Overview of the Family Studies Major

The family studies major provides academic linkages across disciplines based in the liberal arts. The major supports the college's emphasis on cross-cultural and experiential learning. In preparation for graduate level work and professional career opportunities, a research course assists students in evaluationg and critiquing the research literature. The core courses introduce students to the field of family studies and explore issues, problems, concerns and roles within the family life span and the varied dimensions of human sexuality and interpersonal experience. Lastly, students explore special topics which focus on the explanation of research and the connections between various disciplines in the study of families.

The major will not be offered past the class of 2011 (see description of concentration, beginning with class of 2012)

Requirements for the Major (10 courses)

Prerequisite Courses
Sociology 121 or 260, and Psychology 125

Recommended Courses
Biology 123 or 243

The major requires completion of 10 courses as follows

  • Introductory course: Family Studies 232;
  • Core courses: Family Studies, 242, 253, 391;
  • Cross-cutural course: choose from
    • On-Campus Options: Political Science 215, Psychology 249, Sociology/Anthropology 128, 236, 239, 242, 249, 261
    • Off-Campus Options Family Studies 263, Psychology 226, or Social Work 256
    • Other Options: Other courses as approved in writing by family studies faculty or department chair
  • Experiential Perspective: (one course or preapproved alternative):
    • Academic Internship: Family Studies 294, Social Work 294, Psychology 294
    • a plan that is not offered as a course but is approved by family studies faculty or the department chair
  • Research methods: (one course) Social Work 274, or Psych 231, or Soc/An 371;
  • Interdisciplinary Electives: (three courses) Choose any three from the following area. (It is not necessary to choose all from one area.)
    • Human Development: Bio 123; Psych 241, 264; Soc/Anth 248
    • Public Policy: Poli Sci 114, 246, 270; Social Work 221, 258
    • Social Problems: Soc/Anth 243, 245, 263, 264

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONCENTRATION (beginning with the class of 2012)

Recommended preparation: courses in social science, biology and statistics

Required Department courses (all 3):

  1. Family Studies 232: Introduction to Family Studies
  2. Family Studies 242: Family Relationships
  3. Family Studies 391: Senior Seminar

These required courses provide a core of knowledge in the discipline that is essential to thinking systematically about family systems and their interactions with society.

Possible electives (choose 2):

  1. FS 130: Families in Film and Literature
  2. FS 253: Human Sexuality
  3. Econ 116: Families, Consumers, Communities
  4. Nurs 130: Family Violence
  5. Psych 241: Developmental Psychology
  6. Poli Sci 270: Family Values
  7. Soc/Anth 248: Sociology of Dying, Death and Bereavement
  8. Soc/Anth 260: Marriage and the Family
  9. SW 221: Social Work and Social Welfare
  10. SW 274: Evaluation of Practice and Programs

These courses allow students to tailor their further knowledge in the discipline to fit a specific application area or to integrate with their major program. Elective courses not on this list may be counted with approval of the Department Chair.

Interdisciplinary coursework

At least one course for the concentration must come from outside the Department of Social Work and Family Studies

Senior capstone experience

This requirement is an academic, credit-bearing experience for seniors. It must be overseen by a St. Olaf faculty member and approved by the Department Chair of Social Work and Family Studies prior to enrollment in the experience. It may be met in several ways:

  1. by a senior year experience (course, independent study, practicum, etc.) in another major (e.g. Psychology, Soc/Anth, pre-med or Women's Studies), as long as the experience focuses on work with families
  2. by credit-bearing experiential learning focused on families (e.g. a half or full credit internship, social work practicum, or nursing clinical)
  3. by a senior-level, credit-bearing independent study or independent research project on family