In addition to the courses of instruction required for the successful completion of the Ph.D. degree in family studies, there is a service-
learning component that is very important in the student's professional formation in the field. This component of the program includes 300 hours of internship experience—which requires direct involvement in teaching, research, or the provision of family services through an organization that serves the needs of families. The internship is designed to provide learning experiences consistent with the student's career interests or goals. Teaching experiences are expected to be at the tertiary educational level in areas of family life or family services. A research internship will consist of active immersion in the research process, leading to the submission of at least one paper for publication. A family service internship may include activities such as program planning, service delivery, grant writing, program evaluation, and/or other related activities. This experience is designed to create sensitivities to family needs, provide practical experience in family life programming, and give students a competitive edge in the work world. Upon approval from the program director in the student's department, this learning experience may be completed at two different sites.
In addition, the mission of the University and of the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences extends to a global outreach. For this reason, students are encouraged to participate in department and School of Behavioral Health study opportunities that support their high-impact, increased understanding of global cultures locally and in other parts of the world. Students complete their internship locally. (See also CFSG 584 Global Practice Experience. Enrollment requires department approval.)
Learning outcomes
1. Students will have professional identity as doctoral-level family scientists.
2. Students will be grounded in the theoretical and philosophical foundations of the field of family science and be conversant with the ongoing developments in family theories.
3. Students will be able to critique and evaluate the current and ongoing issues in the field of human development and family studies. 4. Students will be conversant with legal and ethical issues as a family
scientist in the areas of teaching, research, and service. 5. Students will become adept in family service practice skills. 6. Students will contribute to the body of knowledge in family social
science.
7. Students will have sophisticated knowledge and skills as researchers in the field of family science.
Approval and certification
The Ph.D. degree in family studies has been reviewed by the National Council on Family Relations. It has been recognized as an NCFR CFLE- approved program offering course work covering the content required for the certified family llfe educator (CFLE) designation. Graduates of NCFR CFLE-approved programs qualify to apply for the CFLE designation via an abbreviated application process.
Admissions
Applicants must meet Loma Linda University (p. 24) and School of Behavioral Health (p. 156) admissions requirements; and give evidence of academic ability, professional comportment, and mature judgment. Admission to the Ph.D. degree curriculum in family studies remains competitive. Each year, only a small number of applicants will be admitted. If accepted, students are expected to begin their studies in the
Autumn Quarter; but they may petition the department to begin at another quarter of the academic year. The requirements for admission include:
• Successful completion of a bachelor's or master's degree in any field. • Minimum G.P.A. of 3.3 in an undergraduate degree or graduate
degree
• Competitive GRE scores • Personal essay
• Formal interview with department faculty
• Successful completion of an undergraduate course in statistics The final decision for admission to the Ph.D. degree curriculum is based on a comprehensive assessment of academic history (G.P.A.), GRE scores, performance at the interview, and letters of reference. The final decision on admission is made by the dean of the School of Behavioral Health.
Students with a B.A. degree in family studies or a related field may also apply for admission to the combined degrees M.A./Ph.D. in family studies curriculum.
Pre-entrance clearance (p. 25): • A background check • Health clearance
Program requirements
The curriculum for the Ph.D. degree in family studies includes 98 units of course work and may be completed in three-to-four years of full-time, post-master's study. Students who do not have a solid grounding in family science will be offered a number of co-requisite courses necessary for building a foundation for later advanced courses. These include: MFAM 515, MFAM 553, MFAM 674, MFAM 547, MFAM 604, and MFAM 528.
Major
FMST 504 Advanced Family Studies 4
FMST 515 Professional Issues in Family Life Education 3 FMST 518 Advanced Theories in Child Development 3
FMST 519 Teaching in Higher Education 2
FMST 524 Family Resource Management 2
FMST 526 Marriage and the Family 3
FMST 528 Parenting 2
FMST 529 Family Life Education 3
FMST 684 Doctoral Seminar 1
Concentration 1
See options below 12
Religion
RELE 5__ Graduate-level Ethics 3
RELR 535 Spirituality and Mental Health 3
RELT 615 Seminar in Philosophy of Religion 3 Research
FMST 601 Statistics I 4
FMST 602 Statistics II 4
FMST 603 Statistics III 4
FMST 604 Advanced Qualitative Methods 4
FMST 605 Advanced Quantitative Methods 4
FMST 668 Qualitative Research Practicum 2
FMST 699 Dissertation Research 20
Electives 2
Elective 6
Internship
FMST 695 Internship in Family Studies 3
Total Units 98
1
Twelve units of concentration in an area agreed upon in consultation with program coordinator and approved by the doctoral committee. This concentration will serve to add breadth to student's work and augment their preparation for interests in research or career.
2
Units may be chosen from among various courses offered by the department, or from other depatments, depending on professional interest or need
Concentrations
All students in the doctoral program must declare a concentration, which will include 12 units of course work in a specific area that gives depth and breadth to their work and informs their future academic or career interest. Three concentrations are offered by the Department of Counseling and Family Sciences: family, systems, and health; school consultation; and systems consultation and professional relations. Students who wish to do another concentration may petition the department faculty through the program director for variance.