Home » Academics » Bachelor of Arts (BA) » Family Studies » Program Requirements

Program Requirements

2024-2025 Academic Year

Chair

Janice M. Keefe, BA (UPEI), MA, PhD (Guelph), Professor

The Family Studies and Gerontology program offers studies in two areas: (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, aging policy and family support sectors that 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 that develop programs and policies related to issues associated with aging individuals and families across the life course.

Students may count courses from a major, concentration and/or minor towards a second major, concentration and/or minor; however, students must complete a minimum of 50 percent of unique courses toward the second major, concentration and/or minor, unless otherwise stated in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

Combined Major in Family Studies

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in Family Studies, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the Family Studies combined major as follows:

FSGN 1100, 2312, 2315, FSGN/CHYS 3327, 3345, and 3401
3.0 units selected from FSGN 1101, FSGN/PHIL 2202, 2212, FSGN/WOMS 3305, 3314, 3344, 3410, 3450, 3552, 4480, 4490, PSYC 2267, SOAN 2520 Note: No more than 0.5 unit of FSGN 4480 may be counted toward the degree. No more than 0.5 unit of FSGN 4490 may be counted toward the degree.

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, French, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies) Note: The second combined major cannot be Gerontology.
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above, and 2.5 units of these must be FSGN content
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

❏ Note: If a student in a Family Studies or Gerontology program (Major, Concentration, or Minor) fails a FSGN course twice, the department will review the student’s capacity for success in the program.

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):
❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above
and
♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science
discipline plus secondary arts discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline
plus secondary science discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Combined Major in Gerontology

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in Gerontology, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the Gerontology combined major as follows:

FSGN 1101, 2100, FSGN/CHYS 3327, 3345, 3401 and 3450
3.0 units selected from FSGN 1100, FSGN/PSYC 2220, FSGN 2315, FSGN/WOMS 3305, FSGN/RELS 3307, FSGN 3314, 3410, FSGN/SOAN 3551, FSGN 4416, 4481, 4491, NUTR 3330 Note: No more than 0.5 unit of FSGN 4481 may be counted toward the degree. No more than 0.5 unit of FSGN 4491 may be counted toward the degree.

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, French, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies) Note: The second combined major cannot be Family Studies.
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above, and 2.5 units of these must be FSGN content
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)(inclusive of the majors):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):
❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above
and
♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science
discipline plus secondary arts discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline
plus secondary science discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Concentration and Minor in Family Studies

The concentration (4.0 units) and minor (3.0 units) in Family Studies will provide students with an understanding of the theories, knowledge, skills, and attitudes/dispositions for promoting the health and well-being of families.

Concentration in Family Studies

To obtain a concentration in Family Studies, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ FSGN 1100, 2312, 3345, and 3401
❏ 2.0 units selected from FSGN 2202, 2212, 2315, 3314, FSGN/CHYS 3327, 3344, 3410, 3552, 4480, 4490

Minor in Family Studies

To obtain a minor in Family Studies, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ FSGN 1100 and 2312
❏ 2.0 units selected from FSGN 2202, 2212, 2315, 3314, FSGN/CHYS 3327, 3344, 3345, 3401, 3410, 3552, 4480

Concentration and Minor in Gerontology

The concentration (4.0 units) and minor (3.0 units) in Gerontology will provide students with an understanding of the theories, knowledge, skills and attitudes/dispositions for promoting health and well-being of aging population.

Concentration in Gerontology

To obtain a concentration in Gerontology, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ FSGN 1101, 2100, 3345, and 3401
❏ 2.0 units selected from FSGN/PSYC 2220, FSGN/WOMS 3305, FSGN/RELS 3307, FSGN/CHYS 3327, FSGN 3450, FSGN/SOAN 3551, FSGN 4416, 4481, 4491

Minor in Gerontology

To obtain a minor in Gerontology, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ FSGN 1101 and 2100
❏ 2.0 units selected from FSGN/PSYC 2220, FSGN/WOMS 3305, FSGN/RELS 3307, FSGN/CHYS 3327, FSGN 3345, 3401, 3450, FSGN/SOAN 3551, FSGN 4416, 4481

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2024-2025 academic year which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.