Careers in Family Studies: What can I do with this degree



Careers in Family Science: What can I do with this degree?

Department of Family Science

University of Maryland, College Park

|Professional Area/ |Employers |Strategies |

|Job Titles | | |

|Social and Human Services |Government, non-profit and for-profit agencies |Take counseling, therapy, psychology, or social |

| |designed to serve children, youth, families, seniors,|work courses; and courses in specific populations |

|Case manager |and communities |of interest (e.g., aging). |

|Community organizer |Child welfare/foster care and adoption agencies |Pursue master’s degree if goal is be a counselor, |

|Counselor |Maternal health agencies |social worker, or psychotherapist. |

|Family support worker |Hospitals, home health, long-term care agencies |Learn federal, state and local government job |

|Activity/recreation director |Military family support services |application process; apply early because the |

|Administrator |Juvenile service agencies |process is quite lengthy. |

|Advocate |Substance abuse prevention programs |Select an internship in an area in which you |

|Grant writer |Criminal justice settings |aspire to work. |

|Development officer |Domestic violence shelters |Volunteer in SPH’s Center on Young Adult Health |

|Researcher |Child and adult protective services |and Development () |

| |Peace Corps |if interested in young adults. |

| |Senior day program centers |Volunteer or earn credit working with children in |

| |Offices of aging |SPH’s Children’s Developmental Clinic. Call Paul |

| |Vocational rehabilitation/job training agencies |Hahn, Director, at 301-322-0519 for more |

| |Research institutes |information. |

|Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Social Work |All of the above, at MFT and MSW levels |Take electives such as: FMSC 485 Intro to Family |

|(MSW) |Social service agencies (public and private) |Therapy; FMSC 460 Violence in Families; FMSC 498M |

| |Mental health centers |Family Mediation; and FMSC 498S Sexuality: Issues |

|All of the above, at MFT or MSW licensed level |Schools |in Family Therapy and Service Delivery. |

|Psychotherapist with individuals, couples, |Hospitals, clinics, hospice |Do an internship with a supervisor who holds the |

|families, and groups |Child welfare agencies |degree you seek. |

|Clinical case manager |Adoption agencies |Pursue a graduate degree. |

|Psychosocial skills trainer |Policy and advocacy organizations |Get research experience. |

|Supervisor/manager of therapy/treatment program |Employee Assistance Programs |Advocate for policies that support well-being and |

|Program developer |Private practice |quality of life for all, especially vulnerable |

|Researcher | |populations. |

|Program evaluator | |Participate in programs that emphasize client |

| | |empowerment. |

|Community Services |Community centers |Gain relevant experience as an intern, part time |

| |YWCA, YMCA |employee or volunteer. |

|Counselor |Summer camp programs |Visit model programs that interest you. |

|Parent educator |Clubs and classes for children |Develop wide range of skills in the arts, sports, |

|Youth development worker |Programs for people with special needs |activity leading, and workshop leading. |

|Sexuality educator |Family support centers |Investigate positive youth development models. |

|Crisis/hotline worker |Parenting education programs | |

|Program administrator/director |Cooperative Extension | |

|Grant-writer |Local governments | |

|Development officer |Jobs programs | |

|Program evaluator and researcher (MA/MSW or PhD) |Churches/synagogues/faith-based organizations | |

|Clergy, pastoral care | | |

|Education | | |

| |Child care centers |Gain experience working with children and |

|Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) |Child development centers |adolescents via internships, part-time work, and |

|Teacher – preschool (BA), high school (BA with |Head Start programs |volunteering in community or religious settings. |

|certification), or higher education (MA/MS or PhD)|Family daycare |Consciously apply child development knowledge. |

|Administrator |After school tutoring/social-emotional skills |Pursue certification in early childhood education,|

|Advocate/policy analyst |programs |high school teaching (child development, family |

|After school program director |School-based programs |and consumer sciences), or daycare licensure. |

|Program evaluator |Parenting, family life education, and outreach |Pursue provisional Certified Family Life Educator |

|Curriculum developer |programs |(CFLE) status; and take courses in 10 specified |

|School counselor (MA/MS) |Marriage and family enrichment programs |content areas (see ). |

|Family support counselor for parents of children |Cooperative Extension |Explore state funded one-year MA/MS training and |

|with special needs |Health and wellness prevention settings |certification programs for teachers. |

|Family resource coordinator |Americorps/Peace Corps | |

|Educational researcher (PhD) |Religious institutions | |

|Policy |At all levels of government: Departments of Health, |Pursue a relevant internship. |

| |Education, Human Services, Nutrition, Occupational |Take electives such as: FMSC487 Legal Aspects of |

|Family policy analyst |and Human Safety, Immigration Services, etc. |Family ProblemsRead and discuss the news regarding|

