Start your journey
Help families navigate today’s changing world through parent and family education
Advance your career working with parents and families. Our combined master's degree and licensure program will give you the skills to design and lead effective family education programs.
You'll learn about family systems, curriculum development, and group facilitation while taking classes to prepare you to earn a Minnesota license in Parent and Family Education. This practical MEd is designed for educators and is not a pathway to a PhD.
Careers
Graduates of the online master's in family education with a parent and family education license work in:
- school districts
- county agencies
- nonprofit adult and family education programs
- private family education organizations
Admissions requirements
Application deadlines:
- March 1 for summer/fall admission
- June 1 for fall admission
- October 1 for spring admission
Admission to the Department of Family Social Science (FSoS) is based on a review of multiple sources of information:
- A GPA of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) is required for admission.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. academic institution or foreign equivalent, evidence of strong academic preparation, and the ability and desire to perform graduate level scholarship.
- Alignment of applicant's professional goals with the Parent and Family Education program's goals to prepare practitioners to design, deliver, and evaluate educational programs for parents and families.
- Unique contributions applicant would make to FSoS values, including social relevance, collaboration, inclusiveness, excellence, innovation, and diversity.
Contact
Email: famed@umn.edu
Call: 612-625-3116
Tuition
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's 2025-2026 Professional Program costs page for information on online parent and family education MEd for license program costs.
Funding
CEHD fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, and grants for graduate students
As a graduate student in CEHD, you may be eligible for fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University of Minnesota, from our college, and from your academic department. Get more information on CEHD funding opportunities.
Visit Family Social Science's page assistantships, fellowships, and other funding for more information on funding opportunities.
Questions about funding:
University funding opportunities: gsfellow@umn.edu
CEHD funding opportunities: If you have any questions, please e-mail famed@umn.edu, or call 612-625-3116.
Financial aid
Financial aid for your graduate program works a little differently than financial aid at the undergraduate level. It’s important to know the differences and explore your options. Visit OneStop Student Services: Finances for information on tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Register for an upcoming info session
If you are interested in meeting with us to discuss the program, please register for an upcoming information session.
Contact us
If you simply have a question and would like someone to reach back out with information, please complete our request information form.
What our alumni say
Quote from Wanda Felder, MEd with parent and family education license alumni
My career goal was to move into a leadership position within the Early Childhood Education department of the district I am working in. I have worked in the field of early childhood education with families for over thirty years. This degree helped me develop new skills and refine skills I already had. After graduation, I was offered a new position that was created for me within my department.
Coursework
The MEd program requires 30 credits total (18 credits of parent and family education coursework and 12 elective credits) and completion of a capstone interview at the end of the program. All classes are online.
Courses are chosen in consultation with your advisor. See the Parent and Family Ed Program Manual’s MEd with license program tab for more information. The Course Planning tab has elective course planning information.
Required courses (18 credits)
- FSoS 5937 – Parent-Child Interaction
- FSoS 5942 – Diverse Family Experiences
- FSoS 5944 – Curricular Design in Parent Education
- FSoS 5945 – Teaching and Learning in Parent Education
- FSoS 5946 – Assessment and Evaluation in Parent Education
- FSoS 5949 – Student Teaching in Parent Education
Elective courses (12 credits)
- FSoS 5937 – Parent-Child Interaction (3 credits) - offered in fall and spring
- FSoS 5942 – Diverse Family Experiences (3 credits) - offered in fall and spring
- FSoS 5944 – Curricular Design in Parent Education (3 credits) - offered in fall
- FSoS 5945 – Teaching and Learning in Parent Education (3 credits) - offered in fall
- FSoS 5946 – Assessment and Evaluation in Parent Education (3 credits) - offered in spring
- FSoS 5949 – Student Teaching in Parent Education (3 credits) -offered in spring electives offered by other departments may also qualify, see the Course Planning & Electives tab of the Parent and Family Education Online Program Manual.
Parent and Family Education Initial MN Teaching License
In order to be recommended for your Minnesota Parent and Family Education (Adult) license, you must successfully complete these licensure requirements mandated by the state of Minnesota.
Parent and Family Education Additional MN Teaching License
In order to be recommended for your Minnesota Parent and Family Education (Adult) license, you must successfully complete these licensure requirements mandated by the state of Minnesota.
Faculty and staff
Shannon Rader
Parent and Family Education Program Director and Lecturer
Jennifer George
Associate Teaching Professor
Maggie Beaupre deYoung
Assistant Director and Senior Academic Advisor
Parent and Family Education Program