Graduate Admission

Admission to the Family and Child Studies Graduate Program requires the following:

1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

2. An official Texas State University Graduate College application

3. Two official transcripts from each institution attended

4. A GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work leading to the bachelor's degree, and an acceptable GRE score on the combined verbal/quantitative sections.*

Please note: Applicants to the FCS graduate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework are no longer required to take the GRE for admission. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 must have a minimum GRE score of 900 on file prior to admission.

5. Three letters of recommendation (mailed directly to the department)**

6. A statement of interest and goals (mailed directly to the department)**

*Conditional admission may be awarded to applicants who do not meet the regular GPA or GRE requirements. Applicants with limited academic credentials in FCS may be required to complete undergraduate/graduate background work as a part of degree plan.

**Please send your letters of recommendation and statement of interest and goals to Dr. Michelle Toews, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas  78666.

Scholarships

Graduate College Scholarships

Family & Child Studies Graduate Program Core Courses

* Required Courses

FCD 5100 - Introduction to the Graduate Program in Family and Child Studies (1-0)*
Focus on gaining information and competencies important to graduate school success.  Includes academic expectations for graduate students as well as information related to the Family and Child Studies graduate program.

FCD 5341 - Advanced Child Development (3-0)*
Focus on developmental processes & influences from conception through the early childhood period. Includes interactive relationship of biological & environmental factors in total development of the child.

FCD 5350 - Research Design and Methods in Family and Child Studies (3-0)*
Evaluation of research concepts, methods, and strategies in family and child studies. Topics include the nature of scientific research, sampling, measurement, data collection, types of socio-behavioral research, data analysis, and evaluation of research reports.

FCD 5351 - Advanced Theory in Family and Child Studies (3-0)*
A critical evaluation of theoretical concepts and current research in family and child studies. Emphasis on recent trends in family and child theories. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

FCD 5352 - Seminar: Issues in Family and Child Studies (3-0)*
Seminar designed to examine current issues in family and child studies. Emphasis on current research, theories, and applications. Also includes orientation to the conceptual and methodological perspectives of multi-disciplinary study in the field of family and child studies. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

FCD 5353 - Program Evaluation in Family and Child Studies (3-0)*
An evaluation of programs at federal, state, and community levels. Program objectives, policy and implementation will be identified and evaluated for present and future needs of children and families. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

FCD 5355 - Advanced Independent Study (3-0)
Individual work on problems related to student's primary area of specialization. Work may consist of empirical research or of critical reviews and integration of existing literature. Course may be repeated once for credit when topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

FCD 5356 - Advanced Program Administration (3-0)*
A study of the implementation of family and child development programs. Emphasis will be on program development, personnel and financial management, grant writing, and legal and professional standards. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

FCD 5358 - Practicum in Family and Child Studies I (0-6)*
Structured practical experience in family and child studies in a private or public setting. Supervision provided by a member of the graduate faculty and a designated individual at the work site. Focus will be on experiential learning. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. 

FCD 5359 - Practicum in Family and Child Studies II (0-6)
Continued practical experience in family and child studies at a private or public setting with supervision provided by a member of the graduate faculty and a designated individual at the work site. A research report will be integrated with practical application. Prerequisite: FCD 5358.

FCD 5399A - Thesis (3-0)
This course represents a student's initial thesis enrollment. Focus is on identification of thesis topic, review of literature, and research design. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in FCD 5399B. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis.

FCD 5399B - Thesis (3-0)
This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollment. Focus is on data collection, analysis, and writing of thesis. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Prerequisite: FCD 5399A. Graded on a credit (CR), no credit (F) basis.

Recommended Electives

These courses have been selected as recommended electives to meet student needs consistent with program emphases: program administration, child life, and infant and early childhood mental health. Other courses may be selected which are more relevant to the needs of an individual student.

FCD 5302 - Advanced Topics (can be repeated one time)

FCD 5343 - Hospitalized Child: Introduction to Child Life (Formerly FCS 5302W)

FCD 5355 - Advanced Independent Study (can be repeated one time)

FCD 5357 - Comparative Studies in Child Development

COUN 5316 - Counseling Diverse Populations

COUN 5340 - Loss and Grief Recovery Counseling

COUN 5346 - Filial Therapy

COUN 5368 - Developmental Issues in Counseling Children, Adolescents, and Adults

COUN 5369 - Child and Adolescent Counseling Methods

COUN 5370 - Intermediate Methods in Counseling Adolescents

COUN 5372 - Assessment and Treatment in Marriage and Family Counseling

COUN 5373 - Intermediate Methods in Play Therapy

POSI 5315 - Problems in Public Personnel Administration

POSI 5317 - Management Practices in Public Personnel Administration

POSI 5318 - Public Management and Ethics

POSI 5321 - Introduction to Public Policy & Administration

PSY 5320 - Advanced Statistics

PSY 5331 - The Emotional Problems of Childhood

PSY 5342 - Ethics, Standards, & Procedures in Health Psychology

PSY 5370 - Learning, Cognition, and Motivation

SOCI 5307 - Advanced Statistics for the Social Sciences

SOCI 5309 - Seminar in Qualitative Research Methods

SOCI 5323 - Grant Writing for the Social Sciences

SOCI 5337 - Seminar on the Family

SOCI 5370 - Seminar in Multicultural Relations

SOWK 5310 - Social Welfare Policy and Services

SOWK 5311 - Human Behavior and Social Environment:  Birth Through Adolescence