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Family Studies Program

Welcome to the Family Studies Program Home Page. This web site provides information about the undergraduate and graduate programs in Family Studies at the University of New Mexico. It is not intended to replace faculty advisement or information in the UNM Catalog or  Pathfinder. We invite you to contact any of our faculty members if you have questions about the program or want advisement about course work. For additional information about our program
contact the Family Studies Program Office.

Program Overview

Faculty

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Family Studies Courses

Admissions and Advisement

Internet Resources

Program Overview

The mission of the Family Studies program is to prepare students to work in areas that endeavor to enhance individual and family strengths. Strengthening families and their individual members facilitates the development of a life-long learning environment. Programs are designed to provide a solid foundation in human development, interpersonal relations, and family resource management that recognizes the dynamic interaction of theory, research and relevant practices. Family Studies is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary field, exemplifying effective practice and scholarly inquiry that is sensitive and responsive to issues of cultural diversity. The scholarly work of the program extends to the community through collaboration with families, schools, health and social services agencies, businesses, public policy agendas, and government entities. The program strives to be responsive to the evolving needs of external constituencies.

 Family Studies offers programs that enhance individual and family strengths following interdisciplinary and ecological approaches. Programs emphasize individual development, interpersonal relationships and family resource management through the components of education, research and service. The programs are designed to prepare students for a variety of career options, where work is directed toward education, prevention, intervention, and research with individuals, families, and other professionals.

Family Studies Faculty

ZIARAT HOSSIAN (Assistant Professor) received his Ph.D. in 1992 in Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University.  He conducts multidisciplinary research on parent-child interactions across diverse ethnic groups and cultures, fathers' involvement in early childcare and household labor, and the impact of globalization on indigenous cultures. (505) 277-4162, zhossain@unm.edu

SOYOUNG LEE (Assistant Professor) received her Ph.D. in 2005 in Human Development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Her research interests include family and community research, family diversity, family life education programs, women in information technology, decision making and parent-child relationships.  She has been a Certified Family Life Educator since 2005. (505) 277-7115 , soyoung@unm.edu

PAMELA OLSON (Associate Professor) received her Ph.D. in Family Resource Management in 1984 from Oregon State University. Her research interests include identifying family resource packages and the impact of sports participation on families. (505) 277-5550, pamo@unm.edu

Pam Olson's Page

VIRGINIA SHIPMAN (Professor) received her Ph.D. in 1960 in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Her interests include the development of children, particularly children of ethnic minority and low income status, parent-child interactions, early childhood program evaluation, sucessful aging, family violence and applications of family system theories.(505) 277-4063, vshipman@unm.edu

Programs of Study

Undergraduate Program of Studies

General Family Studies

Human Development and Family Relations

 

This program offers two majors at the undergraduate level: General Family Studies and Human Development and Family Relations. Undergraduate students are required to complete either a minor in another field of study or a 54-hour major.

General Family Studies Major

Family Studies Courses

Core Courses

 

 

21 Credits

 

FS 213 Marriage and Family Relations

3

 

 

FS 281 Intro to Family Studies

3

 

 

FS 312 Parent-Child Interactions

3

 

 

FS 343 Family Management Theories

3

 

 

FS 395 Field Experience

3

 

 

FS 481 Families and Public Policy

3

 

 

FS 484 Ethnic Minority Families

3

 

Family Relations Courses

 

 

6 Credits

Select from:

 

 

 

 

FS 284 Familias de Nuevo Mexico

3

 

 

FS 310 Friends and Intimate Relations

3

 

 

FS 313 Contemporary Family Lifestyles

3

 

 

FS 411 Family Life Education

3

 

 

FS 493 Fathers' Role in the Family

3

 

Family Resource Management Courses

 

 

9 Credits

 

FS 443 Application of FRM

3

 

Select 6 credits from the following:

 

 

 

 

FS 244 Consumer Decisions

3

 

 

FS 341 Ecological Aspects of Housing

3

 

 

FS 444 Family Finance

3

 

Human Development Courses

 

 

6 Credits

 

FS 202 Infant Growth and Development

3

 

 

FS 207L Infant Lab

1

 

 

FS 304 Growth/Development in Middle Childhood

3

 

 

FS 315 Adol Development in the Family

3

 

 

FS 403 Growth/Development of Preschool Child

3

 

 

FS 407L Preschool Lab

1

 

 

FS 415 Aging and the Family

3

 

 

FS 416 Adult Development in the Family

3

 

Family Studies Electives

 

 

3 Credits

 

TOTAL

 

45 Credits

* Students interested in pursuing Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), should see:
                                                                                                                                                                               UNM Approved CFLE Program

General Education Requirements

 

