Family social science
bachelor of science (B.S. degree)
What is central to your life? For many people, it's their relationships with others - friends, family, and communities. The family social science program gives you the tools to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities of any gender, definition, or age. You can adapt the major to your goals and interests so you get what you want from your education. You'll benefit from enthusiastic and supportive faculty, a diverse program with many points of view and resources, and a multidisciplinary approach that will prepare you for many different careers with real impact.
Program highlights
- A close-knit department gives lots of personal attention, and a large metropolitan university offers countless resources and things to do
- Learning abroad opportunities, such as studying food and families in Thailand
- A program philosophy that values outreach and community engagement
- Research opportunities for undergraduates, such as studying welfare changes and rural low-income families
- A field study internship or a research internship gives you a head start on a career or an advanced degree
- Highly engage, knowledgeable, and diverse faculty
Careers with meaning
Potential careers include:
- Couple and family counseling
- Parent/child education
- Social work
- Public health
- Family life education
See What can I do with a family social science degree?
This program also prepares students for advanced degrees in family social science, marriage and family therapy, family policy, social work, child development, and more.
Coursework
Foundation courses, such as economics, statistics, and human development
Major courses, including Family Policy, Methods in Family Research, Global and Diverse Families, and a senior internship or field study with families
Professional core courses: Counseling Skills Practicum; Alcohol and Drugs: Families and Culture; Families and Aging; Parent-Child Relationships, and more
Full curriculum for family social science, Undergraduate Catalog
View all courses in family social science, Undergraduate Catalog
Student profile
Kathy: “I chose my major because I love people and I'm so curious about others' lives and how they perceive the world and people around them.”
Your next steps
- Visit
- Apply
- Explore
February 2008