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Agricultural and Human Sciences

YFCS August Blog: How to Determine If Pursuing a Master’s Degree in YFCS is Right For You

August 25, 2021
Student with graduate advisor at graduation. Gray and Andrew
Photo by Ken Martin

The Youth, Family, and Community Sciences graduate program publishes a monthly blog written by students, alumni and faculty sharing important topics and helpful resources related to the field of family science. In the August blog post, Assistant Professor Jamie Alexander highlights career options after earning a master’s degree in YFCS. 

Perhaps one of the most important questions that I ask new advisees each semester is, “What do you want to do when you graduate from this program?” On the outset, this may not seem like a very important question but for many students who pursue degrees in interdisciplinary fields, like YFCS, figuring out the extent to which such degrees will prepare them for the occupations that they truly desire is crucial. Though this might be determined quite quickly for the student who is aware of the direction they want their career trajectory to take, it may take a little more time for students who are unsure of the potential careers that a master’s degree in YFCS can lead to.

There are many career options that a master’s degree in YFCS might prepare you for. Take a look at our Careers page to learn more about some of these. As you do so, consider how well the careers that interest you align with your goals, values, strengths, and sense of purpose. To learn more about family science careers in general, check out the resources below. Note that educational requirements for family science careers vary.

While there may be some areas of overlap in how family science practitioners meet the overarching goal of family practice, which is to strengthen and improve the wellbeing of families (see overview of the domains of family practice model here), an important distinction to make is that a master’s degree in YFCS does not prepare students for careers in counseling or therapy. Prospective students who are interested in working in counseling or therapeutic capacities may want to consider master’s degree programs in social work, marriage and family therapy, or counseling.