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Family Life Education Major

About Family Life Education Major more

The Family Life Education major is a 48-credit program for students who have a genuine care and concern for individuals and families and are interested in how families can function more effectively. 

Careers in Family Life Education more

Family Life Education takes place in a variety of settings including:

  • Colleges and Universities
  • Community Education
  • Congregations and Other Religious Settings
  • Corporations
  • Corrections
  • Government Agencies
  • Hospitals (leading workshops and classes)
  • Junior and Senior High Schools
  • Military
  • Retirement Communities
  • Social Service Agencies
Course for Family Life Education Major

COM-403 Family Communication

Students examine communication patterns in functional families and interpersonal relationships. Reading and discussion are combined with experiential activities. Course units include diverse family systems, communication patterns, family roles, power, decision-making, conflict, stress and coping, ecology, and improving family communication. (Prerequisites: COM103, or COM212 or consent of instructor)

FAS-101 Intro to Family Life Education

This course is an introduction to the field of family life education. Students will explore primary theoretical principles using the Life Span Family Life Education framework and professional issues influencing the practice of family life education. Emphasizing key content areas, the students will be introduced to: content area definitions and objectives; examples highlighting the integration of theory and practice in family life education; key resources; and future issues and challenges for

FAS-300 Meth & Material for Family Ed

This course provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for effective teaching of family life/parent education curriculum in a variety of family/parent education settings. Students will analyze educational materials for parent education, will observe/analyze a parent educator in the field and co-facilitate a parenting session in class. These analyses will be based on adult education principles.

FAS-400 Family Systems

This course is an analysis of the family. It investigates the family as a system of relationships which interacts across the family life cycle. It includes a survey of current developments in the study of the family and an analysis of changes in American society and their influence on family life. Also included is a focus on marriage and family therapy from a systems framework.

FAS-442 Family Decision Available online

This course familiarizes the student with an understanding of the decisions individuals make about developing and allocating resources to meet their goals. The focus of the course is on internal dynamics of family decision-making processes and on the goal-directed behaviors of families in improving their quality of life.

FAS-443 Parent Education Available online

This course explores how parents teach, guide and influence their children and adolescents.  The course will emphasize parenting as a process, a responsibility and a role that changes across the life span.  Variations in parenting practices will be discussed in teh context of building on strengths, empowering parents and remaining sensitive to individual and community needs.

FAS-444 Family Law Public Policy Available online

This course explores historical development of laws and public policy affecting families. Ethics and ethical implications of social change will be explored. Students will understand the legal definition of the family and laws that affect the status of the family. The course will focus on the role of the family life educator as an advocate for the well being of the family. The formation of social values, respect for the diversity of values, and the social consequences of value choices are

FAS-498 Family Life Educ. Internship

The internship provides the student with an in-depth field experience in a work setting that provides family life education services. The student learns to apply family life education theories and principles. The student in conjunction with the academic advisor selects an appropriate internship site which meets the needs and vocational interests of the student. (Prerequisite: Completion of a minimum of 30 credits in the Family Life Education Major)

KHS-320 Human Life Experience

This is a survey course designed to enable students to understand the biological, physiological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of sexuality and human sexual behavior. Students will approach much of the material from a variety of different learning strategies including, research, games, small and large groups discussions, guest speakers, group activities, small assignments/worksheets, etc. (Prerequisite: KHS110)

PSY-101 Introduction to Psychology

This course introduces the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic and social-cultural perspectives are explored. Topics such as scientific method, statistical reasoning, neuroscience, learning, cognitive processes, development, psychological adjustment, therapy, social psychology, diversity and community are studied.

PSY-210 Child Psychology and Dev

A broad sketch of human growth and development is provided from the prenatal stages to the adolescent years. Developmental processes are studied from both a biological and social-cultural perspective to understand physical and perceptual development, cognition and language, personality and social development. Child studies of children at the students� projected levels of teacher certification are required. (Prerequisite: PSY101)

PSY-220 Adolescent Psychology

This course examines developmental phenomena of adolescence, its physiological, emotional, cognitive, parent-child, social, vocational and religious dimensions, with opportunity for personal exposure to youth�s needs and interacting societal institutions. (Prerequisite: PSY101)

SOC-152 Introduction to Sociology

This course provides an introduction to the systematic study of society and social behavior. Investigation will focus on the values and norms shared by society�s members, the groups and institutions that compose social structure, and the forces that are transforming social reality.

SOC253 SOC253 Marriage and Family

This course considers the family as one of the primary social institutions within the larger social system. It explores the family�s internal structure and functioning, how it serves the needs of both individuals and society, how it is changing in contemporary American society, and the societal challenges of families in crisis. (Prerequisite: SOC152)

SOC-353 Themes in Adult Dev. & Aging

This course explores a variety of themes in development throughout the lifespan beginning with youth and ending in the last stages of adulthood including aging, death and dying. Lifespan, sociological, psychological, and family science perspectives will be used to examine a variety of themes.

Online, In-Class or Blended?

Offered Online?
Classes meet entirely online.

Offered In-Class?
Classes meet face-to-face at our St. Paul campus or other off-campus location.

Offered Blended?
Course work is completed through a combination of in-class and online class meetings.

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