School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehhs/ldes
About This Program
The International Family Science minor provides a comprehensive understanding of family structures across cultures and how they affect individuals and society. Read more...
Contact Information
- Scott Tobias | stobias4@kent.edu |
330-244-3388 - Speak with an Advisor
Program Delivery
- Delivery:
- In person
- Location:
- Kent Campus*
- Stark Campus*
* International travel to Florence, Italy, required.
Admission Requirements
Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.
To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.500 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Requirements | ||
| HDF 24011 | INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILIES (DIVD) | 3 |
| HDF 34031 | CULTURAL DIVERSITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HELPING PROFESSIONS | 3 |
| HDF 44089 | FAMILIES IN FLORENCE, ITALY: LOVE, PARENTING AND POLICY (DIVG) (ELR) 1 | 3 |
| HDF 45089 | LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES AND OUTCOMES: THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR) 1 | 3 |
| Minor Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG) | ||
| COMMUNICATION IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY | ||
| BRIDGING CROSS-NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE | ||
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE (DIVG) (ELR) | ||
| FAMILY INTERVENTION ACROSS THE LIFESPAN | ||
| BUILDING FAMILY STRENGTHS (WIC) | ||
| PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS | ||
| FAMILY POLICY | ||
| COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT (ELR) | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES | ||
| SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) | ||
| TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL TRAVEL | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES (DIVD) | ||
| SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
- 1
Courses are offered in Florence, Italy, only. Students may substitute other courses offered in Florence, with approval
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Minor GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 2.500 | 2.500 |
- Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
- Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
- Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Describe the field of family science compared to other social sciences.
- Discuss the influences on the modern family from historical and cultural contexts.
- Identify and analyze family policies in the United States and international settings.
- Design research-informed educational programming for families that is preventative in nature for domestic and international settings.
- Compare and contrast social service organizations from domestic and international settings.
- Articulate cultural and socioeconomic differences and the significance of these differences in human development.
Full Description
The International Family Science minor provides students the opportunity to learn about the field of family science as it currently exists in the United States. The knowledge gained from the foundational courses in the minor is then explored in an international setting in Florence, Italy.
In Italy, students have the opportunity to critically assess the differences in how family science is viewed and implemented internationally compared to the United States. During their time in Florence, students will gain deeper cultural competence through experiential learning activities designed to foster critical thinking, mastery of content and self-reflection.