The Human Development and Family Studies concentration is designed for students who are interested in promoting positive family life. The curriculum for this concentration was developed using the standards set by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) to enable graduates to apply to become Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE) with the completion of course work beyond the 32-hour degree. Kent State is one of only two CFLE-approved graduate programs in Ohio.
Graduates are prepared for case management, administrative, and teaching positions in human/social services, junior- and community colleges, and cooperative extension. The M.A. degree also prepares graduates to work in research settings, and for state and federal positions.
Human Development and Family Studies Core Requirements: |
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| HDFS | 64023 | Family Development | 3 |
| 64024 | Family Life Education | 3 | |
| 61018 | Techniques of Research | 3 | |
| EDUC | 65510 | Statistics I Education Services | 3 |
| 65523 | Lifespan Development | 3 | |
Thesis Option* OR Master's Project Option** |
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| HDFS | 61199 | Thesis I | 6 |
| 61198 | Master's Project | 6 | |
Suggested focus area courses: In consultation with advisor |
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| select 11 hours to create a special emphasis | |||
| GERO | 54030 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| 61191 | Interdisciplinary Seminar in Gerontology | 3 | |
| GERO/HDFS | 64022 | Family Life in the Later Years | 3 |
| HDFS | 54020 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| 54023 | Building Family Strengths | 3 | |
| 54028 | Parent-Child Relationships | 3 | |
| 54029 | Family Policy | 3 | |
| 64025 | Studies in Child Rearing | 3 | |
| 64027 | Early Adolescence | 3 | |
| 65517 | Work and Family | 3 | |
| 54092 | Practicum | 3-10 | |
| Total | 32 | ||
| Other related courses with approval of advisor. | |||
Students can select the Thesis Option* OR Master's Project Option**
*The thesis track is intended for research-oriented students and is designed to provide the opportunity to conduct original research. Approval of a thesis proposal by the student's thesis committee is required, as is the successful completion of an oral final examination conducted by the thesis committee.
**The master's project track is intended for students who do not plan to continue graduate work beyond the master's degree, and provides the opportunity to approach research and theory in a more applied manner. The presentation and interpretation of original research is not required. However, approval of the intended project by the student's master's project committee is required, as is the successful completion of an oral final examination conducted by the master's project committee.
