Courses - Spring 2025
FMSC123
Personal Financial Literacy: From Distress to Success
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Exploring strategic thinking, career, education, financial planning during college years as the foundation for success in living a meaningful life. While introducing relevant institutions and tools & techniques that are critical for financial planning, this course applies value-based goal setting and strategic planning that inform individuals' paths for a successful career, educational attainment, and optimum (mental, physical and financial) wellbeing throughout their life cycle. The course particularly emphasizes the individual's responsibility of living in an institution rich society, where, continuous learning, understanding institutions, rational decision-making, valuing relationships and networking, early career development, record keeping, budgeting, generating income and wealth, purposeful spending, saving and investing, tax planning, appropriate use of loans, risk taking and insurance, and retirement planning are well rewarded and ensure the optimum use of college years and the rest of life-course.
FMSC177
U SAD? Coping with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Students on UMD campus experience new challenges to their mental health and well-being every semester, and there are limited resources to help students manage their own health or to support their peers. This experiential skill development workshop course is designed to assist students in developing their knowledge in ways to recognize, manage, and cope with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. There is a focus on coping with pandemic-related and course-related concerns, relationship issues, and a range of other student concerns.
FMSC215
Foster Care and Adoption; Law, Policy, and Family
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
In this Student Initiated Course, students will examine their preconceived notions of foster care and adoption as they work to become agents for change in the systems. Regular guest speakers will share their experiences. Along with your student instructor you'll explore various outcomes of the systems including trauma, mental health and later-life outcomes. Your faculty instructor will encourage you to critically think about legal and policy issues, both in Maryland and internationally, like the foster to prison pipeline and adopting from other cultures. Students will examine contentious issues like legal interventions, LGBTQ, Native American Indian, transracial, religious and others relating to the systems and the socioeconomic impacts on families. Classes are student-driven and discussion-based, allowing students to explore ethical considerations and possible life paths.
FMSC260
Couples, Marriage, and Families: Intimate Relationship Across the Life Course
Covers the different aspects of couple relationships and family life. This includes common problems in couple relationships, and resources to strengthen couple and family relationships. You will also learn about stages of relationships, theories of love and family, policy related to couples and family formation, and how research is conducted with couples and families. Together, we will discuss and explore issues that couples and families face in modern times and will consider how many of these issues have changed due to policy, technology, attitudes, and a variety of other societal factors that impact relationships in the 21st century. You will also learn important methods of strengthening current and future relationships.
Restricted to majors or non-majors with less than or equal to 60 credits.
FMSC270
Sex, Drugs, and Social Media: Adolescent Health and Development
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
This course will ask: How can families, schools, communities, and society help adolescents to navigate contemporary stressors and develop into physically and mentally healthy adults? To do this, we will use research, and an understanding of adolescent development, to explore and analyze issues affecting the health and behavior of American adolescents. Such issues include (but are not limited to) sex education, the role of social media in mental health, substance use, policing in schools, dating violence, suicide prevention, access to sexual and reproductive health care, and school start times. We will consider how adolescent well-being is shaped by social contexts, including the role of parents and family members, peers, schools, communities, social media, and culture. We will examine policies and programs that affect adolescents, how effective they are at promoting adolescent health, and how they might be improved to better support healthy adolescent development.
FMSC290
Family Economics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Credit only granted for: FMSC290 or FMST290.
Formerly: FMST290.
Application of economic methodology to study families under various economic situations. Examination of how decisions about marriage, divorce, fertility, consumption and time use are influenced by labor/housing markets, tax structure, social welfare benefits and other economic considerations.
FMSC302
Prerequisite: Must have completed an introductory statistics course.
Restriction: Must be in a major within SPHL-Family Science department.
Credit only granted for: FMSC302 or FMST302.
Formerly: FMST302.
Introduction to the methods of the social and behavioral sciences employed in family science. The role of theory, the development of hypotheses, measurement, design, and data analysis.
FMSC310
Maternal, Child and Family Health
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Credit only granted for: FMSC310, FMSC410 or FMSC498A.
Formerly: FMSC498A and FMSC410.
