Family Studies & Social Work
Chair’s Welcome
School of Education, Health, and Society
Welcome to the Department of Family Studies and Social Work.
Our focus is on increasing the understanding of the resilience of families and of the human spirit and how such strengths can be fostered. Students in our programs learn how to prevent risk factors before they develop and how to treat social problems that threaten the welfare of children, families, and communities.
As an undergraduate, you’ll benefit from our interdisciplinary approach, an emphasis on applying classroom learning through real-world field and practicum experiences, and Miami’s emphasis on promoting critical thinking via the Miami Plan for Liberal Education. You’ll experience lively discussions in our courses, which cover such topics as dating, marriage, divorce, child development, adolescent development, parenting, child abuse, sexuality, later life families, family poverty, and family policy.
Graduate students receive in-depth training in family studies, research skills, and opportunities to apply their knowledge in career settings.
We hope you will explore the options we offer and consider enrolling.
Gary (Pete) Peterson, Ph.D. Chair