Master of Science in Family, Youth and Community Sciences

The Master of Science in FYCS seeks to prepare students for careers in human services, youth professions, and community development in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. There are two degree options: thesis and capstone.

• The thesis option prepares students to conduct independent research needed to develop science-based solutions to problems, issues, and policies that affect families, youth, and communities. Students develop expertise in a subject matter area directly relevant to the problem or need they want to address with the thesis research.

• The capstone option provides the student with a broad base of knowledge and skills in the discipline and culminates in a capstone project in the student’s final or penultimate semester.  Completion of a community-based project that addresses an identified issue within the field of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. Projects will vary based on student interests but will comply with expected professional and ethical standards. Students will also develop a professional portfolio and deliver a professional presentation. This course meets the graduate school requirement of the final comprehensive examination for a master’s degree without thesis.

Students in the Master of Science program have the option to complete one of three concentrations: 

• Concentration in Nonprofit Organizational Development. The concentration helps students build a foundation of skills to develop and sustain an effective nonprofit organization, including coursework that examines essential topics like governance, strategic planning, fundraising, risk management, and financial planning. 
• Concentration in Family and Youth Development. The concentration helps students build the leadership skills needed to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate services and programs affecting youth and families within their communities.
• Concentration in Community Studies. This concentration prepares students to serve as leaders and managers for community-based organizations and programs.

Students both inside and outside the major may complete a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership. This 12-credit certificate covers the core competencies of: governance, strategic planning, fundraising, human resources management, and risk management, as well as other emerging strategies.

An online professional development program in Personal and Family Financial Planning is available. The program is registered with the Certified Financial Planner^TM Board of Standards to offer courses that cover education requirements for sitting for the CFP examination.

The Family, Youth and Community Sciences Department offers two minors for non-majors. The Minor in Organizational Leadership for Nonprofits introduces students to the core management and leadership competencies necessary to work in the nonprofit sector. The Minor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences provides students with knowledge about the theories and body of research that explain how families, youth, and communities develop and interact.

Combination program: The Department offers a combination bachelor’s/master’s degree program, which allows qualified students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with a savings of up 12 credits.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences

• Master of Science
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Community Studies
  • concentration in Family and Youth Development
  • concentration in Nonprofit Organizational Development

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Family, Youth and Community Sciences Departmental Courses

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Courses

Family, youth & community sciences (MS)

SLO 1     Analyze Problems, Issues and Needs      
Use science-based research to analyze complex family, youth, or social problems, issues, and needs

SLO 2     Apply Theory and Research        
Apply family, economic, or social theory and research to the analysis of policies and programs that affect families, youth, and communities

SLO 3     Analyze and Assess Needs, Issues and Problems
Analyze and assess the needs, issues and problems of families, youth, and communities

SLO 4     Impacts of Policies, Programs and Organizations
Develop, implement and analyze the impacts of policies, programs and organizations for families, youth, and communities

SLO 5     Professional Behavior   
Interact with professional peers with honesty, ethical behavior, cultural sensitivity, and teamwork