FYC’s programs prepare parent and family educators for a variety of professional positions and career opportunities:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in education: curriculum and instruction are appropriate for individuals interested in family education who intend to conduct research, teach in higher education settings and/or provide leadership in family education programs. Application to these programs is through the Graduate School. The Family, Youth, and Community application [PDF] must accompany your Graduate School application to show the ways your goals and previous preparation create a good fit for these programs.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) professional studies in family education program prepares professional practitioners who are skilled in the development, implementation, delivery and assessment of family education programs. Students specifically interested in parent education can tailor this 30-credit graduate degree to incorporate licensure in parent and family education or the certificate in parent education. Note: This side-by-side comparison of the Master of Arts and the Master of Education programs may also be useful to help you decide.

State of Minnesota Teacher Licensure in Parent and Family Education program: In Minnesota, a parent educator teacher license is required for employment as a parent educator in Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs. The licensure program ensures that Minnesota parent educators are well-prepared and qualified to develop and deliver educational programs for parents. All courses needed for obtaining this license are available online. Previously completed courses at the bachelor’s or graduate level are applied toward licensure requirements when they meet state standards. Students may include licensure credits toward the M.Ed. professional studies degree (download sample M.Ed. planning form [PDF]), or the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees.

Certificate in Parent Education program provides the same professional preparation as the licensure program, but students do not have to complete additional requirements to be granted a Minnesota teacher license. A certificate in parent education prepares parent educators for positions in Minnesota that do not require a Minnesota parent educator license and for parent education positions in other states and countries. These parent educators may find positions in health, social service agencies and institutions, and religious settings. The certificate can be completed as part of a M.Ed. professional studies degree, or the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees.

Individuals who intend to work with parents in an Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program, the State of Minnesota requires that you hold a teacher license in parent and family education. If you live in Minnesota and think that you may ever want the opportunity to work with parents in ECFE programs, you will want to apply to the parent and family education licensure program.

Individuals who want to work in Minnesota, but not in ECFE, or live outside of Minnesota and never expect to need a Minnesota teaching license in your professional role as a parent educator, then a graduate-level certificate in parent education on your transcript from the University of Minnesota will show employers that you are highly prepared by a respected leader in the field of parent education. Few other states or nations have parent education preparation requirements as rigorous as Minnesota, and few graduate programs in parent education can compare in quality with what is offered in this certificate. And, there is no other parent education graduate level professional development program offered entirely online.

See the table below for general guidelines on program timing. Students may take longer to complete or start their coursework at other times of the year given their schedules and course offerings. Students who need to make up child development coursework may also need to extend these timelines.

Yes! By the time you have completed a certificate or licensure in parent education, you will be well on your way to having completed a graduate degree, particularly the Masters of Education (M.Ed.). Time to completion varies by the degree program, as the M.Ed., M.A. and Ph.D. have different course requirements. Discuss these options with Heather Cline (email: fyc@umn.edu, phone: 612-624-1294) or your program adviser as early as possible to maximize the fit between programs.

Download a sample M.Ed. program form [PDF] showing how parent education certificate and licensure courses fit in the degree (pdf file).

Online courses offer many advantages to learning. They give students tremendous flexibility to study and complete a degree program wherever they are, rather than coming to campus. Although our courses are structured, online learning also allows students to fit their coursework into their schedules. Yet, the experience is different than sitting in classroom. Some students say that they miss the in person interaction with instructors and students. At the University of Minnesota, we strive to make the online learning experience rich and meaningful and as rewarding as taking the class in a classroom.

The intensive core of eight parent education courses are offered online. Each course consists of 5-13 weekly modules. Our courses are capped at 17 students to allow for rich and dynamic interaction, and instructor attention. All students enrolled in an online course complete all modules together on the same schedule. In addition to asynchronous (i.e., not simultaneous) online discussions, short weekly reflection papers and other online assignments, students participate once a week in a scheduled synchronous, “live” online 45 minute chat session scheduled between 7and 9 P.M. Central Time.

Online learning does require discipline and focus and organization by the learner. We have a number of suggestions and helps for students to make their online learning experience a positive one.

Students enrolled in online courses must have access to a computer with reliable internet access and be able to configure their computer to meet computer and internet browser standards for online course delivery.

