Master of Science in Family and Community Services
There is no greater calling than working to improve the lives of children and families! The Master of Science in Family and Community Services at the University of North Alabama is a 31-semester-hour fully online program. It teaches students the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance the quality of life for children and families and to serve as effective leaders in various social service agencies, including those focused on prevention, outreach, and education.
Time to Complete:
As few as 2 years
Modality:
100% Online
Credential:
Master of Science
Why North Alabama?
As one of the oldest state universities in the region that offers various doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees, UNA has been educating students not only from the region but also from all over the world through its award-winning on-campus and online programs.
As a fully online program, UNA's M.S. in Family and Community Services offers all students affordable in-state tuition and the opportunity to advance their careers without ever stepping foot on campus or in the physical classroom. Even if you are already working full time, managing family responsibilities, or living out of state, you can fit our fully online program into your schedule and pursue a graduate degree in Family Science.
Program Requirements
The purpose of the course is to orient students to the policies and procedures of the Family and Community Services graduate program. A grade of S (satisfactory) is given to students who satisfactorily complete all course assignments
Study of the methods and techniques of research used in the social and behavioral sciences and their related disciplines with a specific emphasis on research in family studies. Attention is given to the fundamentals of research: comprehension and critique of research literature, theoretical and practical basis of research,problem identification, research design, causal inference, sampling, measurement, data collection, hypothesis testing, and ethics in research.
An examination of the use of quantitative statistical methods in family studies research, including important principles, theories, and strategies for conducting univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses. The course includes an introduction to the use and interpretation of SPSS®. Data analyses include descriptive statistics, Pearson r correlations, t-tests, and ANOVA. An undergraduate course in statistics is a prerequisite for entry into this course. Students will be required to purchase SPSS® software in order to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: FS 600.
An examination of the current theories and models used in family research and theory development. The course includes an evaluation of the strengths and limitations of each theory and focuses on the application of theoretical concepts in explaining family life.
An overview of theoretical and substantive issues related to the development and implementation of family policies. Emphasis is given to the connections among family policies, social welfare, family well-being, and political culture.
The course focuses on the major social and family problems contemporary families face, such as poverty, violence, substance abuse, divorce, stepfamilies, and care of dependent elders. An emphasis is placed on family strengths and resiliency as well as methods of intervention that can help families withstand and overcome difficulties.
Field experiences designed to provide students with supervised practical application of family studies theory and research. Practicum placements must be approved, supervised, and evaluated in collaboration with a designated faculty advisor. Also listed as SO 599 but creditable only in field for which registered. International students must receive approval from the Office of International Affairs prior to course registration.
Elective Courses of Study
The purpose of the course is to increase students’ understanding of the unique issues that children, youth, and families face and to help them to identify and apply appropriate research-based curricula that will help improve the quality of life of the families they serve. Students will become familiar with how to identify quality research -based programs, establish program goals, implement quality family life education programs, and evaluate programs for effectiveness. Also listed as SO 501 but creditable only in field for which registered. Prerequisites: By instructor permit only.
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the varying types of families they may encounter in research, policy, and human service careers and to help students become attuned to issues faced by families in a continually changing society. Also listed as SO 510 but creditable only in field for which registered. Prerequisites: By instructor permit only.
Social psychological analysis of the development, maintenance, and dissolution of intimate relationships such as friendship, courtship, and marriage. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical and empirical basis of understanding intimate relationships. Also listed as SO 543 but creditable only in field for which registered. Prerequisites: By instructor permit only.
This course surveys contemporary issues in family studies. Topics will be examined by developing a theoretical understanding of the issue and will foster both writing and critical inquiry skills related to the issue. Also listed as SO 605 but creditable only in field for which registered. May be repeated for up to six credit hours.
Total Hours 31
Thesis or Non-Thesis Option: Select one from the following
Non-Thesis Option 1
Orientation to the administration of a written comprehensive examination for the M.S. in Family Studies. The course is to be taken in the last term in which a non-thesis option student is expected to complete all other program requirements. A grade of "S' indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of "U" for unsatisfactory will be recorded on the transcript. A grade of "S" is required for graduation; may be repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all other program requirements or be enrolled in the last course for program completion.
Thesis Option 2
Students completing the thesis option will develop a research problem or question, review relevant literature, collect and analyze data, and compose a defensible thesis. Theses must be approved by and completed under the supervision of a designated faculty member. Students completing the thesis option will take FS 695 twice for three credit hours each time.
Orientation to and administration of a thesis defense for the M.S. in Family Studies. The course is to be taken in the last term in which a thesis option student is expected to complete all other program requirements. A grade of ”S” indicating satisfactory performance or a grade of ”U” for unsatisfactory performance will be recorded on the transcript. A grade of ”S” is required for graduation; the course may be repeated once. Prerequisite: student must have completed all other program requirements or be enrolled in the last course for program completion.
