Applied Family Science (M.S.)

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The Department of Applied Human Sciences offers a Master of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Services with a specialization in Applied Family Science. The M.S. program in Applied Family Science trains students in applying research-based knowledge in diverse family contexts. Students will gain the skills needed to develop, implement, evaluate, and administer programs designed to enhance family and relationship health and well-being. Students who choose the thesis option also will develop research skills to investigate family phenomena.

Requirements - at least 36 credits are required to complete the Master’s degree in Applied Family Science.

Required Courses

HDFS 801 - Grant Development and Management Credits: 3
HDFS 808 - Topics in Applied Family Science Credits: 1
HDFS 850 - Family Science Credits: 3
HDFS 852 - Family Theories Credits: 3
HDFS 860 - Family Policy Credits: 3
HDFS 871 - Program Development and Administration Credits: 3
FSHS 888 - Research Methods in FSHS I Credits: 3
HDFS 893 - Program Evaluation in Human Services Credits: 3
HDFS 898 - Professional and Ethical Issues in Applied Family Science Credits: 1
LSHD 820 - Theories of Human Development Credits: 3

Electives

These 9 credits of electives should be based on student’s professional goals and must be approved by the student’s master’s committee. They may include thesis hours (HDFS 899 - MS Research in Human Development and Family Science ). If a student is completing a thesis, the student should take research coursework aligned with the thesis methodology (e.g., HDFS 890 - Application of Research & Statistics in Human Development and Family Science , a statistics course, or FSHS 809 - Qualitative Research Methods in Family Science ). Students completing a report should take HDFS 881 - Practicum in Family and Community Services .

Additional Requirements:

In addition to the course requirements, the following are required:

A written document. The student, with committee approval, must complete one of the following types of written document:
- a master’s thesis (requiring 6 hours of FSHS 899)
- a master’s report (requiring 2 hours of FSHS 899)
An oral examination by the student’s committee with emphasis on the written document

Notes

Students interested in this option with questions about admissions should contact:

Michelle L. Toews, Ph.D.
Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator
Human Development & Family Science

College of Health and Human Sciences
Kansas State University
310 Justin Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
mltoews@ksu.edu