Additional information: A comprehensive understanding of maternal, child, and family health, with additional emphasis on environmental health, needs assessment and evaluation, enabling students to more effectively address issues in the workplace.
Overview of the major issues in Maternal, Child, and Family Health in the U.S. and the world. The course will cover the social, political, environmental, and economic factors that shape the health of women, children, and families throughout the life course. It will employ the core disciplines of public health -- 1) epidemiology/biostatistics, 2) environmental health, 3) health policy and administration, and 4) social and behavioral health -- to examine these factors. The course introduces specific issues and interventions and places these issues and interventions within their broad sociohistorical context.
FMSC330
Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
The objective of this gateway course is to help you understand and apply basic theories and empirical data on family health. The course is designed to provide you with skills to think critically about theories including: Life Course Theory, the Bio-Ecological and Social-Ecological Models, and Systems Theory. We will ask questions about the distinct qualities and intersections of contexts and characteristics that impact the functioning of families. We will apply theory and research to topical issues in family health that are impacted by social structures such as conflict, crisis, migration, incarceration and inequalities.
FMSC332
Children in Families
Prerequisite: PSYC100 or FMSC105.
Credit only granted for: FMSC332 or FMST332.
Formerly: FMST332.
A family life education approach to the study of children and families. Emphasis on the interaction of children with parents, siblings, extended kin, and the community.
FMSC340
Mental Health and Healing in Families
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Using an interdisciplinary approach to study mental health, mental wellness, and substance use, we will answer questions such as: How has our understanding and treatment of mental health changed throughout history? What are the current prevalence patterns and risk factors associated with mental health conditions? What is the prevention to postvention continuum? What is the role of relationships, families, and communities in addressing mental health? How do we diagnose and treat various mental health disorders using the best available research? And, what are the various mental health disciplines and how do they differ? This course is designed to examine mental health issues across the life course. We will explore the influence of social contexts, including racism and additional forms of othering, on mental health and wellness, and introduce the health systems that support mental health prevention and treatment.
FMSC341
Personal and Family Finance
Credit only granted for: FMSC341 or FMST341.
Formerly: FMST341.
Individual and family financial strategies with emphasis on financial planning, savings, investments, insurance, income taxes, housing, and use of credit. Planning, analyzing, and controlling financial resources to resolve personal/family financial problems and to attain financial security.
FMSC374
Working with Diverse Families in Public Health Services
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC110.
Focuses on the "doing" and modeling of skills required in navigating diverse social environments with families. These skills are necessary to engage in authentic work as family scientists, public health professionals, and family health practitioners. Using an intersectional framework, we will examine cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity for families impacted by challenges to equity and privilege. The course material emphasizes deep knowledge and skill building towards cultural sensitivity, including history, values, language, religion, and communication with families across multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds. Students will also explore differences emerging from experiences of poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, and disability. The goal of the course is to support students in developing a family/professional alliance for health and well-being.
FMSC382
Family Mediation and Negotiation
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Recommended: FMSC487 and FMSC341.
Credit only granted for: FMSC498M or FMSC382.
Formerly: FMSC498M.
Investigates mediation as a forum of peaceful intervention. It is designed to provide students with an introduction and basic understanding of the essential principles of mediation and opportunities to put those principles to work. In so doing, students will obtain an in-depth knowledge of a practical "hands on" approach to divorce mediation as the conduct mediation skill builders and facilitate a successful mediation. Students will learn major mediation interventions and how such interventions may help establish a new dynamic among family members in their communications and relationships. To assist in understanding, we will discuss family law issues and ethics. The course also includes a focus on negotiation theory and skills and students will conduct a negotiation. We will use multi-media presentations, real life mediation observation, lecture and class discussion, role-play, and academic review and critic to reach the course goals and objectives.
FMSC383
Health and Human Services Delivery and Evaluation
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC330.
Restriction: Must be in a major within SPHL-Family Science department.
Processes of service delivery with special emphasis upon relationships among managers, service providers and clients. The impact of human service systems on families.
FMSC399
Independent Study
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
FMSC431
Family Crises, Emergencies and Interventions
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: PSYC100.
