Master of Science in Family Studies

Website: https://twu.edu/human-development-family-studies-counseling/graduate-programs/family-studies/

A master's degree in Family Studies prepares students for careers that involve strengthening families and creating positive futures for everyone. Potential career fields include human services, family and social service agencies serving families, and parent or family life education. 

The M.S. in Family Studies has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as meeting the Standards and Criteria required for the provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. 

The M.S. in Family Studies may be completed up to 100% online as well as in an accelerated format.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Critically consume research literature​.
  2. Leadership skills​.
  3. Written communication skills.​
  4. Critical thinking skills​.

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours Required

Thesis or Professional Paper Option: 33 semester credit hours (SCH)
Professional Portfolio Option: 34 semester credit hours (SCH)

Special Requirements

No grade below B is accepted towards any graduate degree in the Department of Human Development, Family Studies, and Counseling (HDFSC). If more than one grade below B is earned while enrolled in any HDFSC graduate program, the student will be dismissed from the program and will be ineligible to re-enroll in any program within the department for a period of six years.

Final Examination

In addition to the completion of a thesis, professional paper, or professional portfolio, students must participate in an oral defense of their product.  The student's advisory committee reviews and evaluates the product and determines the outcome. The advisory committee should consist of three faculty members, all of whom must hold Graduate Faculty status, and at least two of whom must be faculty from the Family Studies program. 

Certified Family Life Educator

The M.S. in Family Studies has been approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as meeting the Standards and Criteria required for the provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Courses noted with an asterisk (*) must be completed in order to qualify for the abbreviated CFLE application process.

Thesis Option (33 SCH) 

Core I
To be completed in first 2 semesters
HDFS 5003Lifespan Human Development (*)3
HDFS 5123Theories of the Family (*)3
Core II
HDFS 5823Families and Public Policy (*)3
HDFS 5833Family Economics (*)3
Core III
HDFS 5193Statistics for Family Sciences3
HDFS 5693Research Methods in Family Sciences3
Content Specialization
Select three of the following9
Family Sexuality (*)
Families as Consumers
Family Changes and Diversity (*)
Communication in Marriage and Family (*)
Adolescent Development Within the Family
Gender Role Development
Parenting Education (*)
Family Crises
Aging in Families and Society
Leadership and Staff Development in Family Sciences Programs
Housing and Families
Time Management for Families
Teaching Family Sciences (*)
Practicum in Family Sciences (*)
Professional Competency
Taken in final semesters
HDFS 5983Thesis3
HDFS 5993Thesis3
Total SCHs33

Professional Paper Option (33 SCH) 

Core I
To be completed in first 2 semesters
HDFS 5003Lifespan Human Development (*)3
HDFS 5123Theories of the Family (*)3
Core II
HDFS 5823Families and Public Policy (*)3
HDFS 5833Family Economics (*)3
Core III
HDFS 5193Statistics for Family Sciences3
HDFS 5693Research Methods in Family Sciences3
Content Specialization
Select four of the following12
Family Sexuality (*)
Families as Consumers
Family Changes and Diversity
Communication in Marriage and Family (*)
Adolescent Development Within the Family
Gender Role Development
Parenting Education (*)
Family Crises
Aging in Families and Society
Leadership and Staff Development in Family Sciences Programs
Housing and Families
Time Management for Families
Teaching Family Sciences (*)
Practicum in Family Sciences (*)
Professional Competency
Taken in final semester
HDFS 5973Professional Paper3
Total SCHs33

Professional Portfolio Option (34 SCH) 

Core I
To be completed in first 2 semesters
HDFS 5003Lifespan Human Development (*)3
HDFS 5123Theories of the Family (*)3
Core II
HDFS 5823Families and Public Policy (*)3
HDFS 5833Family Economics (*)3
Core III
HDFS 5193Statistics for Family Sciences3
HDFS 5693Research Methods in Family Sciences3
Content Specialization
Select five of the following15
Family Sexuality (*)
Families as Consumers
Family Changes and Diversity (*)
Communication in Marriage and Family (*)
Adolescent Development Within the Family
Gender Role Development
Parenting Education (*)
Family Crises
Aging in Families and Society
Leadership and Staff Development in Family Sciences Programs
Housing and Families
Time Management for Families
Teaching Family Sciences (*)
Practicum in Family Sciences (*)
Professional Competency
Taken in final semester
HDFS 5931Professional Portfolio1
Total SCHs34

Family Resource Management Emphasis Option or Content Specialization 

Family Resource Management Emphasis Option or Content Specialization
HDFS 5103Families as Consumers3
HDFS 5713Housing and Families3
HDFS 5803Time Management for Families3
HDFS 5833Family Economics3
HDFS 5843Teaching Family Sciences3
HDFS 5933Practicum in Family Sciences3
Total SCHs18