Skip Navigation
 
School of Arts, Humanities & Education

Family Studies

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Family Studies

Apply Now Request Info
Program Requirements Related Programs Admission Requirements Paying for School

Save @ AMU

$0 Application Fee
$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation
$0 Textbooks & eBooks
72%Have Graduated with No APUS-incurred Student Loan Debt1

About This Program

American Military University’s (AMU) undergraduate family studies certificate will advance your knowledge of educational and support services for families, parents, and children.       

A focus on the military family is provided as one of the course options.                                

AMU’s online certificate in family studies is comprehensive. You will:

  • Examine how individual needs and perceptions affect family dynamics
  • Analyze the spectrum from child development through the aging process
  • Probe the multidimensional aspects of family law and policy
NOTE: This program does not award professional licensure and does not qualify you to apply for teaching licensure.

What You Will Do

  1. Investigate dynamics and cultural influences in the family unit
  2. Apply theoretical approaches to child rearing
  3. Develop practical skills for working with children and parents
  4. Explore aging and its effects on the family
  5. Appraise and discuss strategies and practices of healthy and effective marriages and family relations

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits
Cost Per Credit
$285 | $250*
*with military grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 3588

|
This course is a study of the dynamics of family interaction over the life cycle. Course content emphasizes the developmental, social, and cultural influences of the family in relation to a variety of personal and social experiences.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Choose 15 credit hours from this section.

Course ID: 3585

|
This course is a study of theories, research and practical interventions concerning the psychological development of the child from conception to puberty. Course content focuses on biological, intellectual, emotional and social development, and the dynamics of family, peer, school and other environmental influences.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3601

|
This course examines factors influencing child rearing practices in families with an emphasis on developing practical skills for working with parents and children. Topics of study include family systems, communication dynamics, blended and culturally diverse families, conflict management, custody concerns, factors supporting healthy child development and resilience, challenges to positive parenting and models for effectively working with parents and youth
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3598

|
This course guides students through an examination of the major theories and research findings related to healthy and effective marriages and families. Family dynamics associated with marital breakdowns and an introduction to family therapy are included.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3702

|
The course covers the management of a variety of resources most often found in family systems. Included is the interaction of families with other societal environmental systems in acquiring and using resources to meet goals and other demands.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3592

|
This course emphasizes the role of communications within the family relationship cycle. It examines how individual needs, perceptions, and self-concepts affect the quality of intra - and inter-familial communication, and integrates both theoretical and applied aspects of family research.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3700

|
This course is the study of the multidimensional aspects of family law and policy, including child support enforcement, homosexual marriage, and surrogate parenting. Students will analyze case excerpts from court opinions on family policies and laws that apply at the federal, state, and local level.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
08/31/21 - 02/04/22 02/07/22 - 04/03/22 Winter 2022 Session I 8 Week session
10/26/21 - 04/01/22 04/04/22 - 05/29/22 Spring 2022 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2550

|
This course assesses the problems associated with domestic violence and also explores into the social, economic, political, and cultural stereotypes of causation. There will be an examination of the relationship between family life and anti-social behavior. A review of various theories as well as research regarding the effect of family structure, marital conflict, parental anti-social behavior, and parent’s child-rearing practices on a child’s risk for conduct problems and delinquency are assessed. Adult anti-social behavior is also explored in terms of showing how various family socialization processes and childhood behavior problems influence probability of later adult crime. Students will also evaluate the aspects of gender, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status of victims of family abuse and their perpetrators.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
05/21/21 - 10/29/21 11/01/21 - 12/26/21 Fall 2021 Session I 8 Week session
07/27/21 - 12/31/21 01/03/22 - 02/27/22 Winter 2022 Session B 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 3447

|
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of managing transitions, with a focus on those issues incumbent on the military family. Course topics include change and choice, psychology of the self, interpersonal relations, health, dysfunction, grief, and building a life-career. Particular attention is focused on these topics' application to the military family lifestyle, to include deployment separation, reunion, marriage and family, parenting, military casualty, and life-career. The following questions appear as themes throughout the course: what is transition; what transitions do military families experience; what are the affects on the body, mind, spirit, and interpersonal relationships; what is resilience; and how does one create a plan to strengthen resilience?
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
06/28/21 - 12/03/21 12/06/21 - 01/30/22 Fall 2021 Session D 8 Week session
09/28/21 - 03/04/22 03/07/22 - 05/01/22 Winter 2022 Session D 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Nov 1
Register by Oct 29
Apply Now Request Info

Admission Requirements

  • All AMU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED).
  • Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the AMU admission application. View steps to apply.

Materials Cost

Technology fee: $65 per course | $0 for active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists.

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an AMU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

Quality Education Should Be Affordable

So you can focus on the opportunities ahead, without the financial burden of more expensive schools who are not as invested in your success. Learn more about paying for school.

Consumer Information

Department of Education and State Disclosures

For information on costs, median debt, state licensure requirements and more, view the gainful employment disclosures and the program disclosures for Maryland residents.

1Alumni Graduated with No APUS-incurred Student Loan Debt As of December 31, 2020

Includes alumni who graduated with an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from APUS. Student loan debt is defined as student loans and private education loans used for tuition, fees, living expenses, and book costs associated with courses taken at APUS. Many APUS students receive military tuition assistance and veterans education benefits, which are not student loan debt.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

To minimize out-of-pocket costs, U.S. active-duty servicemembers, their spouse/dependents, National Guard members, and Reservists receive a tuition grant that caps undergraduate, master's degree, and graduate certificate tuition at $250/credit hour. In addition, a university book grant provides no-cost textbooks and ebooks for all undergraduates and military-tuition-grant-eligible master’s-level students.
See all military student benefits.