Programs and Degrees
Are you driven to:
- improve the lives of families?
- understand how culture, community, and government systems affect families and create innovative solutions to improve these systems?
- investigate some of the most pressing challenges facing families and communities with cutting edge research?
An undergraduate, master's, or doctoral degree in Family Social Science will prepare you to use research to discover and apply knowledge, build communication skills, and develop as a lifelong learner and effective leader.
Our faculty are mentors, renowned researchers, and committed teachers who are focused on your success.
The Family Social Science Department is a collaborative and supportive community devoted to family research, theory, therapy, and education. We partner and consult with families, communities, and organizations to address psychological, cultural, social, and economic issues affecting families locally, nationally, and globally.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
If you have a passion for helping people, this multi-disciplinary undergraduate major will develop your counseling skills and prepare you to understand human relationships across the lifespan. Your coursework will include internships, directed research, or fieldwork.
Undergraduate Minor
Enhance your major with a minor that will give you a fundamental understanding of parents, children, and couples from multiple social science perspectives. You have a choice of three options.
Professional Programs
Parent Education Certificate
This credential will prepare you to plan, coordinate, and teach parent education programs and services.
15 credits, online
Parent and Family Education License
Qualifies professionals to teach parent education in Minnesota's statewide Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program.
25 credits, online
Master's Programs
M.A. in Family Social Science
A Master's in Family Social Science will prepare you for an advanced degree in Family Social Science or a related field with the option to complete the program with a thesis or a project.
M.Ed. in Family Education
This online, 30-credit, advanced practitioner degree will prepare you to work as a family educator and may be combined with the Parent and Family Education License (optional sub plan).
Graduate Minor in Family Social Science
A graduate-level minor will deepen your understanding of parents, children, and couples in today's complex family systems. You will learn how to use social science methods to examine family systems and their interactions within various environments. Your coursework will include family theory, research methods, and core family content.
Doctoral Programs
Ph.D. in Family Social Science
You will be prepared to lead in the profession with a broad foundation of expertise in theory, research, and practice. Choose from specializations in:
Graduate students may also apply for a combined M.A./Ph.D. admission if they do not already have a master's degree.
Ph.D. Minor in Prevention Science
This program will prepare you to promote healthy behaviors in populations across the lifespan. You will learn about systematic efforts to reduce the incidence of unhealthy or maladaptive behaviors, how to design and evaluate interventions, and how to use this knowledge strategically to improve programs and advocate for change.
Graduate Minor in Family Social Science
A graduate level minor will deepen your understanding of parents, children, and couples in today's complex family systems. You will learn how to use social science methods to examine family systems and their interactions within various environments. Your coursework will include family theory, research methods, and core family content.
Continuing Education
Ambiguous Loss Online Certificate
This online professional development course will prepare you to become proficient in understanding and applying ambiguous loss theory and includes a professional development Certificate of Completion and 15 CEUs from the University of Minnesota.