concentration in

Family Science

Sociology

As a family science major at McNeese, you'll have the opportunity to earn recognition as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) by the National Council on Family Relations. Only a limited number of universities in the nation offer this program.

Program Highlights

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

Family Science is offered 100% Online.

Program Overview

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Program overview

Explore More for Family Science Majors

With a diverse student population including recent high school graduates, adult learners and military veterans, McNeese’s sociology degree program in family science provides a dynamic and supportive environment with a variety of learning and career development opportunities.

Financial Aid and Scholarships:

With one of the lowest tuition rates in Louisiana, McNeese also awards almost 80% of undergraduate students with some form of support to help pay for college. Learn more about how to apply from the Office of Financial Aid.

Applied Learning:

Our family science program offers internships with a variety of agencies and organizations that are matched to your interests, career goals and geographic location. At your internship, you’ll have the opportunity to practice your knowledge and skills while developing a professional network in the community you live in. This experience often leads to full-time job offers after graduation.

Highly Qualified Faculty:

With diverse experience and interests, McNeese’s family science faculty members use a variety of methods and techniques to teach about family and child development, including the integration of current research on family functioning, couple relationships and resilience building. Program faculty also present original research at regional and national family science conferences and are active members of professional associations such as the National Council on Family Relations, American Psychological Association, American Sociological Association, Online Learning Consortium and others.

Excellence With a Personal Touch:

Students have the opportunity to bring their research in human development and family studies to the national stage through publications and presentations at professional conferences. Faculty members work one-on-one with students to guide them through the researching process, helping students acquire investigative, analytical, writing and other expert skills, while also giving them the opportunity to network with their peers in the Family Science field.

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Careers and Opportunities

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: