College of Education and Human Development

Family Social Science

Master's and PhD programs

Family social science graduate programs offer you a unique program of study using the insights and methods of the social sciences to examine how families develop and grow within various contexts and cultures. You will learn to:

  • integrate family theory, research, and practice
  • produce scholarly research
  • develop effective and innovative teaching skills

Your program of study will include research and coursework across the breadth of family social science, including:

  • conceptual theoretical frameworks
  • research, assessment, and evaluation methodologies
  • implementation and translational research
  • community collaborations and system change initiatives

Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized leaders and researchers committed to your success. Their research areas encompass child adjustment in families; families and culture; families and financial decisions; family formation and intergenerational studies; families, loss, and trauma; intimate family relationships; and parent and family education.

To learn more, explore their research projects, or watch videos of faculty members discussing their work.

Master's programs

A Master's degree in family social science will prepare you for a variety of careers in academia, policy-related firms, and social service or health care organizations.

Doctoral programs

A PhD will prepare you to lead with a broad foundation in theory, research, and practice. Choose from two specializations: family science and couple and family therapy.

FSoS student handbook

Learn more about family social science graduate programs in the the online Family Social Science Graduate Handbook.

FSoS Graduate Handbooks and program manuals from past years are linked at the forms and handbooks page.

Financing your education

Visit OneStop Student Services: Finances for information on tuition, fees, and financial aid.

Visit the assistantships, fellowships, and other funding page for information about funding opportunities through FSoS, CEHD, and UMN.

Information about assistantships and benefits are on the Office of Human Resources website.

Faculty and staff contacts

Sumitra Madhuri Ramachandran, Graduate Program Coordinator, fsosgrad@umn.edu
Stacey Horn, Department Head and Professor, sshorn@umn.edu
Catherine Solheim, Director of Graduate Studies and Professor, csolheim@umn.edu
Armeda Wojciak, Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) Program Director and Associate Professor, awojciak@umn.edu
Contact the FSoS Graduate programs at fsosgrad@umn.edu