A family of four sits on the grass, the youngest child sits on a ball and smiles at her brother.

Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies

Family studies at the University of St. Thomas forges strong families and fosters strong communities. Family studies will provide you with the ability to use research findings to create programs and policies that promote individual and family well-being. You will also learn to implement evidence-based practices to improve the environments in which children, youth, adults and families interact.

Why Study Family Studies at St. Thomas?

Family studies is a hands-on and interdisciplinary program comprised of a world-renowned faculty of researchers, practitioners and counselors who will teach you to address a range of critical issues facing individuals and families in today's society. Our alumni go on to work in a variety of fields including public policy, education, health promotion, counseling, medicine and more.

Versatile. Practical. Interdisciplinary.

Course Requirements

Four-Year Plan

Degrees Awarded

Study Abroad

Course Requirements

You start by completing FAST 200 – Foundations of Family Study, which lays the groundwork for advanced coursework. You will work with a family studies adviser to select courses matching your personal, academic and career goals, and you will also have the opportunity to study abroad, pursue internships and conduct research with a professor. Your time at St. Thomas culminates with capstone course integrating everything you learned throughout the last four years to serve the needs of contemporary families in a complex and globalized society.

Four-Year Plan

No one can tell your story better than you can. Our wide range of courses empowers you to create a personalized curriculum to meet your career objectives. Given the flexibility of our program, we recommend connecting with the program director to design your four-year plan.

Degrees Awarded

Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies
Minor in Family Studies

Study Abroad

“È un affare di famiglia in Italia!,” or “It’s a family affair in Italy!” is one of our many study abroad opportunities for students. Team-taught by sociologists specializing in family and criminology, you explore problems confronting families in Italy and other global societies.

Course Requirements

Four-Year Plan

Degrees Awarded

Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies
Minor in Family Studies

Study Abroad

Practical Experience. Real Results.

Dr. John Buri

Dr. Buri is a psychology professor and one of the founding members of family studies at St. Thomas.

Dr. Audra K. Nuru

Dr. Nuru is the Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Family Studies, and Director of Family Studies. She specializes in interpersonal and family communication.

Dr. Allison Jessee

Dr. Jessee is a developmental psychologist specializing in early childhood socioemotional development and family studies.

View All Family Studies Faculty

A lady and a child laughing as they look at each other.

Career Paths

We give you the tools and knowledge you need to work in a variety of different careers after graduation.

Policy analyst
Family court mediator
Mental health counselor
Medical family therapist
Early childhood educator
Healthcare and family wellness specialist

Prepared for What’s Next

Our program prides itself on preparing students for a variety of careers by engaging them in research and internships in the Twin Cities.

Students work together during a Family Studies class

Our Graduates Make a Difference

Our alumni work in a wide variety of industries and make a difference every day in their roles as speech-language pathologists, mental health practitioners, care managers for group homes and psychology aides in local hospitals.

Address Real Issues

You can collaborate with your peers in research teams and attend regional and national conferences. Plus, you can engage with the Twin Cities community through internships.

Students work together during a Family Studies class in O'Shaughnessy Educational Center.

Active Scholars

Faculty are active researchers, collectively publishing over 60 peer-reviewed research papers. They are always eager to share their research interests with students too!

Improve The World Around You

Family studies students at St. Thomas use their academic knowledge, research findings and practical experience inside and outside of the classroom to improve our society. Whether they are serving as a counselor or working in the classroom with young children, our students are making a difference because of their unique experiences and versatile skills.

Take the Next Step

There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.

Family Studies Program

Related Majors and Minors

Our program is versatile and interdisciplinary, pairing well with a number of other majors and minors at St. Thomas.