Academic Programs
Family Studies
R. Ann Myers, Minor Adviser
Phone: (540) 568-6980
E-mail: myersra@jmu.edu
Web site: http://www.jmu.edu/socwork/academics/familystudies.html
The interdisciplinary minor in family studies is designed for undergraduates seeking enhancement of their major, 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.
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 or from family studies electives. 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.
| Required Courses | 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 Family1 | |
| GERN/SOCI 280. Social Gerontology | |
| HIST 466. The Family 1400-1800 | |
| SOCI 303. Sociology of Death and Dying2 | |
| 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 Neglect1,3 | |
| SOWK 340. Violence in Families4 | |
| Human Development in the Family (choose one of the following): |
3 |
| FAM 300. Child Development1,6 | |
| FAM 335. Parent-Child Relationships Across the Lifespan | |
| PSYC 304. Death and Dying: Thanatology1, 5 | |
| PSYC 365. Developmental Psychology1,7 | |
| 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 | |
| FAM Elective | |
18 |
|
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.
6 May not also take PSYC 365 in the minor.
7 May not also take FAM 300 in the minor.