Examines the stressors in life that may lead families into a state of crisis or emergency and what can be done to help families when the need arises. Both internal stressors, such as substance abuse, finances, divorce, illness or parent-child conflict, and external stressors, such as community violence and natural disasters, are examined. Using theories and techniques for intervention and enhancement, the course examines factors involved in stressors turning into a family crisis and how factors such as emergency preparedness, social support and public policy can be a source of family resilience or protect families from negative outcomes.
FMSC432
Adult Development and Aging in Families
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: PSYC100; and (SOCY100 or SOCY105). And FMSC332; or must have completed a comparable development course.
Restriction: Must be in a major within SPHL-Family Science department.
Credit only granted for: FMSC432 or FMST432.
Formerly: FMST432.
Theory, research, history, and programming related to adult development and aging in the intergenerational context of family.
FMSC460
Prerequisite: SOCY100, SOCY105, or PSYC100.
Credit only granted for: FMSC460 or FMST460.
Formerly: FMST460.
Theories of child, spouse, and elder abuse in the family setting. Emphasis on historical, psychological, sociological and legal trends relating to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Introduction to methods for prevention and remediation.
FMSC477
Internship and Analysis in Family Science
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Prerequisite: FMSC383; and 9 credits in FMSC courses; and permission of SPHL-Family Science department.
Restriction: Must be in a major within SPHL-Family Science department.
Credit only granted for: FMSC477, FMST347, or FMST477.
Formerly: FMST477.
A supervised internship and a seminar requiring analysis. Opportunities to integrate theory and practice including 120 hours of contracted field experience. Summer or fall internship contracts due May 1; Spring contracts due December 1. See department for application procedures.
Instructor will provide further details on meeting dates in ELMS.
FMSC485
Introduction to Family Therapy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC330; or 1 course from PSYC300-499 course range.
Credit only granted for: FMSC485 or FMST485.
Formerly: FMST485.
The fundamental theoretical concepts and clinical procedures of marital and family therapy including premarital and divorce therapy issues.
FMSC487
Family Law
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Designed for students interested in studying the law, public health, and family science, this course provides students with a general overview of family law and the impact on healthy families. The course also includes the study of cutting-edge issues such as marriage equality, assisted reproduction and ethical issues that may arise.
FMSC498
Special Topics: Family Science; Family Studies
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
FMSC498H
Special Topics: Family Science; Family Studies Honors Thesis
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
FMSC498P
Special Topics: Family Science
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with PLCY388A. Credit only granted for PLCY388A or FMSC498P.
For poor and low-income families, federal programs such as Medicaid, Child care, SNAP and child nutrition programs are a lifeline every day. Some programs also have policies that consider more than income eligibility, such as number of hours of work, disability, and immigration status. Budget choices have a significant impact on policy intentions. Students will learn about and analyze the major federal programs and federal budgets for these policy areas; understand from data the impact of such programs and policies; and be introduced to significant advocacy effortsand considerations that shaped these policy decisions.
For poor and low-income families, federal programs such as Medicaid, Child care, SNAP and child nutrition programs are a lifeline every day. Some programs also have policies that consider more than income eligibility, such as number of hours of work, disability, and immigration status. Budget choices have a significant impact on policy intentions. Students will learn about and analyze the major federal programs and federal budgets for these policy areas; understand from data the impact of such programs and policies; and be introduced to significant advocacy effortsand considerations that shaped these policy decisions.
FMSC610
Research Methods in Family Science
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: EDMS645; or students who have taken courses with comparable content may contact the department.
Credit only granted for: FMSC610 or FMST610.
Formerly: FMST610.
Research methods in family science. The role of theory, design, use of qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques, data collection and data analysis. Development of research proposals.
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC635
Integrative LGBTQIA+ Clinical Knowledge and Techniques for Family, Couple and Varied Relationship Dynamics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC745, FMSC640, and FMSC641 .
Explores the physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural variables associated with sexual expression, identity, orientation, and behavior for the LGBTQ+ population in relation to mental health and clinical contexts. Attention will focus on the clinical context of sex and gender most often presented in therapy with LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, families, and other varied relationship dynamics within the LGBTQ+ Community. The course explores clinician's comfort and level of knowledge, practice, and foundational understanding of sexuality and gender, own self-care systems, and how to navigate challenges and establish support. The course discusses the developmental and biological components of sexuality and gender, clinical diagnosis, and relational theoretical perspectives, desire, and pleasure modalities, relationships around family building, as well caring for the elderly.
