The Department of Family and Child Sciences (FCS) has about 350 undergraduate and 65 graduate students enrolled each semester. They are served by 16 outstanding research and teaching faculty who create a challenging academic environment.

With increased interest and concern for the welfare of families and by a shortage of family and consumer sciences teachers, professional opportunities abound. Employment also is afforded by industry and not-for-profit, state, and federally funded agencies hiring family and child sciences graduates.

The Department provides an integrated perspective of human development, and understanding of diverse family contexts. All graduates acquire a sound knowledge of both child and family development and the multiple and complex environments in which they interact.

Undergraduate Programs
The Department's Undergraduate Program offers Bachelor of Science degrees in two majors: Family and Child Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences Education. A minor also is offered.

Graduate Programs
The Graduate Program in the Department provides students the opportunity to obtain both Masters of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.

Faculty
An excellent faculty provide students with outstanding learning experiences. Due to a strong commitment to the professional development of students, faculty provide individual academic advising.

Research Facilities
In keeping with the University's role as a research extensive institution, the departmental programs are based on the belief that sound intellectual development relies on an understanding of underlying theories, principles, and concepts in each area of study and that research is an integral part of that endeavor. Both faculty and students are provided opportunities to test theories and generate new knowledge through scholarly contributions to research.

Facilities for research include:

• FSU Family Institute - is a multidisciplinary unit dedicated to promoting the well-being of children and families through research. Project-based teams led by FSU faculty address a variety of challenges faced by families. Current projects include relationship and marriage education, parenting, foster families, homelessness, families and the development of early literacy, and evaluation of family service programs. Research conducted at the Institute is used to inform family policy makers and provides an empirical foundation for its outreach efforts. The Institute also is home to the Florida Inter-University Consortium representing 4 state universities, 2 private universities, and 4 state agencies.

• FSU Center for Marriage and Family Therapy - is a primary resource for cutting edge research addressing the needs of contemporary families. Areas of interest include best practices in relational interventions and understanding family systems in interaction with their environments throughout the life span. Federally funded research includes marital strengthening for families who adopt special needs children. The Center is equipped with computer stations and state-of-the-art digital recording, storage, and retrieval devices, including a play analyzer adapted from professional sports.

In addition, collaborative work with governmental agencies, schools, and private industry provides further research opportunities in non-university settings.

Student Organizations
Students have many opportunities to develop leadership skills in professional settings through participation in the student organizations of the FSU Student Chapter of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFC).