Course planning & Electives

NOTE: Credits taken as a non-degree student AND credits taken at the U of M before being admitted to the M.Ed. program must not exceed ten credits and must be less than ten years old.

Courses are offered entirely online according to the schedules below.

Course Descriptions

FSoS 5937—Parent-Child Interaction (3 credits) -offered in Fall and Spring

Students will examine the dynamic, reciprocal nature of parent-child interactions across the lifespan through multidisciplinary and diverse research, theories and practices. Emphasis will be given to the bidirectional impact of parent-child interactions on the parent-child relationship and on parents’ and children’s development within complex family, community, cultural and other socio-ecological contexts. Students will continue to reflect and grow in their understanding of the professional role and competencies of a parent educator and learning activities will focus on practical application to both personal lives and professional work with families.   

FSoS 5942—Diverse Family Experiences (3 credits) -offered in Fall and Spring

Students will examine diverse experiences of families and their relevance to parent education and to the professional development of parent educators. Research and theoretical knowledge are woven together with observation and personal reflection to create a strength-based approach to both families and professional development. 

FSoS 5944—Curricular Design in Parent Education (3 credits) -offered in Fall

Students will develop the skills to adapt and design curricular resources and teaching strategies for effective parent education with diverse families across multiple contexts. Students will develop competence in conducting needs assessment, identifying content, discerning teaching methods, and designing lesson plans. As they develop their own philosophy of practice, students will study the history and evolution of parent education in Minnesota and across the U.S. 

FSoS 5945—Teaching and Learning in Parent Education (3 credits) -offered in Fall

Students will examine adult, adolescent, and parent learning and development from the perspective of their relevance for parent education. Students will select, use, and reflect on group and individual parent education teaching strategies and facilitation processes designed to meet the needs of diverse populations of adult learners. Critical reflection, ethical practices, and other parent educator competencies related to teaching methods and processes will be addressed. Personal professional development will be facilitated through challenging assumptions and examining the knowledge and competencies required for parent educators. 

FSoS 5946—Assessment and Evaluation in Parent Education (3 credits) -offered in Spring

Students will be introduced to theory, terminology, issues, and approaches in assessment and evaluation and apply this knowledge to the tasks of monitoring parent education program performance, assessing parent education program quality, and measuring parent learning and development.

FSoS 5949—Student Teaching in Parent Education (3 credits) -offered in Spring

Students will participate in mentored and supervised parent education practice designed to meet individual student needs and interests in parent education. The student teaching assignment is supplemented with online discussions and chats intended to provide students an opportunity to engage in discussion, reflection, and cooperative learning with regard to the practice of parent education. Prerequisite: All child development and parent education courses except 5946 must be completed prior to beginning student teaching. Students must have achieved a minimum grade of a C and have no incompletes in FSoS 5937, 5942, 5944, 5945 and CPSY 5301 before student teaching placement can be finalized. 

Track your licensure progress in APAS.

 M.Ed Elective course options in Family, Children, and/or Youth

• M.Ed. students who are not pursuing licensure will choose fifteen credits selected from existing UMN courses in consultation with their academic advisor to create a supporting focus which will support development of career goals. Students who are pursuing an M.Ed. with licensure will choose five credits. 

• FSoS 5949--Student Teaching in Parent Education (3 credits) offered in the spring semester is recommended as a supporting program class for M.Ed. students. Applications for student teaching placement are due the September before student teaching.  

• Courses in this category may be found in a range of departments across the University. Examples of departments that offer courses that focus on family, children, and/or youth include:

  • • • • Department of Family Social Science (FSoS)

        • School of Social Work (SW) including Youth Studies (YoSt) 

        • Institute of Child Development, Child Psychology (CPsy) 

        • Center for Spirituality and Healing (CSPH)

        • Educational Psychology (EPSY)

        • Curriculum and Instruction (CI)

        • School of Public Affairs (PA) 

        • School of Public Health (PubH) 

        • Human Sexuality (HSEX)

        • Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies (GWSS)

• Choose from one or more categories to create a 15 credit supporting program. 