Revised 4-16-2009

* Prereq CI 5943. Contact Heather at FYC@umn.edu for permission to register for CI 5944 the same semester as CI 5943.
** Generally taken after the completion of other coursework. Special application and instructor permission required.

Online parent education course description and registration information

Additional information related to online and distance-learning courses

Search the University of Minnesota's Digital Campus for additional online courses.

How you register will depend on how you want to use your credits.

Current students: Students already admitted to a licensure or degree program at the University of Minnesota may register using One Stop’s registration process. Check with your adviser to determine how these credits apply to your program.

Future Graduate School students: Students who desire admission to a Graduate School program (M.A., M.S.W., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.) and want to take a course for graduate credit before being admitted to the program should use the One Stop non-degree registration option. Graduate School tuition rates apply. Contact the graduate studies assistant at cigs@umn.edu with questions about Graduate School programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Future certificate, licensure, and M.Ed. students: Students who desire admission to a certificate, licensure, or M.Ed. program and want to take courses before they have been admitted are strongly encouraged to contact Heather Cline (fyc@umn.edu, 612-624-1294) to discuss transfer credits and registration options.

Professional development: Students desiring coursework for professional development only may register for classes as non-degree students by using the One Stop non-degree registration option every semester you wish to take courses. M.Ed. tuition rates apply. The authorized signer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is:

• Jessie Eastman (eastm004@umn.edu; 612-625-2545) (primary signer)
• Kathryn Louis (loui0032@umn.edu; 612-625-9809) (backup)

Yes. Students who want to begin certificate, licensure, or M.Ed. coursework prior to program admission must use the One Stop non-degree registration option.  For questions about non-degree registration, see FAQ for non- degree graduate registration. The authorized signer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is:

• Jessie Eastman (eastm004@umn.edu; 612-625-2545) (primary signer)
• Kathryn Louis (loui0032@umn.edu; 612-625-9809) (backup)

Students from other departments and majors are welcome to take parent education courses. If a waitlist occurs for a class, preference for admission to the course will be given to students currently enrolled in one of the parent and family education programs.

Yes. Each course in the parent education program counts towards the parent education portion of CFLE certification from the National Council on Family Relations, and towards continuing education, for those who have the CFLE designation. Parent and family education coursework, including those courses not required for certification or licensure, are often eligible for continuing education credits for many family and consumer science (e.g., AAFCS), social and psychological science-related professions.

Certificate tuition and other fees vary, depending on a student’s enrollment status and residency. Tuition fees are charged according to the following criteria:

• Students seeking the certificate only pay the CEHD departmental master’s (M.Ed.) tuition rate
• Students enrolled in certificate and master of education (M.Ed.) programs pay the CEHD departmental master’s tuition rate
• Students enrolled in Graduate School programs (e.g., M.A., Ph.D., Ed.D.) pay Graduate School tuition rates.

For current tuition rates and additional fees, see the CEHD tuition and fees page, and tuition policies for non-degree students. Tuition rates are determined annually by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents before fall semester. Students may be billed for additional fees at the time of registration.

Fellowships for qualified new Ph.D. and M.A. applicants are frequently available. For more information:

• 2011-12 Jean Clarke Graduate Fellowship in Parent Education [PDF]
• 2011-12 Ruth and Paul Thomas Family Education Graduate Fellowship [PDF]
• 2012-13 BAS-Knorr Family Education Graduate Fellowship [PDF]

Financial aid programs are available for students admitted to the M.Ed. professional studies program, and those students admitted to other graduate degree programs at the University (e.g., M.A., Ph.D.). Students must be enrolled at least part-time, which for graduate students is a course load of 3 credits per semester (full-time status is 6 credits per semester) to be eligible for financial aid programs.

Students ineligible for federally-guaranteed financial aid programs are:

• students enrolled for credit as non-degree-seeking students;
• degree-seeking students provisionally admitted to their degree program (students become eligible once they have met all conditions of the provisional admittance); and
• students admitted to a certificate or licensure program in parent education as their primary program (not also enrolled in a degree program such as the M.Ed., M.A., or Ph.D.).

Students ineligible for federally guaranteed financial aid programs may, however, be eligible for other loans or financial assistance. All students interested in financial assistance are encouraged to learn about financial aid programs and options. Students are encouraged to contact One Stop with individual questions.

Minimum credit requirement per semester for receiving financial aid:

M.Ed./Professional Studies in Family Education — 3 credits per semester (part-time status)