Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

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Family and Consumer Sciences Education

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The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of eleven universities offering fully online graduate programs. Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs. In a multi-institution degree program, you apply, and are admitted at one university; enroll in all your courses at that university; and, graduate or receive a certificate from that university. However, your online courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities.

There is a nationwide shortage of Family and Consumer Sciences teachers. This master's degree in Family Consumer Sciences Education will provide professional education courses (pedagogy) that could contribute to meeting the requirements for teacher certification. The program is a 36-41 credit hour post-baccalaureate program of study which will lead to a master's degree.

If you are not interested in our program but would like to take individual courses, please click on the link for the course catalog to your left. Select "family and consumer sciences teacher education" from the drop-down box to view course titles and descriptions. If you are working towards a degree you may also find courses that would fulfill some of the content area requirements for your state.

To qualify for the master's degree, students must be admitted to the program, take the necessary course work, and meet the master's degree requirements of their admitting/degree granting institution. The program consists of the following:

9 - 3 credit online courses

2 - Practica with variable credit (2-6 credits) depending on certification requirements (can be completed near the student's location)

1 - Student teaching experience with variable credit (6-9 credits) depending on certification requirements (can be completed near the student's location)

1 - Project or thesis with variable credit

The focus of the courses and credits are listed below. The actual course title may vary from institution to institution.

• History and Philosophy of FCS & Career & Tech Ed, 3 credits
• Occupational Programs in FCS, 3 credits
• Exceptional Learners, 3 credits
• Education in a Pluralistic Society [Human Relations - Multicultural Education], 3 credits
• Development of the Adolescent Learner, 3 credits
• Reading in the Content Area, 3 credits
• Instructional/Computer-Based Technology, 3 credits
• FCS Methods I (taken concurrently with a practicum), 3 credits
• FCS Methods II (taken concurrently with a practicum), 3 credits
• Practica (two from 1-3 credits each), (Practica are concurrent with FCS Methods I & II), 2-6 credits
• Student Teaching (10 weeks minimum), 6-9 credits
• Research project/Action based research, 1-3 credits

For further information please refer to the contact information on the partner institution's web sites.

Students will have met the pedagogy requirements for an FCS teaching certificate for most states once they have completed the degree. If they have met the subject matter requirements for their state, they may apply for teacher certification.

Upon successful completion of the Family and Consumer Sciences program the student will be able to:

1. Plan curriculum for teaching
2. Create a physical and psychological environment for learning
3. Engage students in the learning process
4. Examine the relationship of diverse groups and the educational process
5. Analyze the historical and philosophical underpinnings of FCS
6. Assume professional responsibilities
7. Apply research to practice

A Family and Consumer Science teacher (grades 7-12). Students would also be prepared to work in informal educational settings to develop and conduct youth programming.