Family education
Master of education/professional studies
Program
The master of education (M.Ed.)/professional studies program in family education develops and strengthens professionals’ competencies to work with individuals and families to enhance family life. This graduate-level, practitioner-based program is offered by the Department of Curriculum & Instruction (CI).
The program prepares licensed teachers to further develop their knowledge and skills in the family education field or nonlicensed professionals to work with adults, youth, or children in a variety of settings. Students may fulfill requirements for a parent educator license, parent education certificate, or community and learning certificate as part of this degree.
With guidance from faculty advisers, students choose at least 30 semester credits of work that may include courses, independent study, internships, and workshops.
Courses are offered at a variety of times, including late afternoons, during the summer, and on weekends.
Admission
Admission requirements to this M.Ed. program include the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in family studies, child psychology, early childhood education, nutrition, or related fields
- A 2.80 overall grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate work
- A one-page goal statement with professional goals compatible with the family education mission
- A résumé
- A completed CEHD Application for Admission to
M.Ed./Professional Studies Programs, available at the
college’s office of Student Services,
150 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis, MN
55455; 612-625-6501;
e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu; or on the Web.
The college reviews applications on an ongoing basis. Application reviews for specific academic terms begin by the following dates. Students are encouraged to submit application materials to Student Services by these dates:
- November 1—spring semester admission
- March 1—summer session admission
- July 1—fall semester admission
Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions four to six weeks after application deadlines.
Transfer credits
A maximum of 12 graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:
- Up to six graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota
- Credits completed at the University of Minnesota before admission to the M.Ed. program
Transfer courses must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty adviser and the college. Contact the program’s faculty adviser for more information.
Curriculum
Note: Course designators, numbers, and names in the following list changed, effective January 2005. Previous course designators and numbers are listed in brackets.
Requirements
- 15 credits in family education, including CI 5902 (formerly FE 5001)—Family Education Perspectives (3 cr)
- 5-6 credits in coursework with a focus on educational processes that are not limited to a specific subject matter
- 9-10 credits in coursework with a supporting focus on family, children, and/or youth issues
- An oral examination
Some of the family education courses available to M.Ed. students include:
- CI 5902 (formerly FE 5001)—Family Education Perspectives (3 cr)
- CI 5904 (formerly FE 5003)—Contemporary Family Education (3 cr)
- CI 5900 (formerly FE 5200)—Special Topics in Family, Youth, and Community (1-4 cr)
- CI 5908 (formerly FE 5201)—Family and Work Relationships (3 cr)
- CI 5912 (formerly FE 5202)—Sexuality Education (3 cr)
- CI 5914 (formerly FE 5203)—Education for Family Communication (3 cr)
- CI 5906 (formerly FE 5301)—Program Planning in Family Education (3 cr)
- CI 5923 (formerly FE 5303)—Educational Strategies in Family Education (3 cr)
- CI 5932 (formerly FE 5698)—Introduction to Parent Education (1 cr)
- CI 5937 (formerly FE 5712)—Parent-Child Interaction (3 cr)
- CI 5942—Everyday Experiences of Families (2 cr)
- CI 5943—Parent Learning and Development: Implications for Parent Education (2 cr)
- CI 5944—Parent Education Curriculum (2 cr)
- CI 5945—Teaching and Learning in Parent Education (2 cr)
- CI 5946—Assessment and Evaluation in Parent Education (2 cr)
- CI 5949—Student Teaching in Parent Education (2 cr)
- CI 5952 (formerly WCFE 5411) Everyday Lives of Youth (3 cr)
- CI 5954 (formerly WCFE 5412) Experiential Learning: Pedagogy for Community and Classroom (3 cr)
- CI 5972 Education in the Community (3 cr)
- CI 5974 The Democratic Learning Community (3 cr)
Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.
Registration
Currently admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students may register online for coursework.
Students who want to begin M.Ed. coursework before admission to the M.Ed. program must complete a CEHD First-Time Registration for non-degree seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are also available at the college’s office of Student Services, 360 Education Sciences Building, 56 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-3339; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.
For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.
Core faculty
Betty Cooke
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Parent education, cognitive theory-based instructional design
612-625-7792 ; e-mail:
cooke047@umn.edu
Lynn Englund
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Family education, traditions of democratic education
612-624-1055; e-mail:
engl8813@umn.edu
Yvonne S. Gentzler
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Professional development of students within family and consumer
sciences (FCS) education; FCS leadership, mentoring, and
professional passion.
612-625-6624, email:
gentzler@umn.edu
Jane Plihal
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Family education, research methodology, teacher education
612-624-3069, e-mail:
pliha001@umn.edu
Ruth G. Thomas
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
Cognitive theory-based instructional design
612-624-4772; e-mail:
thoma006@umn.edu
Susan K. Walker
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Parent education; parenting and early education; use of technology
in teaching and learning
612-624-1272; e-mail:
skwalker@umn.edu
Revised March 2009