Undergraduate Course Catalog 2008-2009
College of Health and Human Services
» http://www.shhs.unh.edu/
Family Studies (FS)
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Chairperson: Elizabeth M. Dolan
Associate Professor: Kristine M. Baber, Elizabeth M. Dolan, Barbara R. Frankel, Michael F. Kalinowski, Kerry Kazura, John W. Nimmo, Corinna Jenkins Tucker
Assistant Professor: Dora Wu Chen
Clinical Assistant Professor: Mark Moses
Extension Educators: Charlotte W. Cross, Suzann E. Knight
The department’s mission is to support the well-being of individuals and families through research, teaching, and service. Programs emphasize both theoretical and practical knowledge about lifespan development, the social and economic roles of families, child advocacy, teacher and parent education, and intervention programs that support families. The department is committed to acknowledging and supporting diversity, to providing an educational environment that stresses excellence and innovation, and to developing exemplary programs to serve both students and the larger community.
Students learn about families through integration of developmental, theoretical, and empirical information. The department offers a B.S. degree in family studies. Each student selects from one of the four specializations, each offering unique opportunities. Students prepare for positions in family service organizations, educational settings and programs, corporations, and government agencies. Each specialization has entry-level criteria and specific course requirements. All require close consultation with a faculty adviser. Any changes or updates are posted on our Web site.
The nursery/kindergarten teaching certification and the Certified Family Life Educator programs are highly structured and may have limited enrollment. Acceptance to these programs and to internships and practica is restricted to students demonstrating exceptional potential for working with children and families.
Major Requirements
Core courses required of each family studies major are: FS 525, Human Development and FS 545, Family Relations. A minimum of nine family studies courses is required, at least two of which must be at the 700 level. Twenty credits of supporting coursework are selected in consultation with the adviser. These courses must be 500 level or above and must include at least 12 credits in courses outside the department. Each specialization has required or recommended supporting courses. Some departmental specializations may specify general education courses because they enhance the plan of study. Family studies majors are required to complete an undergraduate statistics course.
Child Advocacy and Family Policy Specialization
This specialization focuses on analyzing and solving problems related to children and their families with a primary emphasis on unmet needs. The goal is for students to complete their degree with a detailed understanding of human development, family relations, educational and government initiatives and regulations, cultural differences, statistics, politics, and effective communication strategies. The specialization is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as advocates or policy generalists, or to pursue a graduate degree.
Department Requirements
FS 525, Human Development
FS 545, Family Relations
FS 553, Personal and Family Finance for Family Life Educators, or
FS 653, Family Economics
FS 623, Development Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood, or
FS 624, Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood
FS 641, Parenting Across the Lifespan, or
FS 743, Families, Schools and Community, or
FS 760, Family Programs and Policies
FS 746, Human Sexuality, or
FS 750, Contemporary Issues in Adolescent Development, or
FS 757, Race, Class, Gender and Families
FS 772, Child Advocacy
FS 773, International Perspectives on Families and Young Children
FS 794, Families and the Law
FS 712, 714, Internship
Supporting Courses
ENGL 503 or ENGL 502 or CMN 456, ANTH 516 or POLT 500 or POLT 502 or SW 525 or JS 401 SW 705 or PSYC 581, EDUC 500 or EDUC 507 or FS 635
Young Child Specialization/Nursery-Kindergarten Teaching Certification
This concentration is for those who have a broad interest in working with young children ranging in age from birth to age eight. This specialization has four major foci that include child development, teaching methodology and curriculum development, developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children, and home-school-community relations.
The nursery-kindergarten certification (N/K) is a highly competitive program within the young child specialization. Students who qualify and who are accepted into the program will participate in student teaching in their senior year. Applications to the N/K program are completed by students during the fall of the junior year.
Department Requirements
FS 525, Human Development*
FS 545, Family Relations*
FS 623, Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood*
FS 635, Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Settings*
FS 708-709, Advanced Child Development Internship*
FS 733, Supervising Programs for Young Children*
FS 734, Curriculum for Young Children*
FS 743, Families, Schools and Community*
FS 771, Observation and Assessment*
Students accepted into the certification program must also enroll in the following courses during their senior year:
FS 785, Seminar for Student Teachers*
FS 786, Seminar for Student Teachers*
FS 788, Student Teaching of Young Children*
Supporting Courses
EDUC 500* (may substitute FS 708 or FS 709); THDA 583* or 621; PSYC 581; KIN 600* or 675; MATH 601* ; FS 760, 772, 773, 794, 797 (Families in Poverty); EDUC 706*, 733, 734, 750, 751, 760*.
*These courses are required for nursery/kindergarten certification.
Family Support/Provisional Certification Family Life Education
This specialization is for students interested in working with children, adolescents, and adults either as individuals or as families. Students develop knowledge and skills to prepare them to provide family support, direct services, and family life education. This specialization prepares students to work in human service settings. Students may choose a plan of study leading to a provisional certification as a family life educator.
