University of Manitoba: Human Ecology - Family Social Sciences Graduate Programs

Family Social Sciences Graduate Programs

M.Sc. Program in Family Social Sciences
Focusing on issues that influence health and well-being over the life course, the Master of Science (M.Sc.) program in Family Social Sciences provides a strong research foundation in family psychosocial health. We offer an innovative interdisciplinary program that integrates theory and methods from anthropology, community health sciences, economics, epidemiology, gender studies, psychology, public health and sociology in the study of individual, family, and community issues.

We take a culturally-sensitive approach that emphasizes the value of prevention. Students are provided with a wide variety of opportunities to study key issues in human and family development across all ages. Research skills and methodology are important components of our program.

A Master’s degree in Family Social Sciences prepares graduates for positions in fields such as health promotion, policy analysis, community development, social development, health research, human services administration, public education, and program development and evaluation.

Our graduates are also well prepared to further their education at the doctoral level. For more information on doctoral studies, please refer to the Applied Health Sciences PhD program or the Individual Interdisciplinary PhD program.

See what our alumni say about how graduate training has benefited their careers.

Why do you belong in Family Social Sciences?

Information on how to apply

Research in the Department of Family Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary research by faculty members is funded by a wide variety of granting agencies, such as: the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Manitoba Institute of Child Health (MICH), the Manitoba Health Research Council, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and many more.

Faculty members conduct research and collaborate with colleagues across Canada as well as in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Sweden, and the United States.

Students are provided with numerous opportunities for active engagement in research projects that use a variety of research methodologies, such as the analysis of national and international data sets, interview and survey research, videotaped observation of family interaction, as well as focus groups and case studies. Our observational and computer facilities are well-equipped.

Our Program

The M.Sc. program is organized around four areas of strength:

Developmental Health
In recent decades our understanding of health has changed from an “absence of disease” to a more positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. In your coursework, you will learn about issues ranging from the impact of parent-child relationships on child development to decision-making about end-of-life care. See the links below for an example of coursework and student thesis research in this area:

FMLY 7600 Parent-Child Relationships
McDonnell, D. (2006). Anishinabe grandparents: perceptions of living with the effects of type II diabetes. (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Family Resource Management
Understanding macro- and micro-economics is fundamental to improving quality of life. In your coursework, you will learn about issues ranging from the impact of stress on lone parents to how paid and unpaid work influence family health. See the link below for an example of coursework and student thesis research in this area:

FMLY 7230 Work & Family Interrelationships

Mansfield, S. (2006). The effectiveness of flextime in reducing time based work-family conflict in dual-earner families. (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Family Violence and Conflict Resolution
Effective violence prevention requires advanced knowledge of its causes and effects. In your coursework, you will learn about issues ranging from factors that place individuals at risk for dating violence, child abuse and elder abuse, to the impact of family conflict on health and relationships. See the links below for an example of coursework and student thesis research in this area:

FMLY 7800 Family Violence

Yaseniuk, T. (2008). Developing services to address lesbian relationship violence: discussion with service providers in Australia. (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Inner City Families and Communities
Our well-being is profoundly affected by the communities in which we live, and the nature of social capital in our daily lives. In your coursework, you will learn about issues ranging from community assessment and development, to the impact of poverty on health and well-being. See the links below for an example of coursework and student thesis research in this area:

FMLY 7500 Evaluation of Family, Health and Social Development Programs