• Resident students may choose in-person supporting program courses id they would like an on campus experience.

• Tuition for non-resident students is affected if they register for an on-campus course! 

Student Perspectives on Course Offerings

This document was created by Family Education students to share their experiences with courses to help provide perspectives for elective course selections. This list is not exhaustive and is subject to changes. 

Supporting Program Examples. Course offerings may change. Please check the Schedule Builder website for up-to-date information.

Supporting focus in Child Development

• CPSY 4303 - Adolescent Psychology ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CPSY 5252 - Facilitating Social and Emotional Learning in Early Childhood Education ( 3 credits ) - Spring in-person sections available only

• CPSY 5261 - Early Learning in Infancy and Toddlerhood ( 3 credits) - Summer online sections available only

• CPSY 5301 - Advanced Developmental Psychology ( 3 credits) - Summer online sections available only

• CPSY 5302 - Cognitive and Biological Development ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• CPSY 5303 - Social and Emotional Development ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available, pre-requisite CPSY 5301. Non-ICD students that have not taken the pre-requisite course CPSY 5301 should email Megan Troje at mtroje@umn.edu for registration consideration

• CPSY 5304 - Research Methods in Applied Child and Adolescent Development ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CPSY 5306 - Ethics and Professionalism in Applied Child and Adolescent Development ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CPSY 5503 - Development and Psychopathology in Early Childhood ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available, pre-requisite CPSY 5301. Non-ICD students that have not taken the pre-requisite course CPSY 5301 should email Megan Troje at mtroje@umn.edu for registration consideration

• EPSY 5625 - Education of Infants, Toddlers and Preschool Children with Disabilities ( 2 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

 Supporting focus on Educational Processes

• CI 5156 - Popular Culture, Teaching and Learning ( 3 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• CI 5303 - Technology for Teaching and Learning ( 2 credits) - Summer online sections may be available

• CI 5351 - Tech Tools for Educators ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CI 5361 - Teaching and Learning with the Internet ( 2 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CI 5404 - Multicultural Literature for Children and Adolescents ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CI 5442 - Adolescent Literature, Youth Activism, and Climate Change Literacy ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5101 - Intelligence and Creativity ( 3 credits) - Fall and spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5116 - Education of the Gifted and Talented ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5151 - Cooperative Learning ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5221 - Principles of Educational and Psychological Measurement ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation ( 3 credits) - Spring, Summer (May session) and Fall online sections may be available

• EPSY 5661 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• EPSY 5625 - Education of Infants, Toddlers and Preschool Children with Disabilities: Introduction ( 3 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

• OLPD 5080 - Special Topics: Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• OLPD 5132 - Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• OLPD 5201 - Strategies for Teaching Adults ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• OLPD 5202 - Perspectives of Adult Learning and Development ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• OLPD 5204 - Designing the Adult Education program ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

 Supporting focus on Public Affairs

• GWSS 4415- Transnational Body Politics ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• PA 4101 - Nonprofit Management and Governance (3 credits) - Fall remote sections may be available

• PA 5054 - Program Design and Implementation ( 2 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• PA 5190 - Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership ( 1.5 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• PA 5311 - Program Evaluation ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• PA 5920 - Skills Workshop ( 2-3 credits) - Summer online sections may be available

• PA 5927 - Effective Grant-Writing for Nonprofit Organizations ( 1.5 credits) - Spring (first half of term) online (synchronous) sections may be available

• PA 5963 - Tribal-State Relations Workshop (.5 credits) - Fall online sections may be available 

• PubH 3955 - Using Policy to Promote Healthy Eating and Activity ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available. Undergrad 

• PubH 6020 - Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science ( 2 credits) - Fall online sections may be available. Requirements: PubH: PubH or Hlth Jour student

• PubH 6242 - Cultural Humility with American Indian Populations ( 2 credits) - Spring online (synchronous) sections may be available

• PubH 6243 - American Indian Research, Evaluation and Collaborations ( 2 credits) - Spring online (synchronous) sections may be available

• PubH 6602 - Global Maternal and Child Health ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• PubH 6606 - Children's Health: Life Course and Equity Perspectives ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

 Supporting focus on Spirituality, Healing and Wellness

• CSPH 4311 - Foundations of Hatha Yoga: Alignment and Movement Principles ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 4313 - Hatha Yoga Teaching Principles and Methodology ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available, pre-requisite CSPH 4311

• CSPH 5101 - Overview of Whole Health Models of Care & Integrative Practices ( 3 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5102 - Art of Healing: Self as Healer ( 1 credit) - On campus

• CSPH 5118 - Whole Person, Whole Community: The Reciprocity of Wellbeing ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5212 - Peace-building Through Mindfulness: Transformative Dialogue in the Global Community ( 3 credits) - Spring (second half of term) online sections may be available

• CSPH 5225 - Meditation: Integrating Body and Mind ( 2 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5305 - Integrative Mental Health ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• CSPH 5317 - Yoga: Ethics, Spirituality, & Healing ( 2 credits) - Fall (first half of semester), Spring (first half of semester, and Summer online sessions may be available

• CSPH 5642 - Nature Heals: An Introduction to Nature-Based Therapeutics ( 2 credits) - Spring (first half of term) and Fall (second half of term) online sections may be available. Student recommended

• CSPH 5708 - Intersectional Perspectives in DEI, Mental Health, and Trauma-Informed Care ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• CSPH 5805 - Wellbeing in the Workplace ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5807 - Mindfulness in the Workplace: Pause, Practice, Perform ( 2 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

 Supporting focus for working with Diverse Families

• CSPH 5118 - Whole Person, Whole Community: The Reciprocity of Wellbeing ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• FSOS 4107 - Traumatic Stress and Resilience in Vulnerable Families Across the Lifespan ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall in-person sections may be available

• FSOS 4108 - Understanding and Working with Immigrants and Refugee Families ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• EPSY 5135 - Human Relations Workshop ( 4 credits) - Summer (May term) and Fall online sections may be available

• OLPD 5132 - Intercultural Education and Training: Theory and Application ( 3 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• OLPD 5211 - Introduction to the Undereducated Adult ( 1 credit) - Spring and Summer online sections may be available

• PA 5451 - Immigration, Health and Public Policy ( 3 credits) - Spring and Fall online sections may be available

• PubH 6242 - Cultural Humility with American Indian Populations ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• PubH 6243 - American Indian Research, Evaluation and Collaborations ( 2 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• SW 5913 - Working with Immigrant Populations ( 2 credits) - Summer online sections may be available

 Supporting focus on Sexuality

• FSOS 4101 - Sexuality and Gender in Families and Close Relationships ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• HSEX 6001 - Foundations of Human Sexuality ( 3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• HSEX 6011 - Impacts of Law, Policy, and Government Regulation on Human Sexuality ( 3 credits) - Fall (second half of term) and Summer online sections may be available

• HSEX 6012 - Sexual Function and Dysfunction ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• HSEX 6013 - Perspectives and Practices in Sexual Health Education ( 3 credits) - Fall (second half of term) online sections may be available

• HSEX 6211 - Dimensions of Sexual Functioning ( 3 credits) - Summer online sections may be available

• HSEX 6213 - Sexual Trauma and Trauma Informed Care ( 3 credits) - Summer online sections may be available

• HSEX 6311 - Introduction to Healthcare for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults (3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

 Supporting focus for working with Individuals and Families Dealing with Addiction

• CSPH 5000 - Creating Connected Communities/Facilitation Skills ( 1 credit) - Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5101 - Overview of Whole Health Models of Care & Integrative Practices (3 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer online sections may be available. Student recommended 

