Skip Navigation and banner
This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
University of Wyoming

Family and Consumer Sciences
Graduate Program Vision Statement

MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
FAMILY AND CONSUMER  SCIENCES

PLAN B OPTION

RESEARCH & PROJECT COMPONENT

The Plan B project/experience should serve as a “capstone” activity in Family and Consumer Sciences.  All Plan B projects/experiences must meet the following requirements:

1.         Written component that is characterized by at least one of the following:

a.         an extensive review of the pertinent literature

This represents the most traditional type of Plan B paper in which the student indicates the guiding question or problem and provides an explicit thesis statement at the beginning of the paper.  The body of the paper contains a thorough review of the pertinent literature and provides support for the thesis statement.

  b.         a creative endeavor

In this case, the written component explains and complements the work by plotting the development and evolution of the creative process.  Specifically, the student discusses the origins and influences on her/his creative research and provides a theoretical, historical, critical and/or philosophical documentation of
the process.

Example: The written component explains and complements a creative project involving the design and construction of clothing for a gallery exhibit.

c.         an experience related to professional practice

Example: Interpretation of a professional (or internship) experience could include videotaping counseling or teaching sessions followed by writing a reflective critique of the experience focusing on current theory, techniques, cultural aspects, etc.

d.         documentation action research/curriculum development

Example: A student interested in child development who was currently teaching might want to spend a year researching a topic area, developing curriculum, field testing it with the children in her/his class, annotating their responses, and keeping a reflexive teaching journal.

Note: The written component associated with option a is likely to be significantly greater in length than the written components associated with options b, c, and d

2.  Reflect critical and/or creative thinking specific to the field of study

3.  Address specific key issues/concerns pertinent to the chosen topic

Research (6) & Project (4) Component..................................................................................... 10 hours

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 field that works at the interfaces of disciplines, one of the goals of the graduate program is the integration of knowledge across the FCS specializations and/or from the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.  It applies 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 project.  During the final oral defense, each member of the graduate committee will ask questions related to the Plan B project/experience.

DESIRED OUTCOMES

  • Submit/Present project at juried exhibition
  • Submit/Present public lecture on some aspect of  project area

   This site is maintained by Randy L. Anderson