|Researcher |Nonprofit child/family research/advocacy |legislation and social program funding. |

|Lobbyist/advocate |organizations |Develop your own opinions and become familiar with|

|Legislator |Policy “think tanks” |the arguments used for and against governmental |

| |State legislature |social programs. |

| |International organizations |Work with someone in public office to become |

| |Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) |familiar with the impact of social and family |

| |Human rights organizations |policies on constituents. |

| | | |

|Professional Area/ |Employers |Strategies |

|Job Titles | | |

|Law |Divorce/other mediation programs |Take courses such as: FMSC 487 Legal Aspects of |

| |Domestic violence organizations |Family Problems; FMSC 497 The Child and the Law; |

|Lawyer (J.D.)/graduate degree |Child & Adult Protective Services, legal |and FMSC 498M Family Mediation. |

|Advocate, child/family |representation |Work as a volunteer in the courts: advocate for |

|Lobbyist |Victim/witness support services |victims of domestic violence, guardian for person |

|Politician |Legal aide agencies |with developmental disabilities, mediation |

|Mediator |Lawyers’ office |programs, and family support. |

|Policy analyst |District attorney’s office |Participate in university mock trial and debate |

|Researcher |Capitol Hill |teams. |

| |Legislative advocacy groups |Gain experience in public speaking, e.g., |

| |Senate or House of Representatives |toastmasters. |

| |Consumer safety organizations |Pursue a law degree. |

|Communications and Business |Human resources departments or firms |Take courses in work and family, personal finance,|

| |Public relations departments |business, mediation, and organizational |

|Human resource specialist |Development offices |psychology. |

|Employee assistance specialist |Your start-up business |Attend workshops on starting your own business. |

|Corporate work and family director |Corporate daycare |Seek an internship relevant to your interests. |

|Family financial counselor |Manufacturing industry – products for children and |Develop accounting, statistics, and computer |

|Consumer protection specialist |families |database skills. |

|Public relations director |Newspapers/magazines |Develop public speaking skills. |

|Sales and marketing specialist |Consumer service departments/agencies |Develop written communication skills; submit work |

|Family business consultant |Financial agencies |for publication. |

|Real estate agent |Marketing research agencies |Work with a promotional campaign on campus. |

|Consultant | | |

|Writer/editor/journalist | | |

|Consumer researcher | | |

|Market researcher | | |

|Entrepreneur | | |

|Public Health |Community-based health organizations |Take elective courses in Public and Community |

| |Hospitals & clinics |Health |

|Health Program manager |Managed care organizations & Insurance companies |Take courses in specific populations of interest |

|Communications specialist |Pharmaceutical & medical supply companies  |Select an internship in a public health area in |

|Community organizer |Professional & advocacy organizations |which you aspire to work. |

|Community educator |Federal, state, and local government agencies |Pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH). |

|Researcher |Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) |Learn federal, state and local government job |

|Reproductive health specialist |Business & industry |application process; apply early. |

|Laboratory assistant |Schools, Colleges & Universities |Volunteer at a public health agency (e.g., |

|Policy analyst |Community-based health organizations |Planned Parenthood, March of Dines, Red Cross) |

|Health advocate | |Develop your own opinions and become familiar with|

| | |the arguments used for and against governmental |

| | |public health programs. |

| | |Explore the Association of Schools of Public |

| | |Health website ( ) |

| | |Attend lectures in state, national, and global |

| | |health issues |

General strategies:

• Visit work sites of interest and talk with people in the field you are exploring; conduct informational interviews; complete a career mapping exercise.

• Search for information about individual occupations, including the nature of the work and the earnings potential on the website of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics at oco/oco1002.htm.

• Seek out undergraduate research experiences.

• Gain internship and/or volunteer experience working with the populations of interest and with programs serving families, individuals, and children.

• Participate in the Maryland Council on Family Relations (MCFR), its mentoring program, and service projects.

• Consider adding a minor to expand your range of marketable skills.

• Keep a portfolio of your best academic work.

• Work on public speaking and presentation skills; develop written communication skills.

• Accept leadership role in clubs, organizations, or religious settings.

• Get to know people from cultures different than your own.

• Travel abroad to gain first hand exposure to other cultures; learn a second language.

• Don’t discount any of your experiences – look for the ways in which these experiences helped you understand and work more effectively with people, or that they sensitized you to important family issues.

• Pay attention to the news, policies, program initiatives, and public opinion. Develop you own informed opinions about issues affecting families and children.

• Think of the end goal and identify small steps you will need to take to get there.

• Visit your academic advisor often to discuss your career plans and preparation.

Examples of Professional Organizations

Relevant to Family Science Students

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)

National Mental Health Association (NMHA)

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA)

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

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