R. Ann Myers, Minor Adviser

Phone: (540) 568-6980

E-mail: myersra@jmu.edu

The interdisciplinary minor in family studies is designed for undergraduates seeking enhancement of their major and career potential, desiring to increase understanding of self and relationships, and seeking to make a positive contribution to society. A substantial knowledge of family-related issues, family processes, policies, laws, services and the interrelationship of families and societies will enhance majors in many fields including anthropology, early and middle education, health sciences, management, nursing, psychology, social work and sociology. The minor encourages students to make connections between their major field and family studies, thereby adding value to the major and increasing career and graduate study options.

The family studies minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours with no more than six credit hours in the student’s major. One introductory course is required from the following: FAM 133, The Contemporary Family, or SOCI 276, Sociology of the Family. One course must be selected from each of these areas: Families in Society, Family and Intimate Relationships and Human Development in the Family. An additional course must be selected from any of the three areas. A capstone course, FAM 400, Family Issues and Applications, is also required. At least four courses in the minor, including the introductory course, must have been completed prior to enrolling in FAM 400.

Minor Requirements	Credit Hours
Introductory course (choose one of the following)	3
FAM 133. Contemporary Family
SOCI 276. Sociology of the Family
Families in Society (choose one of the following)	3
ECON 306. Economics of Women and the Family 1
GERN/SOCI 280. Social Gerontology
HIST 466. The Family 1400-1800
SOCI 303. Sociology of Death and Dying 2
SOCI 337. Sociology of Gender
SOWK 338. Issues and Policies in Family Services
SOWK 342. Child Welfare Services
Family and Intimate Relationships (choose one of the following)	3
FAM 330. Family Relations
HTH 372. Human Sexuality
PSYC 275. Psychology of Human Intimacy
PSYC 450. Psychology of Child Abuse and Neglect 1,3
SOWK 340. Violence in Families 4
Human Development in the Family (choose one of the following):	3
FAM 300. Child Development1
FAM 335. Parents Throughout the Life Cycle
PSYC 304. Death and Dying: Thanatology 1,5
PSYC 365. Developmental Psychology1
PSYC 470. Psychology of the Young Adult1
PSYC 475. Psychology of Adulthood1
SOWK 387. Working with Teenagers
Capstone	3
FAM 400. Family Issues and Applications1
Additional family studies course	3
(choose additional course from B, C, D or one of the following):
FAM 487. Special Topics in Family Issues
FAM 490. Special Studies in Family Issues
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1 Course has one or more prerequisites.

2 May not also take PSYC 304 in the minor.

3 May not also take SOWK 340 in the minor.

4 May not also take PSYC 450 in the minor.

5 May not also take SOCI 303 in the minor.