• CSPH 5215 - Forgiveness and Healing: A Journey Toward Wholeness (3 credits) - Fall (first half of term) online sections may be available

• CSPH 5315 - Traditional Tibetan Medicine: Ethics, Spirituality, and Healing (2 credits) - Spring (first half of term) online sections may be available

• CSPH 5343 - Ayurveda Medicine: The Science of Self-Healing (2 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer online sections may be available. Student recommended

• CSPH 5421 - Botanical Medicines in Integrative Healthcare (3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• CSPH 5431 - Functional Nutrition: An Expanded View of Nutrition, Chronic Disease, and Optimal Health (2 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

• CSPH 5521 - Therapeutic Landscapes (2 credits) - Fall (first half of term) online sections may be available

• CSPH 5535 - Reiki Healing (1 credit) - Fall (second half of term) and Spring (first half of term) online sections may be available 

• CSPH 5561 - Emotional Healing and Happiness: Eastern and Western Approaches to Transforming the Mind ( 2 credits) - Fall (second half of term) remote sections may be available

• CSPH 5561 - Overview of the Creative Arts in Health and Healing ( 2 credits) - Fall (second half of term) online sections may be available. Student recommended

• CSPH 5631 - Healing Imagery (2 credits) - Spring and Summer online sections may be available

• CSPH 5706 - Lifestyle Medicine (2 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CSPH 5905- Food Matters: Cook Like Your Life Depends On It (1 credit) - Fall (second half of term) remote sections may be available. Registration open to med students and graduate students in the health sciences. Students not in the health sciences, please contact instructor for permission

• FSOS 5426 - Alcohol and Drugs: Families and Culture ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• ADDS 5011 - Foundations in Addiction Studies ( 2 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

• ADDS 5071 - Foundations of Co-occurring Disorders ( 2 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• CI 4312 - Sex, Drugs and the Internet: Educational Perspectives ( 3 credits) - Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

• FSOS 5429 - Counseling Skills Practicum ( 3 credits) - Periodic Spring, Summer and Fall online sections may be available

Supporting focus on Curriculum and Instruction

• CI 4311W - Technology and Ethics in Society (3 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer online sections may be available

• CI 4312 - Digital Culture and Learning (3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• CI 5116 - Action Research in Educational Settings (3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• CI 5301 - Foundations- Computer Apps Business & Ed (3 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

• CI 5325 - Designing and Developing Online Distance Learning ( 3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available 

Supporting focus on Educational Psychology

• EPSY 5101 - Intelligence and Creativity (3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5135 - Human Relations Workshop (4 credits) - Fall and Summer (May term) online sections may be available

• EPSY 5261 - Introductory Statistical Methods (3 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer online sections may be available

• EPSY 5609 - Infants and Toddlers with Delays/Disabilities: Family-Centered Approaches to Early Intervention (3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

• EPSY 5613 - Foundations of Special Education I (3 credits) - Spring remote sections may be available

• EPSY 5614W - Assessment and Due Process in Special Education (3 credits) - Spring remote sections may be available

• EPSY 5625 - Education of Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool Children with Disabilities: Introduction (3 credits) - Fall and Spring online sections may be available

• EPSY 5661 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder (3 credits) - Fall online sections may be available

Supporting focus on Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

• OLPD 5201 - Strategies for Teaching Adults (3 credits) - Spring online sections may be available

• OLPD 5202 - Perspectives of Adult Learning and Development (3 credits) - Fall and Summer online sections may be available

• OLPD 5296 - Field Experience in Adult Education ( 1-6 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer sections may be available

• OLPD 5501 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation ( 3 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer (May term) online sections may be available 

• OLPD 5607 - Organization Development (3 credits) - Fall, Spring, and Summer (second half of term) online sections may be available

• OLPD 5616 - Instructional Design for E-Learning ( 3 credits) - Fall and Summer (May term) online sections may be available

• OLPD 5819 - Evaluating and Using Research in Organizations and Education (3 credits) - Fall and Summer online sections may be available