University Catalog 2023-2024

Youth, Family, & Community Sciences

The Youth, Family & Community Sciences Program provides graduate study for current and emerging professionals in family life education, parent education, family life coaching, youth development, volunteer management, and community-based youth and family programs, or related careers. The demand for professionals to teach, administer, and create support systems for children, youth and families is increasing through Cooperative Extension programs, government agencies and initiatives, community-based non-profits, court systems, prisons, social service organizations, health care agencies/organizations, and schools.

More information on our programs can be found on our website.

Admission Requirements

Students apply through NC State via the normal Graduate School admissions procedures; applications are reviewed on Nov.1 and July 1. All application materials must be submitted electronically (online); mailed or faxed materials are not accepted. Only complete applications are reviewed. In addition to all Graduate School admission requirements, the Department requires three academic references, a personal statement of current/future career goals including how this program will help you reach your goals, and a 500-800 word academic writing sample that answers the following prompt: What is the role of family science in a diverse society? The Graduate School requires a 3.00 average (4.00 scale) in the undergraduate program. The most qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum grade point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, circumstances, or interests.

Master’s Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Youth, Family, and Community Sciences (M.S.) requires 36 hours culminating in a final oral examination and thesis approved by the student’s graduate committee. The Master of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences (M.R.) is a non-thesis degree that requires a total of 30 credit hours culminating in a capstone supervised professional experience. Both degree programs are built upon foundations of theory and application composed of four focus areas: (1) foundations of family life and youth development, (2) professional development and leadership, (3) research and methodological inquiry, and (4) content area concentration.

Student Financial Support

No financial aid/assistantships are available directly from the Department. Financial aid is available from the NC State Office of Financial Aid and on a competitive basis from the NC State Graduate School. Students seeking financial aid should contact the NC State Financial Aid Office directly.

Other Relevant Information

Distance course delivery methods include: totally asynchronous web- based classes, and synchronous Internet based classes. The M.R. and M.S. programs may be successfully completed totally via distance.

Faculty

Department Head

  • Ben Chapman

Directors

  • Joseph Donaldson, Director of Undergraduate Programs
  • Annie Hardison-Moody, Director of Graduate Programs

Full Professors

  • Carolyn Bird
  • Ben Chapman
  • Carolyn Dunn, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor
  • Jay Jayaratne
  • Sarah Kirby
  • Travis Park
  • Michael Schulman, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor
  • Benjamin Silliman

Associate Professors

  • Dara Bloom
  • Jackie Bruce
  • Joseph Donaldson
  • Harriett C. Edwards
  • Annie Hardison-Moody
  • Wendy J. Warner

Assistant Professors

  • Jamie Alexander
  • Basheerah Enahora
  • Maru Gonzalez
  • Misty Lambert
  • Katherine McKee
  • Joy Morgan
  • Catherine Elizabeth Sanders
  • Sudha Sankar
  • Virginia Stage

Adjunct Faculty

  • Amber Beseli
  • Mitzi Downing
  • Autumn Guin
  • Rhonda Sutton