Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family&Consumer Sciences

Masters of Family Life & Parent Education

Listen to Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Graduate Program - Dr. Karen DeBord, Director of Graduate Programs

Family Life and Youth Development are both rapidly growing fields of research and practice. The Masters of Science in Family Life and Youth Development (thesis) and Masters of Family Life and Youth Development (non-thesis) are designed to meet the growing societal demand for youth development professionals and family life educators for families as well as community-based institutions. The demand for family life educators is high. There are a growing number of jobs emerging in this career field.

Many community-based agencies and organizations are asking for assistance as ways to raise the school success rate, lower teen pregnancy, and curtail youth violence, parental dysfunction and child maltreatment. Legislative bodies as well as funders and other stakeholders are demanding that formal education systems collaborate integrally with community youth organizations to more successfully address societal issues such as gang behavior; school truancy and drop-out; youth workforce development and entrepreneurism; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics literacy. Courts, social services, schools, faith-based organizations, Cooperative Extension and others must work collaboratively to better support children and families. Demand for community youth development professionals also arises through Cooperative Extension programming in that agents/educators are usually not trained as youth development professionals in undergraduate programs. Youth serving organizations such as YWCA/YMCA, faith-based youth programs, after school and/or out-of-school programs, junior achievement programs, Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, and parks and recreation programs also have a need for youth development leadership professionals.

This program is designed to make all coursework accessible to students. Course delivery methods include:

* Web-based classes
* Seminar classes with a live internet feed connecting classrooms
* On-campus seminars delivered video teleconference

For additional information, review these frequently asked questions about graduate school, review the links below, or contact:

Dr. Karen DeBord
karen_debord@ncsu.edu
(919) 515-9147
or
Dr. Marshall Stewart
marshall_Stewart@ncsu.edu
919-515-1681

Courses currently begin with the FCS prefix, but this will be changed to FYD in Fall 2010.

Departmental review deadline:
There are two submission deadlines per year. Submit application, GRE scores, letters of reference and personal statement by October 15 or March 15.

NCSU Tuition and Fees
NCSU Financial Support
NCSU Graduate Catalog
NCSU Admissions/Application
NCSU Registration for Distance Education courses
GRE scores required
NCSU Course Catalog
NCSU Graduate School Administrative Policies
Graduate Manual (.pdf)
Plan of Study (.doc)

Taking credit classes without formal admission to a graduate program

NCSU Non-Degree Studies

Tools for Admitted Students