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Department of Family Sciences
Improving the lives of children, adolescents, couples, and families in Kentucky, the nation, and the world through evidence-based education, cutting-edge research, and community engagement.
About Our Programs
Human Development and Family Science is a social science discipline focused on understanding and improving the lives of children, adolescents, and adults. It is unique in its emphasis on the role of interpersonal dynamics and relationships in shaping human development and the human experience.
Courses are focused on adolescent development, hospitalized children and associated play therapy interventions, human and lifecourse developmental theory, interpersonal relationships, family relationships and dynamics, and family interventions, family economics and management, consumer economics and management of resources.
Contact Us
Department of Family Sciences
Patricia Dyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
314 Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
859-218-3309
Undergradute Programs
Human Development & Family Science (B.S.)
This program emphasizes the development and relationships of children, adolescents, and adults across contexts, with a particular emphasis on the family. Course work includes adolescent development, hospitalized children and associated play therapy interventions, human and lifecourse development, interpersonal relationships, family relationships and dynamics, and family interventions, culminating in an applied, community-based senior internship.
Explore the ProgramFamily Financial Counseling (B.S.)
This program empowers students to address consumer and financial issues that impact family economic well-being. Through coursework (including ones focused on family economics and management, consumer economics and management of resources), hands-on experiences, and internships, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of financial literacy, money management, consumer behavior, and financial counseling practices.
Explore the ProgramGraduate Programs
Family Sciences (M.S.)
The program uses an integrative approach to learning about and improving the lives of children, adolescents, and adults, with a focus on relationships. Emphasis areas include: Adolescent Development, Couple and Family Therapy, Family Finance and Economics, and Family Processes.
Explore the ProgramCFT Emphasis (M.S.)
The Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) emphasis program in Family Sciences is designed to educate and train knowledgeable, competent, and ethical practitioners who can treat a broad spectrum of individuals and families using evidence-based techniques.
Explore the ProgramFamily Sciences (Ph.D.)
The doctoral program is a research focused curriculum with training focused on strong foundations in theory, research methods, statistics, as well as teaching opportunities. Emphasis areas include Adolescent Development, Family Finance and Economics, and Family Processes.
Explore the ProgramCertificate Programs
Child Life
The Child Life Certificate prepares students for employment as child life specialists, who work to reduce the negative impact of stressful or traumatic life events and situations that affect the development, health, and well-being of infants, children, youth, and families.
Explore the ProgramFamily Financial Therapy
The Family Financial Therapy Certificate is designed to prepare mental-health clinicians to address issues related to money, including past financial trauma, financial abuse, improving communication around money between spouses, and much more.
Explore the ProgramPlay Therapy
Play therapy has a long tradition as a key therapeutic technique, especially with children. The Play Therapy Certificate is designed to provide mental health professionals with foundational knowledge about the role of play as a therapeutic technique.
Explore the Program
