Kent State University Catalog 2010 - 2011

Family Studies - M.A.

COLLEGE:	College of Education, Health and Human Services
DEPARTMENT:	School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences 405 White Hall Tel: 330-672-2294 Web: www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes/index.cfm For more information contact: Rhonda Richardson HDFS Program Coordinator 140 Nixson Hall 330-672-2026 rrichard@kent.edu

DESCRIPTION:	The Master of Arts in Family Studies consists of two concentrations: Gerontology and Human Development and Family Studies. Gerontology provides students with an interdisciplinary course of study and opportunities to participate in aging-related research and community outreach projects. Students are assisted in developing a specialty area in gerontology to enable them to advance in their professional or academic careers. Human Development and Family Studies provides students with advanced knowledge in the fields of family sciences and human development and the opportunity to develop multidisciplinary research and community outreach skills. Coursework enables students to apply to become Certified Family Life Educators. Graduates are prepared for leadership and teaching positions in the social services, junior and community colleges and cooperative extension, and/or for pursuing doctoral-level study.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:	Official transcript(s), 3.0 GPA, goal statement and three letters of recommendation.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:	Core courses required in both concentrations include HDFS 64023, EVAL 65510 and EVAL 65511. Human Development and Family Studies requires 32 semester hours, and Gerontology requires 33 semester hours.
THESIS/ DISSERTATION:	For Human Development and Family Studies either a Masters Thesis or a Masters Project is required. Gerontology requires a Masters Thesis. 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.
PROGRAM FEE:	None