The National Council on Family Relations has approved the Department of Family Studies undergraduate program as meeting the standards and criteria required for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Certified family life educators work in a variety of settings including social services, health services, child care, family support, youth programs, parent education, junior and senior high schools, and universities and colleges. The designation recognizes expertise in a broad range of issues that constitute family life education and increases credibility by validating the individual’s education and experience.
Department Courses
FS 525, Human Development*
FS 545, Family Relations*
FS 641, Parenting Across the Life Span*
FS 746, Human Sexuality*
FS 757, Race, Class and Gender*
FS 760, Family Programs and Policies*
FS 794, Families and the Law*
FS 553, Personal and Family Finance for Family Life Professionals*, or
FS 653, Family Economics*
FS 623, Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood, or
FS 624, Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood
FS 772, International Approaches to Child Advocacy, or
FS 773, International Perspectives on Children and Families
Students accepted into the CFLE Program must also take:
FS 782, Family Internship*
FS 792, Seminar for Family Interns*
Supporting Courses
Gerontology MinorResearch Methods course (e.g., PSYC 502)
NURS 535; PSYC 552, 582; SOC 525, 540, 675; SW 524, 525, 697A, 697B, 697C; CMN 530 or PSYC 762.
*These courses are required for the Certified Family Life Educator designation.
Individual and Family Development Specialization
This specialization is for students with a broad interest in working with families. This specialization provides knowledge about specific life stages of individuals within the context of family systems with a focus on system dynamics, diverse family systems, gender, and cultural differences. This plan of study is designed particularly for those expecting to attend graduate school and those who desire a general background in lifespan development and family dynamics.
Department Requirements
FS 525, Human Development
FS 545, Family Relations
FS 623, Developmental Perspectives on Infancy and Early Childhood
FS 624, Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood
FS 641, Parenting Across the Lifespan
FS 653, Family Economics
FS 746, Human Sexuality
FS 757, Race, Class and Gender
FS 794, Families and the Law
Supporting Courses
FS 760, Family Programs and Policies
FS 782, Family Internship
FS 792, Family Internship Seminar
Research Methods course (e.g., PSYC 502, Research Methods in Psychology)
PSYC 552, 581, 582
NURS 535
SOC 540
A foreign language
Work with the Institute on Disability
Family Internships
Internship students will apply knowledge gained from their academic studies in a supervised environment. The internship involves a commitment of fifteen hours per week for two semesters, plus a three-hour seminar every other week. Students apply for the internship during the spring semester of their junior year. Internship applicants must have completed 20 credits of departmental coursework prior to their senior year with a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.00 and a departmental grade-point average of 3.20 or higher. Internship requirements vary depending on specialization. Internship courses will count toward the 20 credits required in supporting courses.
Family Studies Minor
The department offers a minor to interested students in related majors. Minor requirements include FS 525, FS 545, and three additional courses chosen in consultation with a departmental adviser. Individual course grades must be C or above and the overall grade-point average for the 20 credits must be at least 2.00. Students desiring a minor in family studies are advised to consult with the departmental administrative manager as early as possible.
Child Life Minor
The interdisciplinary minor is offered by the Department of Family Studies and the Therapeutic Recreation Option in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy. Upon completion of course requirements, students will be able to sit for the Child Life Specialist exam. Family studies majors are required to take three core courses: RMP 502, FS 525, and FS 623. FS students will select two courses from the following: RMP 501, RMP 503, RMP 504, RMP 603, RMP 604. Students will complete an Internship which will entail a minimum of 480 hours of experience and be supervised by a certified Child Life Specialist. Family studies majors will be assigned a minor adviser from therapeutic recreation.
Adolescence Minor
The UNH Center on Adolescence, in conjunction with the Departments of Family Studies and Recreation Management and Policy, offers a minor in Adolescent and Youth Development. The minor is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills regarding adolescence and youth development. Required courses offer a foundation in theory, research, and practice for all minors. Students select three additional courses from a wide array of more specialized offerings from collaborating departments. In order that students may be assisted in developing a cohesive plan of study for their minor, a simple application profess will be used. Only students who have submitted an application, been accepted into the minor, and have completed the required coursework will be identified as having achieved a minor in Adolescent and Youth Development. Students will select two courses from: FS 624, Developmental Perspectives on Adolescence and Early Adulthood; FS 750, Contemporary Issues in Adolescent Development; RMP 668, Youth Culture and Programs. Students will select three electives from: EDUC 710c, Youth Organizations; EDUC 797, Seminar in Early Adolescent Development; EDUC 717, Growing Up Male in America; EDUC 735, Young Adult Literature; FS 797, Adolescent Males and Violence; KIN 565, Principles of Coaching; RMP 558, Program Supervision and Leadership; RMP 560, Recreational Sport Management; RMP 730, Camp Administration and Leadership; RMP 760, Community Sport Organizations: Administration and Development; SOC 525, Juvenile Crime and Delinquency; SOC 773, Sociology of Childhood; RMP 563 or FS 707, Practicum; EDUC 507, Mentoring Adolescents.