FMSC641
Couples Therapy, Theory, and Techniques
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: FMSC640.
Credit only granted for: FMSC641 or FMSC641.
Formerly: FMST641.
Overview of theoretical models of couple relationships and methods of facilitating growth and interaction within those relationships. Emphasis on couples with conflicting needs and expectations, and dysfunctional communication and conflict negotiation skills.
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC651
Treatment of Emotional and Mental Disorders in the Family Context
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC650.
Restriction: Must be in Couple and Family Therapy (Master's) program.
This course is designed to assist beginning therapists in developing their knowledge of the major theoretical approaches to family therapy and applying those approaches to their clinical work. In addition, the course addresses many procedural, professional, and ethical issues often faced by beginning therapists. Towards these ends, the primary foci of the course will be on developing competencies in (a) observing family process, (b) assessing and conceptualizing family strengths and problems from different theoretical models, and (c) developing treatment plans from these different theoretical models. Finally, attention will also be given to therapist self-care.
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC653
Advanced Application of CFT Models and Techniques
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: FMSC652.
Restriction: Must be in Couple and Family Therapy (Master's) program.
This course is an integration of advanced assessment, diagnosis, and treatment procedures with couples, families, individuals, and groups. Emphasis will be on the following areas: (1) the advanced study of classic and emerging CFT models; (2) special topic areas (e.g., trauma, religious differences, grief & loss, family rituals,) and/or collaborative CFT in varied settings (e.g., schools, medical facilities, in-home/family preservation work, foster care, alcohol & drug centers); (3) development of a personal theory/philosophy of family therapy along with a case management system for that model. Additionally, development of the self of therapist, contributions to CFT as a profession, and employment as well as independent practice information including resume development, licensing laws and regulations in Maryland and other states will be explored. Also, procedures for preparing for the National MFT licensing exam will be discussed. Advanced professional practice will be demonstrated in case presentations related to the specific areas emphasized in the course.
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC658
Supervised Clinical Practice in Couple and Family Therapy; Theory and Practice of Clinical Supervision
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC689
Research Internship
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
FMSC698
Advanced Topics in Family Science
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Must have written permission of faculty member and chairperson.
FMSC699
Independent Study
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
FMSC710
Maternal and Child Health from a Life Course Perspective
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Credit only granted for: FMSC710 or FMST710.
Formerly: FMST710.
Survey of current science in maternal and child health informed by a life course perspective. The surveyed topics include inutero exposure to toxins, feeding and growth, and effects of chronic stress, maternal and child health.
FMSC740
Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Prerequisite: Must have completed a graduate course in epidemiology with a B- or higher.
Credit only granted for: FMSC612 or FMSC740.
Formerly: FMSC612.
Focuses on current research, controversial issues, and methodological challenges in the epidemiology of reproductive and perinatal health. Reproductive health topics will include fertility and fecundity, quality family planning services, hormone replacement therapy, and reproductive health cancers. Perinatal health topics will include fetal growth, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, fetal/infant/maternal morbidity and mortality, and birth defects. Lectures will focus on the biology, measurement, and application of study designs and analytic strategies for examining these topics. Course readings and discussions will critically review the broader context of reproductive and perinatal health within families and communities.
FMSC789
Non-Thesis Research
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
FMSC799
Master's Thesis Research
Credits:
1 - 6
Grad Meth:
S-F
Must have written permission of faculty member and chairperson.
FMSC810
Theory in Family Systems and Family Health
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
Credit only granted for: FMSC810, FMST698P, or FMST810.
Formerly: FMST810.
Theory and research on family interaction and family coping with normative health and mental health transitions and non-normative crises across the family life cycle. Micro-analysis of family process in communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and compliance to health regimens. Examination of dysfunctional patterns and effective coping strategies.
FMSC879
Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals Seminar
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Permission of SPHL-Family Science Department
FMSC898
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
Reg
FMSC899
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits:
6
Grad Meth:
S-F
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University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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