Family and Consumer Sciences
Graduate Program Vision Statement

MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
FAMILY AND CONSUMER  SCIENCES

PLAN A OPTION

RESEARCH THESIS COMPONENT

This component enables Family and Consumer Scientists to develop the necessary skills to plan, implement, and understand research projects in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences.  Although secondary teachers and county Extension educators may not conduct research for publication, they are likely to conduct action research and/or be partners in the research process.  It is imperative that the candidate become well informed about research.  One of the functions of professionals is to conduct and present/disseminate research-based information to the public.  In order to do this effectively, they must be knowledgeable about the research process and the criteria for good research.

It is anticipated that thesis sections will generally correspond to those found in a typical manuscript (i.e., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions).  Students will have the option and may be encouraged to incorporate a submission ready manuscript into the overall thesis. 

Research Component...............................................................………..10 hours
(includes 4 hours thesis)

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES COMPONENT

Family and Consumer Sciences Component (includes 1 credit of graduate seminar annually required of all department graduate students up to 2 credits).

FCS Component................................................................................. 14 hours

SUPPORT COURSES COMPONENT

Because Family and Consumer Sciences is an applied science that works at the interfaces of disciplines, one of the goals of the graduate program is the integration of knowledge from the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, and the application of this knowledge to the solution of human problems and enhancement of human potential.  Therefore, it is desirable that every student be required to take courses from outside the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences to supplement and enrich the student’s program.

Supporting Courses Component.......................................................................................... 6 hours
                                                                                                                      TOTAL        30 hours*

* No more than 9 credit hours of 4000 level courses will be allowed.  Students may be required to take more than the minimum of 30 hours, either because they have to satisfy prerequisites for some courses, or because the student’s committee determines that more than 30 hours will be needed for the student to reach his/her professional objective.  Each student’s appointed committee will formulate plan of study within these program requirements.

PROGRESS ASSESSMENT

While ongoing progress will be continually assessed, at the completion of 18 credits of course work in your graduate program, there will be a formal assessment of progress.  In the semester following completion of 18 credits, assessment will take place as part of their prospectus meeting to help establish specific depth of knowledge.  When applicable, evaluation of performance in meeting expectations related to work required for financial support or other relevant professional criteria will be assessed.  For full-time students, acceptable progress through the department’s graduate program is established as completion of 18 credits by the end of the first 12 months of graduate study.  Part-time students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

ORAL DEFENSE

Each student will participate in an oral defense of his/her thesis.  During the final oral defense, each member of the graduate committee will ask questions related to the thesis.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

• Submit/publishes his/her thesis in scholarly journals

• Submit/presents thesis research/project at professional conference