University of Maryland
Graduate Catalog Fall 2009

Family Science (FMSC)

Faculty

Chair
Anderson, Elaine A.,

Professor
Anderson, Elaine A., Epstein, Norman B., Hofferth, Sandra L., Koblinsky, Sally A.,

Professor Emeritus
Billingsley, Andrew, Gaylin, Ned L.,

Associate Professor
Braun, Bonnie, Kim, Jinhee, Leslie, Leigh A., Mokhtari, Manouchehr, Randolph, Suzanne M., Roy, Kevin, Shenassa, Edmond D., Wallen, Jacqueline,

Associate Professor Emeritus
Myricks, Noel, Rubin, Roger H.,

Faculty Research Associate
Grutzmacher, Stephanie, Maring, Elisabeth F. ,

Assistant Professor
LaTaillade, Jaslean,

Professor of Practice
Kessel, Saumuel 'Woodie',

Instructor
Werlinich, Carol A.,

Senior Lecturer
Zeiger, Robyn S.,

Lecturer
Davis, Johnetta G.,

Abstract

The Department of Family Science prepares students to describe, explain, and improve the quality of family life through applied research, education, therapy, human service program management, policy analysis, and advocacy. The approach is interdisciplinary, emphasizing individual, interpersonal, and social change. The program of study is based on a systems or ecological paradigm, combining the perspectives of interrelated professional fields including family science, couple and family therapy, maternal and child health, family policy, behavioral science, and human service program management. Graduates are prepared for careers in the public, non-profit and private sectors, including university teaching, research, family policy analysis, and administrative positions in human service and public health programs.

The Department offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Couple and Family Therapy, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Family Science, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) degrees. Students accepted into the Family Science Ph.D. program with a Bachelor's degree must complete a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Family Science or Couple and Family Therapy in route to the Ph.D. The Family Science M.S. program is only open to Ph.D. students; the Department no longer offers a terminal M.S. degree in Family Science. Most Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. applicants have a Masters Degree in Public Health (MPH), Marriage and Family Therapy, or an applied behavioral or social science. Prior to entry, MCH students must also have completed at least one semester of a university-supervised, graduate level professional experience in a public health or mental health setting. MCH students without the five MPH core courses must complete missing courses (biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, and health behavior) within one academic year of their entry into the program.

The M.S. program in Couple and Family Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The program provides students with the counseling work and supervised clinical training typically required in states with Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure. The curriculum is based on an integrative approach to family therapy. From a general systems perspective, students acquire a broad knowledge of family therapy approaches and related theory. Didactic course material is continuously applied in supervised clinical practice in order to integrate theory and practice into a total learning experience.

The Ph.D. in Family Science is a research-oriented program examining internal family processes, as well as the dynamic interaction of families with the biological, psychological, social, political, and economic aspects of their environment. The integrated program of study focuses on family theory, research methodology, family policy, family programs, ethnic families, and major issues confronting contemporary families. Students learn to design, implement, and evaluate culturally-sensitive interventions addressing family needs and to analyze the consequences of public/private policies on family well-being.

The Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. program provides interdisciplinary training in research, practice, and policy relevant to health problems and services for women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families (including men). The MCH program prepares students to advance research, policy and practice to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these groups, with a particular emphasis on low income and ethnic minority populations.

Admissions Information

Admission standards for the M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy include: a minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average, a score of 1000 or better on the GRE for the verbal and quantitative combined, three strong letters of recommendation, and a statement of personal and professional objectives.

Students applying to the Couple and Family Therapy program must apply by January 15. The "Couple and Family Therapy Application Form" is available on our website, http://www.sph.umd.edu/fmsc/graduate/ms/admission.html. Students are only admitted to the Couple and Family Therapy program for the Fall semester.

The Family Science and Maternal and Child Health Ph.D. programs consider applications from students with a Master's or Bachelor's degree in family science, public health, or a related discipline. In addition to meeting Graduate School requirements, students are selected for the Ph.D. program based on: the quality of previous undergraduate and/or graduate coursework, the strength of GRE scores (minimum of 1000 required), letters of recommendation from three persons competent to judge the applicant's probable success in a doctoral program, research and/or relevant work experience, and professional goals congruent with those of the program. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program in Family Science with a baccalaureate degree must complete the M.S. in Family Science with a thesis or M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy with a thesis in route to the Ph.D. The deadline for applications to both Ph.D. programs is December 15.

The Department encourages applications from members of racial/ethnic minority groups for both its M.S. and Ph.D. programs.

Application Deadlines

 

Fall

Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines


M.S., Ph.D. international applications must be received by December 1 .
M.S. applications must be received by January 15 .
Ph.D. applications must be received by December 15 .


This program does not accept applications for this semester.

 


International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.   

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31
 

Application Requirements

  1. GRE General
  2. 3 Letters of Recommendation
  3. Statement of Goals
  4. Transcripts
  5. Master's thesis or other research sample (for those entering Ph.D. program with a Master's degree)
  6. Couple and Family Therapy Application Form (M.S. only)

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)

The Couple and Family Therapy M.S. program requires 48 credits for the non-thesis option and 51 credits for the thesis option, which includes a two-year internship sequence.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. program in Family Science requires 51 graduate credit hours beyond the Master's degree, including 30 core credits (theory, issues, research methodology, statistics), 6 elective credits, 3 research internship credits, and 12 dissertation credits.

The Ph.D. program in Maternal and Child Health requires 48 graduate credit hours beyond the Master's degree, including 21 core credits (theory, issues) 12 research methods and statistics credits, 3 elective credits, and 12 dissertation credits.

Students in both Ph.D. programs must also submit an individual study plan, pass a comprehensive examination, and complete a dissertation and oral defense.

Facilities and Special Resources

The University's close proximity to the nation's capital, the state capital in Annapolis, federal executive departments, and headquarters of national professional and public interest associations provide research and internship placements for studying family policy unmatched by any other graduate program in the discipline. The Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area offers rich opportunities for research on culturally and socioeconomically diverse families. The campus and department have excellent computer facilities. Students have ready access to the University's extensive library systems, as well as holdings from the Library of Congress, the National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Archives, and many other library collections.

Family Research Center: This departmental Center promotes family research by securing extramural funding and encouraging cooperative research ventures within the University and with other institutions. The Center also hosts international scholars engaged in cross-cultural studies of the family and serves as a resource of family information for citizens of Maryland and the nation.

Center for Healthy Families: This Center is the training and research arm of the Couple and Family Therapy Program in the Department of Family Science. Departmental graduate students and faculty provide clinical and educational services to families from surrounding communities in this new, state-of-the-art facility. Master's and doctoral students use data collected at the Center for research projects.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance for Ph.D. students is available through university fellowships and departmental teaching and research assistantships. Some assistantships may be available for M.S. students depending on departmental funding and faculty grants. Students may also seek assistantships in other campus units and/or apply for doctoral fellowships sponsored by federal agencies (e.g., NIH, DHHS).

Contact Information

For further information, contact:

Director of Graduate Studies
1204 Marie Mount Hall
MD  20742
Telephone: (301) 405-3672
Fax: (301) 314-9161
fmsc@umd.edu

http://www.sph.umd.edu/fmsc/

current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=107

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