Seminar Day Information

For a number of years now, the Department of Family Sciences has hosted Seminar Day as a professional development opportunity for its graduate students, and more recently ALL FAMILY SCIENCES STUDENTS, both undergrads and grads!  Seminar Day has covered topics such as the TWU Veterans initiative, on-line course discussions specific to each program, M.S. portfolio and capstone procedures, the dissertation process for doctoral students, the master’s and doctoral process, faculty research updates, student research presentations, professional service, publishing, professional writing and APA use, professional ethics in academia and the workplace, grant writing, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process, and more.  Topics change for each event to keep them fresh and interesting.

The highlight for each event is the keynote speaker address. Keynote speakers are graduates of our programs and are invited by our faculty. We also include networking opportunities with fellow students and faculty during complementary continental breakfast and bistro lunch provided to all participants and department faculty and staff.

We also provide opportunities for students to formally present their work in the field of family sciences to their peers and faculty. Student presenters are invited to submit a proposal to the event committee consisting of various faculty in a blind review process.  Those selected are allowed a short amount of time to present their work orally and then allowed time for questions.  They may opt to present their work visually using a poster display with optional handouts.  Each event concludes with a bistro lunch (with door prizes) and recognitions to formally thank all involved with the event.

Some comments students have provided about this tri-annual event include:

• “Coming to these seminars helps students become more familiar with one another and with the professors.  Being able to discuss [my] program with the professors is very beneficial.”
• “It was especially beneficial to meet the instructors & some classmates.  I highly encourage students to attend.  This will ease a great amount of frustration that is generally associated with the unknown.”
• “I found the whole seminar very beneficial and calmed nerves of wanting to continue my education at TWU...this was an absolutely wonderful experience.  I really enjoyed it as an undergraduate student. Thank you!”

Previous Graduate Seminar Day program books:
1/13/2012 - Spring 2012 Seminar Day
8/26/2011 – Grounded in the Family Sciences
6/3/2011 – Facing the Family
1/14/2011 – Behind the Veil of Professionalism
8/27/2010 – The Ebb and Flow of the Family
6/4/2010 - The Cornerstone of Learning
1/15/2010 – The Ps and Qs of Professionalism
8/21/2009 – Footsteps to the Professional Family Sciences