Social Work Minor: Family Studies
The interdisciplinary minor in Family Studies is designed for the 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, polices, laws, services and the interrelationship of families and societies will enhance majors in many fields including anthropology, 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.
Students complete a minimum of 18 credit hours with no more than six credit hours in the student's major. One introductory course is required: Family 133 The Contemporary Family or SOCI 276 Sociology of the Family. One course must be selected from each of the following areas: Families in Society, Family and Intimate Relationships, and Human Development in the Family. A capstone course, FAM 400, Family Issues and Applications, is also required.
Requirements (Check catalog for course prerequisites):
FAM 133 Contemporary Family or SOCI 276 Sociology of Family
Families in Society (choose one): ECON 306 Economics of Women and the Family; GERN/SOCI 280 Social Gerontology; HIST 466 The Family 1400-1800; SOCI 303 Sociology of Death & Dying; SOCI 337 Sociology of Gender; SOWK 338 Issues & Policies in Family Services; or SOWK 342 Child Welfare Services
Family and Intimate Relationships (chose one): FAM 330 Family Relations; HTH 372 Human Sexuality; PSYC 275 Psychology of Human Intimacy; PSYC 450 Psychology of Child Abuse & Neglect; or SOWK 340 Violence in Families
Human Development in the Family (chose one): FAM 300 Child Development; FAM 335 Parents Throughout the Life Cycle; PSYC 304 Death and Dying: Thanatology; PSYC 365 Developmental Psychology; PSYC 470 Psychology of the Young Adult; PSYC 475 Psychology of Adulthood; or SOWK 387 Working with Teenagers
Capstone: FAM 400 Family Issues and Applications (prerequisites: At least four courses in the minor including either FAM 133 or SOCI 276)
Additional Family Issues Course (chose from above or one of the following): FAM 375 Grantwriting for Agencies; FAM 385 Acting Out Teen Theater; FAM 386 Acting OutREACH; FAM 487 Special Topics in Family Issues; or FAM 490 Special Studies in Family Issues.
Family Studies Minor - Course Descriptions
- FAM 133.
The Contemporary Family. 3 credits. Concepts of variations in forms and lifestyles of families. Consideration is given to the family life cycle and the interdependency between the family and society. - FAM 300.
Child Development. 3 credits. A study of the factors influencing the physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth of the young child. Emphasis is given to the importance of family relations and development of observational skills.
Prerequisite: GPSYC 101 or 160 or equivalent. - FAM 330.
Family Relations. 3 credits. A study of the relations in modern family living with emphasis on dating, courtship, marriage, marital adjustments and intergeneration relations. - FAM 335.
Parents Throughout the Life Cycle. 3 credits. Explores the realities of being a mother and father to infants, children, Teenagers, adults and aging adults. Considers parenting strategies and current issues of parenting. - FAM/GERN/SOWK 375.
Grant Writing for Agencies. 3 credits A collaborative course, which emphasizes active learning, teaches basic skills on proposal writing. Students and agency representatives learn the importance of grant writing for agencies/organizations and research projects often needed to complete graduate education. There is potential for a grant submission by the end of the semester. - FAM/SOWK 385.
Acting Out Teen Theater. 3 credits. Students are trained to facilitate a semester-long, weekly theater program with 12-18 year old middle and high school students. Students analyze group dynamics, apply theory and provide program structure. The semester ends with the teen production of an original script. - FAM/SOWK 386.
Acting OutREACH. 3 credits. Students learn about issues currently facing teens, parents and schools. Students are trained to apply theory and function as staff for the Acting Out REACH Program. Students take issue-centered programs to alternative education and after-school programs at middle and high schools in the community. - FAM 400.
Issues and Applications. 3 credits. This seminar is designed to integrate and apply knowledge from the student's major and the family issues minor. A substantial, in-depth individualized project will strengthen the student's capabilities in research, information access and self-directed learning.
Prerequisites: FAM 133 or SOCI 276, three additional courses in the family issues minor and junior or senior standing. - FAM 487.
Special Topics in Family Issues. 3 credits. Examination of selected topics that are of current importance to family studies. Course may be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: FAM 133 or SOCI 276. - FAM 490.
Special Studies in Family Issues. 1-3 credits. The course is designed to give capable students in family issues an opportunity to complete independent study under faculty supervision. Course may be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: FAM 133 or SOCI 276 and two additional courses in the family issues minor or permission of the instructor.
For more information about a Family Issues Minor contact Professor R. Ann Myers at 568-6980.
