Master's Degree - Option B - certified FCS teachers and professionals
Option B is a 36-credit hour program for professionals already in FCS Education related fields who are seeking professional development and advancement. This online program consists of eight (8) core courses, three (3 elective courses, and a culminating experience.
Core Courses
In this course, students learn procedures for appraisal of individual growth and achievement in all subject areas in family and consumer sciences. Students learn development of evaluative instruments for cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning and interpretation of data in the evaluation of various types of family and consumer sciences programs.
Students learn historical, philosophical, and legislative bases of family and consumer sciences education. Course content includes the role of family and consumer sciences in secondary schools and other educational settings.
This course is about planning and implementing occupational Family and Consumer Sciences programs in career and technical education. Course content includes cooperative education, career pathways, and work-based education.
This course introduces students to the relevance and need for incorporating reading and developing reading skills in middle and high school classrooms. Students in this course learn how to use a variety of materials in the classroom, including textbooks, literature, Internet resources, and media, to help secondary students, grades 8-12, learn family and consumer sciences information.
This course provides an introduction to the elements of designing a research project. It supports students in becoming critical consumers of research and provides strategies for searching for and critiquing literature. It also provides guidance on writing a research proposal.
This course is an introduction to the national student organization Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and its programs. This course is for new advisors and college students enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teacher preparation programs. Topics include history and philosophy of FCCLA, chapter affiliation and governance, educational and service related projects, integrating FCCLA activities with the FCS curriculum, and publicizing and promoting FCCLA.
This course involves the integration of technology in the family and consumer sciences classroom focused on the National Education Technology Standards (NETS).
Choose One
This course focuses on administration as it relates to Family and Consumer Sciences Education programs. Topics include roles and functions of administration, unique characteristics of educational organizations and implications for educational leadership, historical and theoretical perspectives of administrative practices, traditional and contemporary theories of leadership, leadership styles in educational settings, ethics and leadership, leadership processes, and the implications of current issues on educational leadership.
This course will cover the philosophy, responsibilities, and techniques of supervision of student teachers in Family and Consumer Sciences classrooms and other learning environments.
Elective Courses
Development and administration of programs in family and consumer sciences. Emphasis on
professional development, career redirection, and lifelong learning.
This course focuses on the special topic of critical science, both as a theoretical framework and as a practical/rational process for addressing significant and complex problems facing families. Students will explore critical science through reading and discussing published works of scholars, viewing short narrated PowerPoint lectures, and applying principles of critical science to FCSE professional practice and research.
This course focuses on educational practices and policies for people from historically oppressed groups in the U.S. foundations of multicultural education. Students discuss contemporary educational issues within the context of multicultural and cultural diversity and critique curricular materials and resources promoting a multicultural perspective.
In this course, student learn about legal and ethical requirements for educating exceptional learners; identification, referral, and placement procedures; development and use of the Individualized Education Program; strategies for teaching and evaluating; and managing the academic and social behaviors of a range of exceptional and other at-risk learners in the secondary school.
This course allows students to assess how Family and Consumer Science Education professionals can impact family and community issues. Attention will be given to the role of the educator in critically examining these issues through FCS programs.
This course is a study of mental, social, and emotional development of boys and girls during the adolescent period.
In this course, students examine concepts, philosophies, and strategies that influence curricular decisions in Family and Consumer Sciences programs for secondary schools, colleges, universities, and extension programs. Students also examine trends affecting Family and Consumer Sciences programs.
Course description coming soon.
Enhance your career through a wide variety of professional development experiences by utilizing local, state, national and international professional associations. Identify the importance of building a professional network in Family and Consumer Sciences, Home Economics, government, business, and non-profit organizations. Emphasis is given to leadership and professional development, while drawing upon professional and personal experiences at the state, national and international level. This course will help you to identify your leadership style and analyze your leadership potential for building your own network and memorable experiences at the national and international level.
Discover a whole new career path as an Extension Agent!
Students will learn about the historical and philosophical foundations of community-based education and outreach programs with a focus on families, consumers, and producers in society. These community-based education programs are offered through the National Extension Service.
Research/Thesis
Required or elective courses such as creative components, directed studies, practica, research and theses are available through your home university. Consult with your academic advisor about course selection and scheduling.
Program Summary
Cost per credit hour:
2023-2024: $600
2024-2025: $610
Learn more about Tuition and Cost
Average time to complete:
Master's Option A: 23 months
Master's Option B: 23 months
38–41 Hours
36 Hours
University Contact
These campus coordinators can help you navigate Great Plains IDEA. Click on the university name to learn more about how Great Plains IDEA works at that campus.
Bree DevlinStacy Duffield
Rae Ann Montgomery
Sarah (Heewon) Kim
Ashlee Murden
Mel Sedlacek
I was looking for the education I needed to take the next step in my career to a program director or executive director. I spent a lot of time searching for a university and degree that matched my education in community organizing and advocacy and aligned with my interest in families and community services and supports. Finding GP IDEA and reading about the courses and career tracks of those who earned the MA in Family & Community Services, I knew right away that this was the degree and program for me. It has lived up to all I had hoped!