Family Studies & Social Work
Undergraduate Programs
School of Education, Health, and Society
Miami’s Department of Family Studies and Social Work offers majors in family studies and social work and minors in family relationships and child studies.
Family Studies
This major is for students interested in learning how individuals and families interact and how support systems function and how they assist families. Students should have good communication skills.
You’ll study divorce, remarriage, parenting, adolescent development, intergenerational relationships, decision making in couple relationships, sexuality, marital satisfaction, family economics, family poverty, family policy, family violence, later-life families, family theory, religion and family life, family theory, and family life education. Courses combine theory and research, examine changes in families, and look at applied practices.
Family studies major are required to complete a field practicum. This involves pairing each student with a professional in the student’s area of interest. The practicum is typically completed in a student’s junior or senior year and involves 90 hours.
Our graduates pursue careers in social service and other non-profit agencies, business, child care as administrators, consultants, human service professionals, and as educators. Some enroll in graduate programs or enroll in law school.
Social Work
The social work major is for students preparing for generalist social work practice. Our program emphasizes client strengths and diversity, and our classes provide an excellent educational environment.
You’ll receive a professional foundation in social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, at-risk populations, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, and social work practice and research. We emphasize field practice and you can choose from a variety of internships, ranging from inner-city to rural environments.
Social work majors are required to complete an internship consisting of 450 hours at one or more agencies over a two-semester period their senior year.
When you graduate, you are licensure eligible and can apply for your Ohio social work license from the National Association of Social Workers. Miami’s program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Because our major is built on a strong liberal arts base, you’ll also be well prepared for graduate school or whatever career path you choose.
You must apply to be a social work major. Download the social work application.
Minors:
Family Relationships Minor (18-19 credit hours)
Required:
FSW 261: Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle (3) or SOC 361/FSW 363: Marriage and the Family (3)
FSW 361: Couple Relationships: Diversity & Change (3)
FSW 365: Family Sexuality Education Across Cultures (3) or SOC/ANT/WMS 221: Human Sexuality (3)
FSW/GTY 466/566: Later Life Families (3)*
Choose two of the following:
FSW 281: Child Development in Diverse Families (4)
FSW 381: Parent-Child Relations in Diverse Families (3)
FSW 475/575: Family Theories (3)*
FSW 481/581: Adolescent Development in Diverse Families (3)
At least 12 hours must be taken in the FSW department. Family Studies majors are not permitted to complete this minor. This minor IS open to Social Work majors. This minor includes the Families and Sexuality Across the Life Course thematic sequence (FSW 3). This minor may also contain the Children and Families thematic sequence (FSW 4) if FSW 281 and FSW 381 are selected. Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have FSW 295 (Research and Evaluation in Social Work and Family Studies) as a prerequisite.
Child Studies Minor (19 credit hours)
Required:
EDP 256: Psychology of Exceptional Learners (3)
FSW 261: Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle (3) or SOC 361/FSW 363: Marriage and the Family (3)
FSW 281: Child Development in Diverse Families (4)
FSW 381: Parent-Child Relations in Diverse Families (3)
FSW 481/581: Adolescent Development in Diverse Families (3)
FSW 494/594: Internship (3)
Family Studies majors are not permitted to complete this minor. This minor IS open to Social Work majors. This minor includes the Children and Families thematic sequence (FSW 4).