of the Preschool Child. (3)



FS 407L. Preschool Child Laboratory. (1)



FS *411. Marriage and Family Life Education. (3)



FS 412. Fathering. (3)



FS 416. Adult Development in the Family. (3)



FS 443. Application of Family Management Theories. (3)



FS 481. Families and Public Policy. (3)



FS *484. Ethnic Minority Families. (3)



FS 493 / 593. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



FS 497. Reading and Research in Honors I. (2)



FS 498. Reading and Research in Honors II. (2)



FS 499. Honors Thesis. (2)



FS 501. Parent Education. (3)



FS 502. Developmental Issues in Families: Early Childhood. (3)



FS 503. Seminar in Human Growth and Development. (3)



FS 504. Developmental Issues in Families: Middle Childhood and Adolescence. (3)



FS 508. Developmental Issues in Families: Adulthood and Aging. (3)



FS 512. Working with Children and Families. (3)



FS 513. Seminar-Current Issues in Family Studies. (3, no limit Δ)



FS 514. Fatherhood. (3)



FS 517. Family Interaction Theories. (3)



FS 543. Managing Family Resources. (3)



FS 546. Family Systems Theories. (3)



FS 570. Research Methods in Family Studies. (3)



FS 571. Application of Family Research. (1)



FS 581. Seminar: Legal, Ethical and Policy Issues in Family Studies. (3)



FS 584. Multicultural Issues: Working with Families. (3)



FS 591 / 391. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



FS 593 / 493. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



FS 595. Advanced Field Experiences. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



FS 598. Directed Readings in Family Studies. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



FS 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



FS 670. Advanced Seminar in Theory and Research in Family Studies I. (3)



FS 671. Advanced Seminar in Theory and Research in Family Studies II. (3)



FS 696. Internship. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



FS 699. Doctoral Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809