Major in Family Science
Majors in Family Science complete 9 units of prerequisite courses, 21-24 units of foundational family science course work and 21-31 units of specialized course work requirements for a total of 54 units (Family and Human Services Track) or 64 units (Introduction to Child Life Track).
Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA or better in all courses required for the major and must meet Towson University requirements for the completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Students are not permitted to declare both the Family Science major and the Family and Human Services major.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites for Courses in the Major | ||
| FMST 201 | FAMILY RESOURCES | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Select one of the following basic statistics courses (must be taken prior to FMST 485): | 3 | |
| STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I | ||
| STATISTICS FOR FAMILY SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICE | ||
| BASIC STATISTICS | ||
| ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS | ||
| BEHAVIORAL STATISTICS | ||
| SOCIAL STATISTICS | ||
Family and Human Services Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FMST 101 | INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| or FMST 102 | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY SCIENCE | |
| FMST 301 | FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS | 3 |
| FMST 303 | CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN FAMILY POLICY | 3 |
| FMST 302 | FAMILY THEORIES | 3 |
| FMST 305 | PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN | 3 |
| FMST 325 | ETHICS IN HUMAN SERVICES | 3 |
| FMST 485 | RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| PSYC 203 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Pre-Intervention | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY THERAPY | ||
| FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION METHODOLOGY | ||
| Development | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND INTERVENTION | ||
| INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND INTERVENTION | ||
| DEATH, DYING AND BEREAVEMENT | ||
| INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT | ||
| ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING | ||
| MIDLIFE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| Diversity | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| FAMILIES IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE | ||
| FAMILY HEALTH ISSUES | ||
| LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES | ||
| DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND TEAM DYNAMICS | ||
| CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES | ||
| JEWISH FAMILIES UNDER NAZI RULE AND BEYOND | ||
| Experiential | ||
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| PREPARING HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS: PRE-INTERNSHIP and INTERNSHIP IN FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THE NONPROFIT SECTOR and COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select two upper-level FMST courses not being used to complete another major requirement. | 6 | |
| Total Units | 45 | |
Intro to Child Life Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| FMST 101 | INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| or FMST 102 | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY SCIENCE | |
| FMST 301 | FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS | 3 |
| FMST 302 | FAMILY THEORIES | 3 |
| FMST 303 | CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN FAMILY POLICY | 3 |
| FMST 305 | PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN | 3 |
| FMST 325 | ETHICS IN HUMAN SERVICES | 3 |
| FMST 485 | RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| PSYC 203 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| Pre-Intervention | ||
| FMST 490 | FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION METHODOLOGY | 3 |
| Development | ||
| GERO 367 | DEATH, DYING AND BEREAVEMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 403 | INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 404 | ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Diversity | ||
| FMST 360 | DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND TEAM DYNAMICS | 3 |
| Experiential | ||
| FMST 297 & FMST 397 | PREPARING HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS: PRE-INTERNSHIP and INTERNSHIP IN FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES | 6 |
| Electives | ||
| Select one upper-level FMST course not being used to complete another major requirement. | 3 | |
| Introduction to Child Life Specialization Courses | ||
| FMST 140 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS | 1 |
| FMST 240 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILD LIFE | 3 |
| FMST 340 | THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD AND FAMILY | 3 |
| PSYC 205 | INTRODUCTION TO THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP | 3 |
| Total Units | 58 | |
Family and Human Services Track Suggested Four-Year Plan
The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 101 or 102 | 3 | FMST 201 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (Core 6) | 3 | FMST 325 (Core 14) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Basic Stat Course | 3 | Human Dev. Course | 3 |
| PSYC 203 | 3 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Core 12 | 3 |
| Core 11 | 3 | Core 13 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 302 | 3 | FMST 301 | 3 |
| FMST 305 | 3 | FMST 303 | 3 |
| FMST Diversity Course | 3 | FMST UL Elective | 3 |
| FMST UL Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 250 or 297 | 3 | FMST 387 or 397 | 3 |
| FMST 485 (Core 9) | 3 | Pre-Intervention | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective (Optional)1 | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- 1
This elective is optional and only necessary if the student is not on target to earn 120 units by the end of their final term.
Intro to Child Life Track Suggested Four-Year Plan
The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 101 or 102 | 3 | FMST 201 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (Core 6) | 3 | FMST 325 (Core 14) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 5 | 3 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Basic Statistics Course1 | 3 | FMST 240 | 3 |
| FMST 140 | 1 | FMST 360 (Core 13) | 3 |
| PSYC 203 | 3 | PSYC 205 | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 11 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 302 | 3 | FMST 297 | 3 |
| FMST 305 | 3 | FMST 301 | 3 |
| FMST Diversity Course | 3 | FMST 303 | 3 |
| FMST UL Elective | 3 | FMST 485 (Core 9) | 3 |
| Human Development Course | 3 | PSYC 403 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 340 | 3 | FMST 490 | 3 |
| FMST 397 | 3 | PSYC 404 | 3 |
| FMST UL Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| GERO 367 | 3 | Elective (Optional)2 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- 1
Must be taken prior to FMST 485.
- 2
This elective is optional and only necessary if the student is not on target to earn 120 units by the end of their final term.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of families, relationships, life span development and family policy.
- Students will demonstrate competency in critically analyzing research and applying theoretical, factual and conceptual knowledge about issues relevant to families and developmental processes based on fundamental principles underlying the family science and human development discipline.
- Students will demonstrate competency in written communication skills and the presentation of research.
- Students will demonstrate comprehensive research skills related to the discipline and utilize informational literacy and technological competency in the process.