CREDITS

English 101

3

English 102

3

Select One:  Eng 219, Eng 220; C & J 130; Phil 156

3

Psych 105

3

Soc 101 or Antro 130

3

Bio 110/112L

4

Select ONE:

3

    Anthr 150/151L; Astr 101; Chem 111, Chem 121L/131L, Chem 122L/132L;
    E & P 101/105L, E & P 201L/ En Sc 101/102L; Geo 101/105L; Nat Sc 261L,
    Nat Sc 262L, Nat Sc 263L; Phys 102/102L, Phys 151/151L, Phys 152/152L,
    Phys 160/160L, Phys 161/161L

 

Econ 105

3

Math 145

3

Nutr 120

3

Multicultural Elective

3

Select TWO :

6

    Hist 101, 102, 161, 162; Phil 101, 201, 202; Am St 186;
    Classics 107, Classics 204, Classics 205; Comp Lit 223 or 224;
    Eng 150, 292, 293; Rel St 107; For Lang 101

 

Any Second Language

3

Select ONE:

3

     Art Hist 101, 201, 202; Dance 105; Media 210; Music 139, 140; Thea 122

 

Students interested in receiving CFLE should take H ED 212 or  Psych 231.

Human Development and Family Relations Major

Family Studies Courses

Core Courses

 

 

21 Credits

 

FS 213 Marriage and Family Relations

3

 

 

FS 281 Intro to Family Studies

3

 

 

FS 312 Parent-Child Interactions

3

 

 

FS 343 Family Management Theories

3

 

 

FS 395 Field Experience

3

 

 

FS 481 Families and Public Policy

3

 

 

FS 484 Ethnic Minority Families

3

 

Family Relations Courses

 

 

9 Credits

 

FS 310 Friends and Intimate Relations

3

 

 

FS 313 Contemporary Family Lifestyles

3

 

 

FS 411 Family Life Education

3

 

Family Resource Management Courses

 

 

3 Credits

Select from:

 

 

 

 

FS 443 Application of FRM

3

 

 

FS 244 Consumer Decisions

3

 

 

FS 341 Ecological Aspects of Housing

3

 

 

FS 444 Family Finance

3

 

Human Development Courses

 

 

12 Credits

Select from:

 

 

 

 

FS 202 Infant Growth and Development

3

 

 

FS 207L Infant Lab

1

 

 

FS 304 Growth/Development in Middle Childhood

3

 

 

FS 315 Adol Development in the Family

3

 

 

FS 403 Growth/Development of Preschool Child

3

 

 

FS 407L Preschool Lab

1

 

 

FS 415 Aging and the Family

3

 

 

FS 416 Adult Development in the Family

3

 

 

TOTAL

 

45 Credits

Students interested in pursuing the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) should see the following web site for complete information:
                                                                                                                                                                                 UNM Approved CFLE Program

General Education Requirements

 

Credits

English 101

3

English 102

3

Select One:  Eng 219, 220; C & J 130; Phil 156

3

Psych 105

3

Soc 101

3

Antro 130

3

Bio 110/112L

4

Select ONE:

3

    Anthr 150/151L; Astr 101; Chem 111, Chem 121L/131L, Chem 122L/132L;
    E & P 101/105L, E & P 201L/ En Sc 101/102L; Geo 101/105L; Nat Sc 261L,
    Nat Sc 262L, Nat Sc 263L; Phys 102/102L, Phys 151/151L, Phys 152/152L,
    Phys 160/160L, Phys 161/161L

 

Econ 105

3

Math 145

3

Nutr 120

3

Multicultural Elective

3

Select TWO :

6

    Hist 101, 102, 161, 162; Phil 101, 201, 202; Am St 186;
    Classics 107, Classics 204, Classics 205; Comp Lit 223 or 224;
    Eng 150, 292, 293; Rel St 107; For Lang 101

 

Any Second Language

3

Select ONE:

3

     Art Hist 101, 201, 202; Dance 105; Media 210; Music 139, 140; Thea 122

 

Additional hours in anthro, psych and/or soc

9

Students interested in receiving CFLE should take H ED 212 or  Psych 231.

Back to the Beginning

Masters Program of Studies

Family Life Education

Family Relations

Human Development

This program offers three majors: Family Life Education, Family Relations and Human Development.  All majors require a total of 42 credit hours, which includes a core that totals 24 credit hours.

