MFSHS - Human Development and Family Science (MS)

The M.S. degree in Couple and Family Therapy requires 60 semester hours of graduate work. Most students complete the program in three years. Students have up to five years to complete the program.

The coursework only option for this program does not require a culminating experience.

CFT885 requires 12-15 credits.

Complete, with committee approval, a thesis (requiring 6 hours of CFT 899) and pass an oral examination with emphasis on the written document.

Students who choose to complete the coursework only option are required to complete 3 elective credit hours.

• Accumulate 400 client contact hours and 100 hours of supervision.

• Pass a comprehensive written examination on couple and family therapy

The candidate must select his/her major professor and one other member of his/her committee from the Early Childhood Education area. The committee will be responsible for the development of a course of study with the candidate and for approving a choice of practicum and the preparation of the written report.

The academic performance of the student in the Early Childhood Education specialization will be reviewed by the student’s committee after he/she has completed at least twelve (12) hours of graduate study. 

Students considering the thesis option should enroll in additional research and/or statistics courses in consultation with their major professor.

To complete the program, the master’s candidate must have:

1. Thirty (30) graduate hours of coursework approved by their committee.

2. Experience working with children. The candidate can fulfill this requirement with coursework in one of the following:

   • Practicum in Early Childhood Education (course). Enrollment for 3 credits is required.

   • Practicum in Parent Education (course). Enrollment for 3 credits is required.

   • Research in FSHS (Thesis or Report or Article (course). Enrollment for 2 credits (Report or Article) for 6 credits (Thesis) is required.

3. A comprehensive examination or a written document which may take one of three forms:

   1. Thesis - an empirical study with a comprehensive review of the literature and conforming to specifications set by the university. Enrollment in course for 6 credits is required.

   2. An article prepared for submission to a scholarly journal (research or expository). Enrollment in course for 2 credits is required.

   3. Report, e.g., curriculum teacher guide, survey, parent handbook, assessment instruments. Enrollment in course for 2 credits is required.

4. The candidate must have an oral defense of the document or of the comprehensive examination.

Thesis - an empirical study with a comprehensive review of the literature and conforming to specifications set by the university. 

Enrollment in ECED 899 for 6 credits is required.

1. An article prepared for submission to a scholarly journal (research or expository). Enrollment in ECED 899 for 2 credits is required.

2. Report, e.g., curriculum teacher guide, survey, parent handbook, assessment instruments. Enrollment in ECED 899 for 2 credits is required.

The following courses are required for all Family and Community Services Students at all IDEA Campuses:

HDFS 881: 3 credit hours required.

Students interested in this option with questions about program requirements or curriculum should contact:

Alisha M. Hardman, Ph.D., CFLE
Associate Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator
Human Development & Family Science 

School of Human Sciences
316 Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
ahardman@ksu.edu 

Students interested in this option with questions about admissions should contact: 

Ajay Thompson
Program Contact
School of Human Sciences
245G Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
thompstonaj@ksu.edu   

CNRES752 required if on the Conflict Resolution track.

• Elective Credits: 3

HFDS 899: 6 credit hours required

The coursework only option for this program does not require a culminating experience.