DeanKim Kienapple, BA (Waterloo), MSc, PhD (Purdue)
ChairÁine Humble, BSc, MSc (Alberta), PhD (Oregon State), Associate Professor
Note: No New Admissions Will Be Made To This Program.
The Family Studies and Gerontology program offers two options: (1) Gerontology, which focuses study on issues related to aging, and (2) Family Studies, which encompasses a study of individuals and families across the life course. Students are prepared for a variety of careers in the social welfare and family support sectors which focus on prevention, support and community development. For example, graduates of this program are employed in family resource centres, transition houses, senior centres, long-term care facilities, and government departments which develop programs and policies related to issues associated with families across the life course.
A Certificate in Gerontology is intended for persons who are currently working in the field of aging.
Admission RequirementsPlease refer to 2.1.5 Admission Requirements and 2.1.7 Additional Admission Requirements.
Admission of Mature StudentsPlease read 2.1.11 Mature Admissions Policy carefully. Entrants under the mature admission policy are not admitted to a degree program until they have completed 3.0 units of coursework. Students wishing to enter gerontology or family studies should consult with the department upon entry to the University to plan their sequence of courses.
Transfer StudentsPlease refer to 2.1.8 Admission Requirements for Transfer Students. In order to transfer into the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Family Studies and Gerontology) program from other university programs, students must have maintained a GPA of 2.0 in their previous 5.0 units at university. While every effort will be made to accommodate transfer students into the program, students should realize that because professional programs are highly structured and require coursework to be taken in specified sequence, extended time may be needed to complete degree requirements. Students are urged to contact the department as early as possible if a transfer is contemplated.
Program Requirements
| Students must successfully complete 21 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit of supervised practicum |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in 8.0 units of required coursework
Note: Practicum courses (FSGN 3350 and 4450) cannot be counted
in the calculation of the GPA. |
| ❏ | Students may complete a minor by completing the requirements for the
minor as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must
achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units. |
Please note all prerequisites.
Required Courses for both Family Studies and Gerontology Options (10.5 units)
| ❏ | FSGN 1100 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 1101 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2312 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2220/PSYC 2220 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3313 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3319 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3327 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3350 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4433 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4434 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4400 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4450 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | MATH 2208 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | MATH 2209 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | NUTR 1106 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PSYC 1110 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PSYC 1120 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | SOAN 1101 | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | A women’s studies or women’s emphasis course | 0.5 unit |
Students must complete their program requirements following one of these two options.
Family Studies Option
Required Courses (3.5 units) |
| ❏ | BIOL 1114 or BIOL 2213 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2212 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2315 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3314 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3343 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4410 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2202/PHIL 2202 | 0.5 unit |
| Electives (7.0 units) | |
| ❏ | 3.5 units of Arts and/or Science electives | 3.5 units |
| ❏ | 3.5 units of professional electives | 3.5 units |
Gerontology Option
Required Courses (3.5 units) |
| ❏ | FSGN 2200 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2207 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2208/SOAN 2208 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 2219/SOAN 2219 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3328 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 3346 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | FSGN 4408 | 0.5 unit |
| Elective courses (7.0 units) | |
| ❏ | 3.5 units of Arts and/or Science electives | 3.5 units |
| ❏ | 3.5 units of professional electives | 3.5 units |
Teacher CertificationStudents wishing to pursue admission to the Bachelor of Education program upon graduation, should consult admission requirements for that program to ensure that appropriate teachable subjects are included in their first undergraduate program.
National Council of Family Relations (NCFR) and Family Service Canada (FSC) CertificationStudents completing the family studies option will have met the course requirements for provisional certification by NCFR and FSC. Students in the gerontology option who wish to become certified by NCFR and FSC should consult the department to ensure that they have taken the necessary courses in order to meet certification requirements.
Honours Degree
Students wishing to obtain an honours degree must make formal application through the department chairperson by May 1 of the third year of the program or upon completion of 12.5 units.
Note: No New Admissions Will Be Made To This Program.
Minimum requirements for acceptance into honours are a GPA of 3.0 in 10 of the required academic units listed in the first three years of the program and a grade of at least C- in each of these units.
| Students must successfully complete 21 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | FSGN 4499 |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed on page 62:
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit) |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 units of the required FSGN coursework |
| ❏ | achieve a minimum of B- in FSGN 4499 |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
Note: Practicum courses (FSGN 3350 and 4450) cannot be counted in the calculation of the GPA |
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who obtain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.