What is Family Science?
Family Science is the area of social science that focuses on the development, conflict management, and formation and maintenance of relationships, especially in the family setting. As a family sciences major at McNeese State University in Louisiana, you will learn all the skills you need to help families – including nuclear, single-parent, childless, extended and more – develop and grow in a variety of circumstances and settings.
Our family science degree curriculum is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), meaning that our family science majors are eligible for professional certification as Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE) without having to take the CFLE exam or complete extra coursework. This professional credential is recognized throughout the U.S. and Canada and provides an advantage when seeking jobs in family life education and related fields.
Earn your family science degree online
All courses in the family science degree program are also offered 100% online, which allows our students flexibility in where, when and how they study. Instead of the traditional 15-week courses held on campus, online courses are offered in 7-week sessions during the fall and spring semesters and a 6-week session in the summer, allowing our family science majors to earn their degrees even faster.
At a Glance
Degree Type: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Degree Program: Sociology
Program Length: 4 years (120 credit hours)
Availability: online
What Can You Do with a Family Science Degree?
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology concentrating in family science, you'll have a wide variety of family science career opportunities, especially with the Family Life Educator credential. You can qualify to work in health care, education, military and government service settings, family law and corrections, public policy and more.
Graduate Schools or Programs
- Master of Arts in Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis
- Master of Arts in Family Science and Human Development
- Master of Science in Human Ecology
- Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy
Potential Job Titles or Employers
- Case Worker or Manager
- Child Forensic Interviewer
- Child Protective Agency Investigator
- Child Welfare Specialist
- Early Childhood Intervention Service Provider
- Family Support Coordinator
- Military Family Support and Advocacy Service Coordinator
Service Learning
As a family science major, you can lead a full-scale service-learning project, from conducting a needs assessment to evaluating the results. Service-learning projects provide additional opportunities to apply the knowledge you’ve gained in the classroom to real-world contexts and make an impact on the community.
Student Activities
In addition to student organizations and clubs on campus, you’ll be encouraged to join the National Council on Family Relations and attend its annual conferences to stay up to date with the latest academic methodologies, practical applications and research discoveries, as well as develop professional connections, receive mentoring and learn about funding opportunities.
National Council on Family Relations
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is the premier family science professional organization, offering support, resources, training and networking opportunities to its members. These include:
- Upcoming and on-demand webinar recordings
- The NCFR Report, a member magazine with family-focused articles
- A jobs center that lists family-field job openings
Programs Related to the Concentration in Family Science
Program Contact
Dr. Gregory Clark – Department Head
clark@mcneese.edu