Family Studies & Social Work
Thematic Sequences
School of Education, Health, and Society
The Family Studies and Social Word Department offers three thematic sequences. The popular sequences are taken by more than 500 undergraduates annually as part of the Miami Plan for Liberal Education.
Services and Supports for Children, Youth, and Families (FSW1)
Provides experience and opportunities that facilitate an understanding of children, youth, and families, including their needs, problems, aspirations, and strengths.
Objectives:
Students will learn educative, promotive, and preventive services for children, youth, and families.
Students will complete field experiences in social service, educational, and/or health organizations, shadowing professionals in these fields.
Courses (must be taken same academic year):
FSW/PHS 207: Services and Supports for Children, Youth and Families I (4 credits)
Offered fall semester only
FSW/PHS 208: Services and Supports for Children, Youth and Families II (5 credits)
Offered spring semester only
Prerequisite: FSW/PHS 207
Families and Sexuality Across the Life Span (FSW 3)
Provides students with an overview of family topics related to sexuality across the life span. Each of the courses contains a section on sexuality in relationships, beginning with an introduction to the topic, moving to a specific focus on sexuality and pedagogy for conveying sexuality information, and concluding with changes in sexuality in later life relationships.
Objectives:
Students will acquire basic concepts and theoretical understandings of families as systems and the impact of sexuality on families.
Students will develop a sound background in human sexuality across the life span.
Students will develop an understanding of the family relationships of older persons, and review research focusing on family relationships and sexuality in later life.
Courses:
FSW 261: Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle (3 credits) or SOC 361/FSW 363: Marriage and the Family (3 credits)
FSW 365: Family Sexuality Education Across Cultures (3 credits)
FSW/GTY 466/566: Later Life Families (3 credits)
These courses are also part of the family relationships minor
Children in Families (FSW 4)
Explores the historical and comparative roots of families, with particular attention to gender, race, and socio-economic issues.
Objectives:
Students will examine family issues in contemporary society (e.g., child or adolescent development and family differences, as well as change over the life course).
Students will develop an in-depth understanding of at least one important area of individual development (childhood or adolescent) that affects children and contemporary families.
Courses:
FSW 261: Diverse Family Systems Across the Life Cycle (3)
FSW 381: Parent-Child Relations in Diverse Families (3)
FSW 281: Child Development in Diverse Families (4) or FSW 481/581: Adolescent Development in Diverse Families (3)
These courses are also part of the child studies minor.