Family Science and Human Development

Department: Family and Consumer Sciences
Major: Family Science and Human Development

This program offers an Accelerated Graduate Degree Program.

Anchored in knowledge of human ecological systems; human development throughout the lifespan; and features of individual, relational, and familial wellness and resilience; studies in Family Science and Human Development (FSHD) prepare students for effective practice in a range of human service roles and settings. FSHD is organized around three areas of concentration/professional preparation. All required FSHD core courses are available online. Students can also take the majority of FSHD classes for any concentration in-person.

The Family Science and Human Development: Child Development and Services concentration prepares individuals to work with children, and their families, in a range of care and service settings. This concentration centers on the development of children, birth through school age, and the cultivation of skills, environments, and programs that promote healthy child development and outcomes. The concentration includes selection of courses within one of two tracks: Child Programming and Administration (fulfills State of Michigan requirements for childcare center directors) or Child Life Foundations (provides fundamental knowledge for service as child life specialist). The Child Programming and Administration track can be completed fully online, provided selection of courses with an online option.

The Family Science and Human Development: Family Studies concentration prepares students to use preventative and educational approaches in a variety of settings to strengthen individual and family well-being across the lifespan. Students explore relationships among individuals, families and their environment and culture with the goal of improving quality of life within communities and society at large. Graduates of the program are eligible to be granted provisional status as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) by the National Council on Family Relations. The Family Studies concentration can be completed fully online.

The Family Science and Human Development: Youth and Community Development concentration prepares change agents to transform communities through an intentional investment in youth with interdisciplinary coursework and community-based experiences. It is based on theoretical perspectives in childhood, adolescent, and family development, best pedagogical practices, and grounded in an ethic of family engagement and social action. This concentration is rooted in community psychology and the prevention sciences to provide a foundation for studying setting-level interventions and developmental needs.