The Family Studies and Gerontology department (located on the third floor of Evaristus Hall) offers two undergraduate programs and one graduate degree.
Students can take a minor or concentration in Family Studies and a minor or concentration in Gerontology as part of Bachelor of Arts degree. A minor/concentration in Family Studies or Gerontology will complement other programs such as sociology, psychology, public policy, and women’s studies by providing a focused examination of family or aging issues as well as giving students applied skills (e.g., program planning, advocacy, communication skills, policy development and analysis) that will be beneficial in working with families and aging individuals.
Students who are planning on becoming teachers will be interested to know that most of our courses (both the family studies-focused courses and gerontology-focused courses) also count toward the “family studies teachable” in Nova Scotia schools.
A Masters of Arts in Family Studies and Gerontology is also offered. Close working relationships with faculty allow graduate students to develop strong research skills in issues related to family relationships and aging. Faculty engage in research related to areas such as family/friend caregiving, caregiving policy, learning styles of students, peace and conflict, military families, family life education, aging with lifelong disabilities, sexuality, retirement, rural aging, and division of labour.
In both the undergraduate and graduate programs, students examine family relationships and issues faced by individuals and families across the life course, delve into policies on family life education and aging, explore theories of family and social relations, acquire advocacy skills, and learn how to develop community programs. Problem solving, analytical skills, and research skills are explored at different levels of the program.
In addition to knowledge on (a) family dynamics/development or (b) individual and population aging, our programs focus on the following six core competencies, which balance theoretical and practical knowledge:
1. Understanding and application of the critical-ecological framework
2. Understanding of the continuum of prevention (health promotion, primary prevention, secondary prevention, tertiary prevention, mediation) and the position of professionals in Family Studies and Gerontology within it.
3. Skills to identify appropriate resources and navigate the health and social services systems that support individuals and families as they meet their needs across the life span.
4. Knowledge of policy content areas in family and aging and analytical skills to understand their creation and outcome.
5. Knowledge and skills in program development, implementation, and evaluation across the lifespan.
6. Development of professional attitudes and dispositions that recognize and acknowledge a diversity of values, beliefs, experiences, and choices.
The student body is diverse — according to ages, life experiences, and perspectives on families and aging — and serves to enhance the learning experience. Most classes combine lectures with group discussions on class material so students are able to learn from one another by sharing their ideas, personal reflections, and professional experiences. Students also have access to additional resources such as the (a) Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, (b) Canada Research Chair in Aging and Caregiving Policy, (c) Atlantic Research Centre for Family-Work Issues, and (d) Caregiver Assessment Tool.
Students who graduate with a minor/concentration in Family Studies or Gerontology or the Masters of Arts in Family Studies and Gerontology apply their knowledge and skills to a variety of fields, depending on their background and/or future educational pursuits. Some of the areas in which graduates are employed include:
• program coordinators (family resource centres, senior resource centres)
• case workers (community services)
• family life educators
• employee assistance professionals
• outreach workers (transition houses)
• family mediators
• policy and program specialists in family and aging (e.g., with the provincial government)
• continuing care assessors
• program planners for the well-elderly
• research coordinators
Exploring Careers in Aging provides additional information about gerontology-related careers.