Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Family Studies Minor


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Dr. Terrence Fernsler, Minor Adviser
Phone
: (540) 568-6980
Email: fernslts@jmu.edu
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/socwork/familystudies.html

The minor in family studies is designed for undergraduates seeking enhancement of their major, desiring to increase understanding of self and relationships, and seeking to make a positive contribution to society. A substantial knowledge of family-related issues, family processes, policies, laws, services and the interrelationship of families and societies will enhance majors in many fields including anthropology, early and middle education, health sciences, management, nursing, psychology, social work and sociology. The minor encourages students to make connections between their major field and family studies.

The family studies minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours with no more than six credit hours in the student’s major. Note that some courses have prerequisites that must be completed before enrollment. Some courses may be restricted to students enrolled in particular majors.

One introductory course is required: either FAM 133  or SOCI 374 . One course must be selected from each of these areas: Families in society, family and intimate relationships, and human development in the family. An additional course must be selected from any of the three areas or from family studies electives. A capstone course, FAM 400 , is also required. At least four courses in the minor, including the introductory course, must be completed prior to enrolling in FAM 400 .

Required Courses


Introductory course


Choose one of the following: 3 Credit Hours


Families in Society


Family and Intimate Relationships


Human Development in the Family


Additional family studies course


Choose three credits from one of the three topic areas above or one of the following: 3 Credit Hours


Total: 18 Credit Hours


Footnotes


1 Some courses in the minor have substantive overlap in focus and content. To ensure students gain a broad exposure to family functions and dynamics, some restrictions apply for overlapping courses. For the family studies minor, students may take either:

2 SCOM majors and minors only.

3 Special education non-teaching and chronic illness concentration students only.

4 Access may be limited.

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