Major in Family Science
Majors in Family Science complete 27 units of required course work and 21 units of electives. 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.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisites for Courses in the Major | ||
| ENGL 102 | WRITING FOR A LIBERAL EDUCATION 1 | 3 |
| or ENGL 190 | HONORS WRITING SEMINAR | |
| PSYC 101 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 1 | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following in basic statistics (must be taken prior to FMST 485): | 3 | |
| BASIC STATISTICS | ||
| ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS | ||
| STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I | ||
| BEHAVIORAL STATISTICS | ||
| STATISTICS FOR FAMILY SCIENCE AND HUMAN SERVICE | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| FMST 101 | INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY STUDIES | 3 |
| or FMST 102 | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY STUDIES | |
| 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 380 | FAMILY LAW | 3 |
| FMST 485 | RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY STUDIES | 3 |
| FMST 495 | ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Elective Area 1: Life Span Development | 6 | |
Select two of the following: | ||
| EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND INTERVENTION | ||
| INFANCY AND TODDLERHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND INTERVENTION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY | ||
| DEATH, DYING AND BEREAVEMENT | ||
| LIFE SPAN ADAPTATION AND OCCUPATIONS | ||
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | ||
| INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT | ||
| ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING | ||
| MIDLIFE DEVELOPMENT | ||
| SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY | ||
| Elective Area II: Interdisciplinary Electives 2 | 6 | |
Select two upper-level courses from the following disciplines: | ||
Anthropology | ||
Communication Studies | ||
Cultural Studies | ||
Criminal Justice | ||
Deaf Studies | ||
Foreign Languages | ||
Gerontology | ||
Health Science | ||
Philosophy | ||
Psychology | ||
Religious Studies | ||
Sociology | ||
Special Education | ||
Women's Studies | ||
| Elective Area III: Written Communication | 3 | |
Select an additional Advanced Writing Seminar course (FMST 485 currently required for major) certified as a University Core Course | ||
| Elective Area IV: FMST Elective | 6 | |
Select two of the following: | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CHILD LIFE | ||
| LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER FAMILIES | ||
| AMERICAN FAMILIES ON TELEVISION: REPRESENTATION AND REALITY | ||
| THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD AND FAMILY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ART THERAPY | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR | ||
| FUNDRAISING, FRIENDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT | ||
| DIVERSITY, CULTURE, AND TEAM DYNAMICS | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN FAMILY STUDIES | ||
| SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH | ||
| CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN FAMILY STUDIES | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF LEADERSHIP IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR 3 | ||
| FUNDRAISING, FRIENDRAISING AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT 3 | ||
| Total Units | 48 | |
| 1 | The 100-level courses should be taken early in the student’s academic studies. |
| 2 | Electives must be approved by a Family Studies adviser or the department chairperson. |
| 3 | Family Science/Leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service B.A./M.A. students will take these courses during their senior year. They will be double counted toward the undergraduate and graduate degrees. |
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 101 | 3 | SOCI 101 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (Core 6) | 3 | FMST 325 (Core 14) | 3 |
| ENGL 102 or 190 (Core 2) | 3 | Core | 3 |
| Core | 3 | Core | 3 |
| Core | 3 | Core | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Select one of the following:1 | 3-4 | FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | ||
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | ||
| Core | 3 | ||
| Core | 3 | ||
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | ||
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | ||
| Core | 3 | ||
| Core | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 302 | 3 | FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Core | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Non-Major Elective | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| FMST 485 (Core 9) | 3 | FMST 495 | 3 |
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| FMSC Major or Elective Requirement | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Non-Major Elective | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Non-Major Elective | 3 | Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 120-121 | |||
- 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.
