College of Education Health and Human Services
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

• Program Coordinator: Scott Tobias | stobias4@kent.edu | 330-244-3388
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus

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

¹

Courses are offered in Florence, Italy, only. Students may substitute other courses offered in Florence, with approval

Graduation Requirements

• 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:

1. Describe the field of family science compared to other social sciences. 
2. Discuss the influences on the modern family from historical and cultural contexts.
3. Identify and analyze family policies in the United States and international settings.
4. Design research-informed educational programming for families that is preventative in nature for domestic and international settings.
5. Compare and contrast social service organizations from domestic and international settings.
6. 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.