Doctoral Program

Family Life Education

UNM Approved CFLE Program

Family Studies Core

24 Credits

FS 500   Professional Seminar  (2x) to be taken the first enrolled fall and in the spring concurrently with FS 571

1,1

FS 503   Seminar in Human Growth and Development

3

FS 517   Family Interaction

3

FS 543   Managing Family Resources

3

FS 570   Research Methods in Family Studies

3

FS 571   Application of Research

1

FS 581   Seminar:  Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues in Family Studies

3

FS 585   Multicultural Issues:  Working with Families

3

Ed Psy 511  Introductory Educational Statistics

3

Other Required Family Studies Courses

9 Credits

FS 411   Family Life Education

3

FS 501   Parent Education

3

FS Elective

3

Other

9 Credits

Elective outside the program

3

AND

 

PLAN I

 

FS 599   Thesis

6

OR

 

PLAN II

 

FS 595   Advanced Field Experience

3

Elective outside the program

3

TOTAL

42 Credits

Students interested in receiving CFLE should take H ED 212 or  Psych 231.

Family Relations

Family Studies Core

24 Credits

FS 500   Professional Seminar  (2x) to be taken the first enrolled fall and in the spring concurrently with FS 571

1,1

FS 503   Seminar in Human Growth and Development

3

FS 517   Family Interaction

3

FS 543   Managing Family Resources

3

FS 570   Research Methods in Family Studies

3

FS 571   Application of Research

1

FS 581   Seminar:  Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues in Family Studies

3

FS 585   Multicultural Issues:  Working with Families

3

Ed Psy 511  Introductory Educational Statistics

3

Other Required Family Studies Courses:

15 Credits

FS 546   Family Systems

3

FS 560   Family Counseling

3

FS 595  Advanced Field Experience

3

Select TWO of the following:

 

FS 502        Developmental Issues:  Infancy & Early Childhood       

3

FS 504        Developmental Issues:  Middle Child & Adol       

3

FS 508        Developmental Issues: Adulthood & Aging 

3

Other

3 Credits

Coun 517  Theories of Counseling

3

TOTAL

42 Credits

Human Development

Family Studies Core

24 Credits

FS 500   Professional Seminar  (2x) to be taken the first enrolled fall and in the spring concurrently with FS 571

1,1

FS 503   Seminar in Human Growth and Development

3

FS 517   Family Interaction

3

FS 543   Managing Family Resources

3

FS 570   Research Methods in Family Studies

3

FS 571   Application of Research

1

FS 581   Seminar:  Legal, Ethical, and Policy Issues in Family Studies

3

FS 585   Multicultural Issues:  Working with Families

3

Ed Psy 511  Introductory Educational Statistics

3

Other Required Family Studies Courses: Select Two

6 Credits

FS 502        Developmental Issues:  Infancy & Early Childhood       

3

FS 504        Developmental Issues:  Middle Child & Adol       

3

FS 508        Developmental Issues: Adulthood & Aging 

3

Other

6 Credits

FS Elective

3

Elective outside the program

3

AND

6 Credits

PLAN I

 

FS 599   Thesis

6

OR

 

PLAN II

 

FS 595   Advanced Field Experience

3

Elective outside the program

3

TOTAL

42 Credits

Ph.D Program of Studies Doctoral Program - A Handbook for Students

Family Studies Courses

 Family Studies Course Schedule (available through Registrar's office).

Back to the Beginning

Admission and Advisement

Undergraduate students.  The College of Education (COE) allows you to apply to the Family Studies Programafter you have completed at least 26 hours and have a GPA of 2.5.  If you meet these requirements, you may complete an Admissions Packet provided to students by the College of Education Advisement Office located in Hokona Hall.  The packet contains an application form and data sheet.  In addition to completing these two forms, you are required to attach a current transcript and write a statement describing your reasons for selecting Family Studies as a major.

When completed, return the entire packet to the COE Advisement Office which will forward the program application packet to the Family Studies Program.  One of the faculty will contact you for an interview.  At this time you may clarify program requirements and expectations.  You will receive notification of your acceptance, or not, typically within a two-week period by mail.  It is important that you read the letter carefully as it outlines the next steps that need to be taken in order to complete your transfer into the College of Education Family Studies Program.

Once you are in the College of Education, you are required to meet with an advisor prior to each registration to check in and discuss your course plans.  It is for your protection to be sure you are on  track with your course work.  It also is necessary in order to remove the advisement hold  the College of Education has placed on your registration.  Plan to meet with your advisor several days ahead of your registration time to ensure that the hold is removed by your designated registration time.

Graduate students. For applications, contact the Program Secretary at (505) 277-4535.

Students are admitted in both the Spring and Fall semesters. Application deadlines for primary consideration, for both the M.A. and the Ph.D. programs, are March 15 and October 15.

The mailing address is:

Family Studies
Simpson Hall
College of Education
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1246

Phone: 505-277-4535

Social Sciences, Organizations, and Educational Links

Professional Associations

Resources

Back to the Beginning