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Northern Illinois University

School of Family, Consumer & Nutrition Sciences

M.S. in Applied Family and Child Studies

The M.S. in Applied Family and Child Studies at Northern Illinois University provides professional career enhancement for:

  1. Programming and administration in family social services and child development settings in community and government agencies, including youth work, gerontological programming, child life programs in hospitals, infant and child care programs, family support services, family life, and parenting education
  2. Advanced graduate work and research
  3. Secondary and college teaching

Program Characteristics

A program of courses is developed cooperatively by the student and an adviser. In addition to taking the required courses, the student may focus on an individualized area of interest through the selection of courses within and outside the department. Within the major, there is also the opportunity to specialize in marriage and family therapy.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in the program for graduation.  A complete description of the degree requirements is given in the Family and Child Studies section of the graduate catalog.

Students may select various sequences of courses that develop professional competencies in specific areas including, but not limited to, the following areas of studies:

  1. Programming for and administration in family social services with emphasis on youth work
  2. Programming for and administration in child development settings, including hospitals
  3. Programming for and administration in family social services with study in gerontology
  4. Preparation for advanced graduate work
  5. Enhancement for secondary and college teaching

Admission

An applicant is required to have a minimum of 9 semester hours of undergraduate courses in family and child studies, or the equivalent including a course in family relations and one in child or lifespan development.  Three of the 9 hours must be at the upper-division level.  A student may be required to make up deficiencies in the area of family and child studies by successfully completing designated courses. These deficiencies should be completed during the first semester after admission to the major. Failure to do so may result in removal from the program.

Additional Information

Address written inquiries to:

Aimee D. Prawitz, Coordinator
Family and Child Studies
School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2857
(815) 753-6344
aprawitz@niu.edu

To request the admission portfolio for the specialization, contact:

Director of Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy
School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115

For other inquiries, email or call:

The Graduate School
Adams Hall 102
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb,  IL  60115
(815) 753-0395

Student Financial Aid Office
(815) 753-1395

Student Housing Services
(815) 753-1525

Testing Services
(815) 753-1203