Parent and family education license
This online program will develop your skills to design, deliver, and evaluate family-focused programs for adult learners in Minnesota’s Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program. This program track leads directly to Minnesota teacher licensure in parent and family education.
In this program you will:
- Develop a strengths-based approach to family education that will prepare you to support, educate and build community for parents and families navigating today’s changing world.
- Meet State of Minnesota requirements to obtain a parent and family education license to teach in an ECFE program as your first teaching license, or in addition to another teaching license you may already have acquired.
- Prepare to conduct home visits, lead classes for parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, provide outreach services, and work with diverse and multilingual families.
The program provides rigorous professional teacher preparation in accordance with Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers (SEP) and content standards adopted by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). Learn more about the licensure process.
As a parent, ECFE gives us the village and community we can rely on to feel less isolated and less uncertain - and the Family and Parent Education program gave me the tools I needed to offer that support to parents.
Program requirements
The teaching license in parent and family education requires a total of 21 to 25 credits, including 18 credits in parent and family Ed courses and 3 to 7 credits in electives, chosen in consultation with your advisor. The Parent and Family Ed Program Manual’s course Planning tab has detailed course planning information.
Many students complete licensure requirements as part of the MEd program with the license sub-plan (30 credits). Learn more about this program track.
Application deadlines
- June 1 for fall admission
- October 1 for spring admission
- February 1 for summer admission
Begin your application
Learn about the requirements and deadlines.
If you have any questions, please e-mail famed@umn.edu, or call 612-625-3116.
Financing your education
Visit OneStop Student Services: Finances for information on tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Visit assistantships, fellowships, and other funding for more information on funding opportunities through FSoS, CEHD, and UMN.
Admissions
Admission to the Department of Family Social Science (FSoS) is based on a review of multiple sources of information:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. academic institution or foreign equivalent, evidence of strong academic preparation, and the ability and desire to perform graduate level scholarship.
- Alignment of applicant's professional goals with the parent and family education program's goals to prepare practitioners to design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs for parents and families.
- Unique contributions applicant would make to FSoS values, including social relevance, collaboration, inclusiveness, excellence, innovation, and diversity.
Inquiry form
More information
View the initial licensure guide sheet [PDF].
View the additional licensure guide sheet [PDF].
The Parent and Family Education Program Manual holds important information about licensure, online coursework, tuition and financial aid, and more.