National Council on Family Relations
The National Council on Family Relations is the oldest non-partisan professional organization focused solely on family research, practice and education.
Forging strong families, fostering strong communities
Family Studies
About Family Studies
Family studies at the University of St. Thomas forges strong families and fosters strong communities. A degree in family studies provides students with the ability to use research findings to create programs and policies that promote individual and family well-being. Students in the family studies program learn how to implement evidence-based practices to improve the environments in which children, youth, adults, and families interact.
Our program has a mission to embrace a multidisciplinary curriculum toward educating students about relational systems, dynamics, and developmental processes. Family studies provides a foundation for moral leadership and professional work that strengthens family resiliency and advances the common good in a diverse and changing world.
What You Can Earn
A major or minor in family studies is a hands-on, interdisciplinary program comprised of world-renowned faculty who will teach you to address a range of critical issues facing individuals and families in society today.
Career Paths
Multiple disciplines, endless possibilities
A wide range of agencies, companies, educational institutions and non-profits organizations employ our graduates. Many of our graduates go on to graduate school to earn a master’s degree or higher, and/or licensure in the area required by a specific profession.
Get Involved
Minnesota Council on Family Relations
The Minnesota Council on Family is an affiliate of NCFR and focuses on strengthening all families by educating and supporting family professionals.
Council on Contemporary Families
The Council on Contemporary Families is dedicated to providing the latest research and best practice findings about American families.
Faculty
Our faculty come from diverse array of fields and are dedicated to being your teachers and mentors throughout your time at St. Thomas.
Dr. John Buri
Dr. Buri is a psychology professor and one of the founding members of family studies at St. Thomas.
Dr. John Buri
Dr. Audra Nuru
Dr. Nuru is the Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences and Director of Family Studies. She specializes in interpersonal and family communication.
Dr. Allison Jessee
Dr. Jessee is a developmental psychologist specializing in early childhood socioemotional development and family studies.
Where do you want to go?
Study Abroad Opportunities
Rome, Italy
As a family studies student, you have access to a huge variety of study abroad opportunities to places like Rome, Italy.
Puerto Rico
You will have the opportunity to study youth, culture and education in Puerto Rico over a J-term.
Find your path
Careers and Internships
We encourage our students to pursue internships as an undergraduate. In the past, our students have completed internships with the Minnesota District Court, Fraser and Children’s Hospital. Our graduates have gone on to work in amazing careers at Ronald McDonald House, and as speech language pathologists, mental health practitioners, case managers and so much more.
Improve the world around you
Family studies students and graduates use their knowledge, research and practical experiences from their college careers to improve the world around them.
Contact Us
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions about our program, its curriculum and what it is like to be a family studies student.
Mailing Address
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave., OEC 125
St. Paul, MN 55105
Campus Location
We are located on the first floor of the O’Shaughnessy Education Center (OEC) in room #125.