威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校

Human ecology is the study of the complex relationships between human beings and their environments.

The Master of Science in Human Ecology offers multi-disciplinary course work that focuses on current theories and strategies for creating, managing and evaluating settings that promote human and community development. Students are exposed to current research and practice that integrates: (a) the promotion of human and family development with (b) perspectives on building effective organizations and sustainable communities. Students create their own “master's specialization” through elective courses and the completion of a real-world capstone project. Specializations are designed so that students can name their expertise to prospective employees.

The master's program is geared toward students who are both new to the field and those who have had some direct practice, applied research, educational or advocacy experience.

The program prepares students for careers working in a wide range of settings including:

• Community-based organizations (family support, youth work, community organizing, social justice, intervention and prevention programs, consumer and financial coaching)
• Intermediary and “backbone” organizations (technical assistance providers, philanthropic foundations, applied research and evaluation organizations, capacity building providers, community-based economic development)
• Government agencies (child and family services, public health, legislative support)
• University outreach (Cooperative Extension, community partnerships and coalitions, public service, multicultural offices, academic support and education)

Learning outcomes

• Articulate, critique, or elaborate the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in one's area of study.
• Identify sources and assemble evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the area of study.
• Understand the social, political, ethical, and economic contexts of research and creative scholarship.
• Compare and contrast multiple paradigms for describing reality (e.g., personal history, world view, philosophic tradition, discipline).
• Understand the Human Ecology perspective by examining and explaining the relations among humans and their natural, social, and build environments using an interdisciplinary and Tran’s disciplinary lens.
• Select and/or utilize the most appropriate methodologies and practices.
• Recognize the nature and significance of diversity as related to one's area of study.
• Communicate clearly in ways appropriate to a variety of audiences.
• Recognize and apply principles of ethical conduct.