May 01, 2024  
2023-2024 University of Wyoming Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University of Wyoming Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Family and Consumer Sciences - Master of Science


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The master’s program in family and consumer sciences offers three specialized and very different areas of emphasis for a variety of pathways and careers.

General Requirements


All emphasis areas listed below require a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework at the 4000/5000 level. Only nine credit hours of 4000-level courses are allowed in this master’s program. The student may be required to complete more than the minimum credit hours to satisfy prerequisites or because the student’s committee determines additional coursework is required for the student to reach their professional objective.

The student is responsible for meeting all deadlines, submitting all required forms, and for fulfilling all requirements for the degree.

Design, Merchandising and Textiles


This program offers the study of textiles, merchandising of textile and apparel products, various aspects of apparel design and product development including creative and functional design options, and various aspects of interior design.

Student may choose Plan A - Thesis or Plan B - Non-Thesis Project.

An oral defense of thesis or project is required.

Student must complete the following (as approved by the student’s graduate committee):

FCSC 5181 Global Trade and Sourcing for Textile Products

FCSC 5182 Environmental Sustainability in Design, Merchandising and Textiles

AGEC 5650 Communicating Research

8 credit hours from the following courses:

     FCSC 5171 Advanced Textiles and Product Evaluation 

     FCSC 5172 Advanced Textiles and Product Evaluation Lab       

     FCSC 5173 Textile Science Seminar    

     FCSC 5176 Historic Clothing   

     FCSC 5178 Fiber Arts 

     FCSC 5179 Historic Textiles    

     FCSC 5188 Contract Design II 

     FCSC 5288 Professional Practice and Advanced Interiors Studio

     FCSC 4160 Merchandising Strategies and Technology  

     FCSC 4185 Product Development and Technology        

     FCSC 4190 Apparel Collection Development    

6 credit hours of supporting courses from arts, humanities, natural or social sciences

3 credit hours of supporting research courses

4 credit hours of FCSC 5960 Thesis Research

Human Development and Family Sciences


This program is designed for professionals who are currently working in human services fields and would like to further their education. This is an entirely online degree program that allows students to progress at their own pace.

Student may choose Plan A - Thesis or Plan B - Non-Thesis Project.

An oral defense of thesis or project is required.

Student must complete the following (as approved by the student’s graduate committee):

FCSC 5112 Family Decision Making and Resource Management

FCSC 5117 Understanding Community Leadership

FCSC 5118 Family Policy

FCSC 5122 Developmental Contexts Across the Lifespan

FCSC 5135 Program Evaluation

FCSC 5138 Family Stress and Coping

EDRE 5530 Introduction to Research

 OR

EDRE 5550 Action Research

8 credit hours of supporting courses

4 credit hours of FCSC 5960 Thesis Research

Human Nutrition and Food


This program increases the understanding of food and nutritional science and how to apply that knowledge to disease prevention and enhancement of human potential.

Student may choose Plan A - Thesis or Plan B - Non-Thesis Project. An oral defense of thesis or project is required.

Student must complete the following (approved by graduate committee):

18 credit hours of courses from food and nutritional sciences, biological, natural and social sciences 6 credit hours of supporting research courses

2 credit hours of graduate research seminars

4 credit hours of FCSC 5960 Thesis Research

Application and Admission Requirements


Admission to our graduate program and selection for department-funded assistantships is highly competitive. Faculty in each program area will review the applications for their program area and priority consideration will be given to applicants who meet or exceed admission requirements and possess research interests that parallel those of the faculty. Applicants will also be evaluated based on their fit with the identified faculty member and whether the identified faculty member is currently accepting graduate students. Faculty members typically select promising students to interview before final decisions are made.  We do not offer conditional admission.

Application requirements for all applicants:

 

  • A bachelor’s degree based on a four year curriculum from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Transcripts from all institutions attended must be submitted.
  • A statement of purpose (letter of intent) that includes applicant’s reason for seeking this degree; specific research interests; how educational, research, work and/or other experiences have shaped the applicant’s educational and research interests; the faculty member(s) the applicant is interested in working with and how research interests and experiences fit with that mentor.
  • A current professional resume or curriculum vitae.
  • At least 3 letters of recommendation about the applicant’s preparedness and/or qualifications for the desired graduate degree program.

Application requirements for Domestic Applicants:

 

  • Domestic students whose GPA does not meet the basic requirement of 3.0 but who wish to apply based on their extensive experience in the field and/or strong research experience should consider taking the GRE to support their application. A strong background and strong GRE score may offset a GPA that falls slightly below the minimum of 3.0.

 

Application requirements for International Applicants:

  • The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. Successful applicants typically have scores at or above the 50th percentile in analytical writing, and at or above the 50th percentile least in at least one of the verbal or quantitative subsections.

** Rarely the GRE may be waived for international students with extreme extenuating circumstances. These requests will be evaluated by the graduate faculty. If approved, alternative materials will be required. For more information, please contact the department at fam-consci@uwyo.edu.

  • For international students, a minimum TOEFL score of 540 (76 iBT), IELTS score of 6.5, OPIc score of Advanced Mid, or Duolingo score of 105 average of the Conversation and Production sections. Official scores must be submitted.
  • International students must also provide evidence of adequate financial resources.

To ensure full review for fall semester admission, applications must be received no later than March 1. Notification of application decisions will be made by May 1. Applications received at other times of year will be reviewed only if space in the desired program area is available.

Final approval of program entry for an international graduate student receiving an assistantship is contingent upon demonstrated English language oral proficiency.

Financial Support


Financial support is never guaranteed.

 

Graduate assistantships are awarded after applicants are selected for program entry.

 

Graduate assistantships require teaching and/or research. Students awarded an assistantship involving any type of teaching responsibility including labs, lectures, paper grading and interpretation to students are required to successfully complete the mandatory Graduate Teaching and Learning Symposium prior to assuming their duties. The department will define teaching responsibilities prior to the student attending the teaching symposium.

 

A full-time assistantship provides a stipend, health insurance, and a tuition/fee reduction.

 

The stipend is payable in installments over an academic year (September through May).

Health insurance will be paid for the calendar year. Student medical insurance is mandatory for international students.

The tuition/fee reduction will cover up to 9 graduate credit hours of tuition per semester and most mandatory fees. Some incidental fees are the responsibility of the student. Anyone receiving a full-time graduate assistantship must be registered as a full-time student in 9 credit hours per semester.

If a student is awarded less than a full-time assistantship, the stipend, and tuition and fee reduction will be adjusted to the percentage rate of the assistantship.

Graduate students who receive a full assistantship are required to work an average of 20 hours per week for the stipend.

Renewal of a graduate assistantship is contingent on acceptable progress towards degree completion and maintenance of a grade point average of 3.0 or above.

Financial support is not given for more than two academic years.

 

 

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