The Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences code FCS_MA01 offers three emphases:
Consumer Affairs
Family and Consumer Sciences Education
Fashion Merchandising
The Master of Arts degree in Family and Consumer Sciences is designed for students seeking a master's degree, or professional enhancement, or for those wishing to pursue further graduate study. The mission of the program is to educate students to become competent researchers and practitioners who are responsive to the complex and changing needs of diverse families and communities.
The main goal of the graduate program is to provide an opportunity for students to increase competencies and knowledge within their disciplines. In addition, the program gives students opportunities to develop professional leadership and administrative skills. Students are able to work collaboratively with individuals in other disciplines as well as diverse communities to improve the quality of life.
The focus of the curriculum is to promote an understanding of theoretical approaches to the study of the disciplines within the department and the application of theories to enhance the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. All students will get a strong background in research methods. The advanced candidate selects either a thesis track or directed project track to facilitate a selected career path. Students can expect to:
Gain professional leadership and knowledge.
Develop their scholarship and research abilities.
Enhance professional development.
Admission in the MA Program - Criteria
Prospective students must comply with University requirements for admission to the graduate studies program at CSULB as outlined in the CSULB Catalog. Students must concurrently submit applications to the University Admissions and Records Office and to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.
Admission Requirements to the Department Admission to the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences is dependent upon approval by the Graduate Coordinator. The admission requirements are:A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 units of upper division courses in Family & Consumer Sciences.
An undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 undergraduate units attempted.
The applicant must submit the following materials to the Graduate Coordinator of Family and Consumer Sciences:
1. A copy of the completed application submitted to the University Office of Admissions and Records.
2. A minimum score of 900 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections and a minimum score of 4.0 on the Analytical Writing section of the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
3. Official transcripts of the baccalaureate degree.
4. Three letters of recommendation (including at least two from instructors who have direct knowledge of the applicant's scholastic ability and professional qualifications).
5. Additional materials that provide evidence of academic performance may be requested (at a later date after the review of the applicant's file.)These materials are in addition to the copies submitted to the university for graduate admission. They need to be mailed separately to our department:
Department of Family & Consumer Sciences
California State University Long Beach
ATTN: Graduate Assistant
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840-0501
Prerequisites
A bachelor's degree with a major in Family and Consumer Sciences; or a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 24 units of upper division courses in Family and Consumer Sciences unless otherwise stated by the program area.
An undergraduate overall GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 undergraduate units attempted. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate units attempted, but who show promise in all other aspects may be given special consideration after petitioning for admission into the program thorough the Graduate Coordinator.
Students deficient in undergraduate preparation must take courses to remove these deficiencies at the discretion of faculty in the specified subject matter area and the Graduate Coordinator. Course taken to remove deficiencies or raise the GPA may not be included in the graduate program of study.
The student who needs to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must do so within one year of admission.
The student who needs to complete prerequisite deficiencies must do so using a program of study developed with the specialization faculty advisor and approved by the Graduate Coordinator
Students from other disciplines will be required to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling in 500/600 level courses.
Prerequisites for all courses carrying graduate credit must have been completed within seven years of taking the graduate courses. If the prerequisite is outdated, the prerequisite(s) must be repeated or credit obtained by examination.
Entering graduate students will meet with the Graduate Coordinator to prepare a tentative degree program. In order to enroll in any graduate course, the student must complete all prerequisites and deficiencies and must obtain approval from the Graduate Coordinator.
International students and students from other states:
A limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers are available on a competitive basis for new graduate students. Please contact the department graduate coordinator for additional information.
International Students must go through the Center for International Education before applying to our program. Information can be found on their website.
Student Checklist for Completion of FCS Master's Degree
Advising Sheets
Advancement to CandidacyFamily and Consumer Sciences Education
Advancement to Candidacy is the next step after achieving classified status and signifies approval of a plan of study by the student's major department and college. (Definition taken from CSULB Catalog.)
Students must complete the following steps to advance to candidacy before continuing his/her course of graduate study in the second year:Classified Status
Satisfactory completion of the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE). This is satisfied by the required minimum of 4.0 on the Analytical Writing section of the GRE that was required for admission into our program.
Minimum of 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA average in all units undertaken for the approval program of study.
Completed EDP 419, FCS 511, FCS 563, FCS 605, FCS 655A, and FCS 696.
Approval by the Graduate Coordinator of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Requirements for the completion of MA Degree
Completion of a minimum of 34 units of approved upper division and graduate courses with a minimum of 21 units in Family and Consumer Sciences.
Completion of EDP 419 and FCS 511, 563, 605, 655A, 696, 697, 692 or 698, and 9 units of Advisor approved courses in the area of specialization (Fashion Merchandising or Consumer Affairs or FCS Education).
Completion of an oral presentation of the Thesis or Directed Project Report.
Master of Arts Program Specializations
Please refer to relevant programs for specific specializations.
Following are the additional course choices for all Specializations
CDFS 411 Individual Child Study & Guidance
CDFS 412 Family Interaction
CDFS 418 Parent Education
CDFS 419 Family Life Education
NUTR 439 Nutrition & Aging
FCS 502 Child & Family Law
FCS 531 Advanced Community Nutrition
FCS 533 Recent Advances in Food Sciences
FCS 574 Cost Control in Hospitality Food Service & Hotel Management
FCS 597 Independent Study
Directed Project Requirements (FCS 692) MS/MA
* Definition of a Project (Coming soon!)
*Consumer Affairs Requirements (MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Education Requirements (MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
*FMD Requirements (MA) (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Faculty Guidelines (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Nutritional Sciences (MS) (MS Word) (.pdf)
Forms/Publications
* Program of Study MA/MS: (MS Word) (.pdf)
*Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): (MS Word) (.pdf)
