About the Department

The Department of Family Social Science (FSoS) prepares students to use research to discover and apply knowledge, build interpersonal communication skills, and develop personally and professionally.

Considered one of the premier family departments in the United States and globally, our history reaches back to the very first classes taught at the University of Minnesota in 1884. 

The CEHD Connect article "Responding to the needs of the time" has interviews with department leaders, photos, and more!

The department was among the first to be accredited by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. In addition, Family Social Science has had a long-standing relationship with UMN Extension and the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station to bring evidence-based programming to families across the state and the nation. We are leaders in community-based participatory research to develop community-based programs and educational models.