Start your journey
Support and build communities for parents and families with an online master’s in parent education
In this professional master’s program, you’ll build your expertise in supporting families and communities. Using a strengths-based approach, you’ll deepen your understanding of family systems, diversity and inclusion, parent-child relationships, and curriculum design.
You’ll also choose a focus area that fits your interests, such as mindfulness, early childhood development, educational practices, working with diverse families, or program leadership.
Through hands-on learning, you’ll design and lead family-centered programs for parents and adults in schools, community organizations, and beyond. You’ll apply what you learn to strengthen family engagement, improve existing programs, or create new ones that help families thrive.
This practical MEd is designed for educators and is not a pathway to a PhD.
Careers
Graduates of the online master's (MEd) in family education work in adult education programs in:
- healthcare institutions
- social service agencies
- faith-based organizations
Admissions requirements
Deadlines
- March 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 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
call 612-625-3116
Tuition
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's 2025-2026 professional program costs page for information on master's in family education (MEd) program costs.
Funding
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 the FSoS page on assistantships, fellowships, and other funding for more information on funding opportunities.
Questions about funding
University funding opportunities:
612.625.7579 | gsfellow@umn.edu
CEHD funding opportunities:
famed@umn.edu
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. Check out this One Stop link for more information on eligibility, required steps, and timelines. If you have questions, contact famed@umn.edu
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.
Request information
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 Cindy Gonzalez, MEd alumni
As an M.Ed., non-licensure track student, I appreciated the freedom to dig deeper into topics that I wanted to focus on in the way of a 15-credit supporting program. There is an excellent balance between required coursework and the supporting focus that invites students to engage with students from many other departments and potential community partners.
Coursework
The MEd in family education requires a total of 30 credits (15 credits of parent and family education coursework and 15 elective credits) and the completion of a capstone interview at the end of the program.
The Parent and Family Ed Program Manual’s course planning tab has detailed course planning information. The Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS) has detailed program requirements.
Required coursework (30 credits)
Parent and Family Education (15 credits - all classes offered online)
- 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
Electives (15 credits)
You will choose fifteen credits selected from existing UMN courses in consultation with your academic advisor to create a supporting focus which will support development of your career goals. Examples include courses in family social science, child development, education, public health, addiction studies, policy development, program evaluation, prevention science, etc. You may also include FSoS 5949 – Student Teaching in Parent Education (3 credits) offered in Spring.
You may include up to 10 credits of graduate level coursework taken as a non-degree student and/or non-degree courses taken outside of Family Social Science. You must provide a syllabus and a petition with a rationale for inclusion in your MEd. To be considered courses must be less than 10 years old. See Course Planning in the online Parent and Family Ed Program Manual for detailed course planning information.
License coursework
Interested in preparing for a teaching license while earning your MEd? Learn more about the MEd with parent and family education license program.
The Parent and Family Education Program Manual has information about licensure, online coursework, tuition and financial aid, and more.
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