Program: B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Family Studies Focus (New College) - Hofstra University

Jun 27, 2025

2005-2006 Undergraduate Bulletin

Pamela Mason-Egan, Adviser

The Family Studies Program is concerned with the interdisciplinary study of the family. The focus is multifaceted and allows the student to look at the family from historical, psychological, sociological, anthropological and literary perspectives. The program will include a basic core of Psychology and Sociology courses along with an advanced focus of the Family. The program is designed to give the student a good foundation for graduate study in the fields of psychology, counseling, social work and human services.

In addition to satisfying the General Requirements for Graduation from New College, students must design with their adviser a program of 40 s.h. of study including a 4 s.h. Senior Project. These 40 s.h. are augmented by the 4 s.h. Upper Level Seminar in Human Development, taken normally in the student’s Junior Year in partial satisfaction of college graduation requirements.

In order to satisfy the Quantitative Thinking component of the College requirement for graduation, it is recommended that the student register for Research Methods in the Social Sciences (S090R). This will serve a dual purpose: New College graduation requirement and as an admission requirement for graduate school.

Fieldwork Component

After the sophomore year, those students wanting more experience will be encouraged to register for an experiential learning project through Off-Campus Education, such as an internship or study abroad.

The following courses are offered at New College and HCLAS and are relevant to the Family Studies Focus:

Psychology Courses
Human Sexuality
Youth and Identity
Psychology of Women
The Troubled Child
Psychotherapy for Children
Upper Level Seminar in Human Development
Psychology of Adolescence
Fundamentals of Child Abuse and Neglect
Children and the Schools
Social Psychology
Child Development
Children w/ Disabilities and their Families
Psychology of Physical Disability
Psychology of Adult and Aging
Psychology of the African American Experience
Addictions: Shattered Lives

Sociology Courses
Dysfunctional Families
Intimate Human Behavior
Marriage and the Family
Introduction to Social Work
Introduction to Sociology
Modern American Family
Sociology of Sex Roles
Social Problems
Social Institutions
Frameworks for Studying Families
Visual Space and Human Interaction
Community within Society
Death and Dying

Communication Courses
Interpersonal Communication
Gender and Intercultural Issues in Communication
Non-Verbal Communication in Human Interaction
Human Communication
Language of Discrimination

Anthropology and Philosophy Courses
Human Values
Moral Development
Social Anthropology
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Natural Science Courses
Biological Anthropology
Human Biology
Evolution and Biodiversity

Humanities Courses
Family Perspectives in Short Fiction
Adolescence in Fact/Fiction
Child in Fact/Fiction
Fully Alive
Ancient Wisdom: Searching for the Good Life
Love and Sexuality
Know Thyself

Creative Studies Courses
Independent Project in Children’s Book Illustration
Independent Project in Writing Children’s Books
Autobiography

Political Science Courses
Women and the Law
Landmark Cases: Family Law