1 Students completing the Non-Thesis Option must, in the last semester in which all other course requirements are expected to be completed, register for FS 698 (Comprehensive Examination) in order to take a written comprehensive examination prior to graduation in order to complete the program.
2 In addition to the courses above, students who request and receive permission to complete the Thesis Option must complete a minimum of 6 semester hours of FS 695 (Thesis) and register for FS 699 (Thesis Defense) during the last semester in which all other course requirements are expected to be completed. Thesis students will not be required to take FS 698 (Comprehensive Exam).
Faculty
In our Master of Science in Family and Community Services program at the University of North Alabama, you will learn from a vibrant and dedicated group of faculty members, with real-world experiences, academic achievements, and publishing credits.
The faculty dedicated to the program include:
- Yaschica Williams-Jackson, Ph.D., Dept. Chair, Professor
- Virginia K. D’Antonio, Ph.D., Lecturer, Sociology
- Andrea N. Hunt, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sociology
- Amber Paulk, Ph.D., Dean of Graduate and Online Education
- Alexander Takeuchi, Ph.D., Professor, Sociology
- May Takeuchi, Ph.D., Professor, Sociology
What can I do with a Master of Science in Family and Community Services
UNA's M.S. in Family and Community Services program boasts an extremely high rate of post-graduation “job placement” in the related fields. Our graduates hold various titles including Parent Educator, Family Case Manager, Family Life Coach, Family Engagement Specialist (FES), Quality Assurance (QA) Care Manager, Financial Stability Coach, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, Youth Advocate, etc., all to serve in their communities as highly regarded professionals.
For more information, refer to these resources from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR):
Accelerated and Joint Degree Programs
Accelerated Master's Program
The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) offers qualified UNA undergraduate students the opportunity to enroll in graduate coursework that can be applied concurrently to an undergraduate and graduate degree. Current undergraduate Psychology or Sociology majors at UNA who are interested in pursuing a Masters in Family and Community Services are encouraged to apply.
For more information on eligibility, please visit https://una.edu/graduate/amp/index.html.
Joint Curriculum Two Degrees Program – MBA and MS in Family and Community Services
The Joint Curriculum Two Degrees Program allows qualified students to earn a Master of Business Administration degree and a Master of Science degree in Family and Community Services simultaneously. Qualified students who are interested in working in business, consumer, and family resources services are encouraged to take advantage of this interdisciplinary program. (Students must apply and be admitted to both programs. 45 credit hours are required to complete both degrees.)
For more information, please visit https://catalog.una.edu/graduate/arts-sciences/joint-curriculum-two-degree-ma/.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate studies (see General Regulations and Procedures), admission to the Master of Science in Family and Community Services requires the following:
- Preparation: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution that meets the general admission requirements for graduate study at UNA.
- Scholastic achievement: A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) is required on undergraduate work.
- Test score: Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree from a senior institution that was regionally accredited at the time the degree was earned and have a 3.3 or higher overall undergraduate GPA, may seek to waive the test score requirement by contacting the Graduate Program Coordinator. All other applicants must submit satisfactory scores prior to admission on either the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); recommended minimum score of 388 on the MAT or a minimum GRE score of 146 on the Verbal and 140 on the Quantitative portions of the exam.
- Formal cover letter: As part of the application process, applicants must submit a formal cover letter. The cover letter should include the applicant’s academic preparation for the MS program, related professional experience in the field of study, and skill sets the applicant will bring to the program. Long-term professional goals should be outlined in the cover letter.
- A sample of academic writing: (e.g., class paper, term paper, graduation thesis, etc.) with proper in-text and reference citations in an established academic format such as APA, ASA or MLA. Applicants who do not have an appropriate writing sample will be asked to complete a Mock Writing Assignment. Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for more information about the professional writing sample.
- References: Three reference persons who can attest to the applicant's academic abilities and success potential in our Master’s program must complete the Recommendation for Admission form. The form can be accessed through the online admissions system. References must not be coworkers, friends, or related to the applicant. References should mostly consist of current or former faculty instructors who taught a course in a related social science field that the applicant has taken at an accredited institution of higher education. One of the references may include a work supervisor, if the supervisor possesses an advanced academic degree in the profession or a related field (e.g., Ed.D., MA/MS, MSW, Ph.D.). Unless pre-approved by the departmental admission committee, references that do not include the applicant’s current or former faculty instructor will not be considered complete.
- International Credentials: Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree, a graduate degree or the equivalent from an institution outside the United States of America must submit a WES, ECE, or other approved international credential evaluation.
See full requirements
Tuition and Aid
Online: $495 per credit hour plus fees.
New students enrolled in any online bachelor’s degree, graduate program (online or on-campus), certificate, or micro-credential will automatically qualify and receive a complimentary first course tuition scholarship when enrolled in two or more courses their first semester.
Tuition Cost
Master of Science in Family and Community Services
Online: $495 per credit hour for 31 credit hours