Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007-2008
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
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 710, Internship
Supporting Courses
ENGL 503 or ENGL 621, ANTH 516 or ANTH 517, SW 705 or PSYC 581, EDUC 500 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* or EDUC 741; 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 Minor
FS 750, Contemporary Issues in Adolescent Development
Research 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 750, Contemporary Issues in Adolescent Development
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.