Program Overview
Introduction to Family Relations and Human Development
The graduate program in Family Relations and Human Development takes an interdisciplinary approach in the study of family dynamics and individual development within the context of the family across the life-span. The programs emphasize a balance between theory, empirical research, and practice.
Program Structure
Students in the Family Relations and Human Development program have many options for building an individualized program of study combining coursework and thesis research. Each student works closely with an advisory committee to select courses that not only provide for interdisciplinary breadth but also address the student's specific research and professional goals.
Research Areas
The programs have particular strengths in the following areas:
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Adult Development and Gerontology
- Parent-Child and Family Relations
- Human Sexuality
Child and Adolescent Development
Students with an interest in Child and Adolescent Development will have the opportunity to develop knowledge of child and adolescent development in the contexts of family, peer group, school, and society. Areas of research include:
- Parent-child relationships
- Reciprocal interactions
- Socialization processes
- Personality and social development
- The development of competence
- Child care policy and programs
Adult Development and Family Relations
The program is also designed to meet the needs of students interested in Adult Development and Family Relations. Students may focus on the individual, interpersonal, and broader social contexts that influence adult development from young adulthood through mid-life and old age. Students will develop an understanding of adulthood from various biological, sociological, and psychological perspectives with a particular emphasis on development within a family context.
Family Roles and Relations
The family roles and relations research area is concerned with the dynamic, developmental, and structural aspects of family experience. Students may focus on issues ranging from family identity to social policies affecting families. Students choosing this specialization could consider careers in:
- Family life education
- Consultant work in family policy
- Social service intervention work
- Advanced study at the Doctoral level
Human Sexuality
Students interested in human sexuality learn about current theory and research in human sexuality from an interdisciplinary perspective and have the opportunity to develop professional skills in sex education and/or counselling. Master's students may be interested in positions as:
- Counsellors
- School board consultants
- Family planning counsellors and educators in health units
- AIDS educators
- Community college teachers
Social Gerontology
Research in social gerontology focuses on the processes and contexts of development in later life. This involves social-psychological analyses of the interaction among individuals within evolving social contexts through the family life course.
Career Opportunities
The primary goal of the graduate programs in Family Relations and Human Development for those students who wish to pursue a career in research and scholarship is to develop skills in generating and evaluating new knowledge through research. Students graduating from the MSc program with this interest would generally seek to continue their studies at the doctoral level or seek employment that would involve the application and evaluation of research in applied settings. Doctoral graduates would likely seek employment with academic or research settings.
Professional Careers
Those students who are primarily interested in a professional career in the delivery of programs and services to children and their families will find a range of courses that complement their research training. The program provides a solid knowledge base for the development, operation, and evaluation of programs for children and adolescents. While some graduates with these interests may elect to proceed to the doctoral program, others will seek employment in a direct service or supervisory capacity in government or in an agency in the community. Some will be employed as educators in community colleges. Doctoral graduates may seek employment in the private sector and with public agencies as policy advisors, researchers, and educators.