Family Resource Management
Overview
Family resource management programs prepare people to help individuals manage family income.Students learn to design and implement steps that help families set financial goals, pay off debts, or budget money. They also learn about resources available to the public.
Family resource management programs include topics such as:
- Principles of microeconomics
- Accounting
- Real estate planning
- Estate planning
- Financial planning
Schools
Many community colleges offer certificate and associate degree programs in family resource management. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program usually takes two years to complete.
Many colleges and universities also offer a bachelor's degree in family resource management. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Some schools offer a post-bachelor's certificate program that usually requires one year of full-time study after getting a bachelor's degree.
Several universities offer graduate degrees in family resource management. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping
- Business, General
- Community Services
- Consumer Economics
- Family and Consumer Sciences, General
- Family Studies and Human Development
- Finance
- Human Services
- Political Science and Government
- Public Policy Studies
- Social Sciences, General
- Social Work
- Sociology
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
- Credit Counselors
- Economists
- Financial Counselors
- Government Benefits Interviewers
- Residential Counselors
- School Counselors
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Social Workers
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
In addition, you need to take one of the following tests:
- American College Testing (ACT) exam
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Accounting
- Applied Math
- Business Computer Applications
- Business Math
- Consumer Economics and Personal Finance
- Consumer Law
- Introduction to Business
- Issues of American Culture
- Psychology
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General. You also need to submit letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.
Although your bachelor's degree doesn't have to be in any particular major, you should take at least a few courses in the following subjects:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics
If your college offers courses in family studies, consumer affairs, or human ecology, you should take some.
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
This undergraduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- Accounting
- Children, Families, and Public Policy
- Consumer Problems and Solutions
- Debtor-Creditor Relationships
- Economics of Aging
- Family and Management Patterns
- Family Financial Management
- Family in the Economy
- Family Law
- Financial Counseling
- Household Economic Status
- Housing Finance and Policy
- Microeconomics
- Real Estate Investment Analysis
- Risk and Insurance
- Theories and Models of Family Resource Management
- Wills, Trusts, and Estates
Graduate Program Courses
Course work in graduate programs that lead to a master's or doctoral degree varies. However, the outline of a typical graduate curriculum looks like the following:
- Required courses
- Thesis (master's degree only)
- Preliminary oral and written exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree only)
Things to Know
If you want to focus on the financial aspect of family resource management, some programs qualify you to take a national certification exam.
Schools
East Side Area
Central Washington University
- Business Administration--Specialization in Personal Financial Planning