Department programs focus on the development and well-being of families and their individual members, and the solution of family problems, through education, research, and public service.

Social and human service jobs are projected to rank among the most rapidly growing fields during the next decade. The national focus on the welfare of families, children, and the elderly have created many new job opportunities.

The Department has a Bachelor of Science program in Family Science with 300 students; a Master of Science program in Marriage and Family Therapy with 20 students;a Ph.D. program in Family Science with 26 students; and a Ph.D. Program in Maternal and Child Health with 4 students.

In the last year, our 15 tenured/tenure-track faculty members published 60 journal articles, book chapters, and other written works, and directed grants totaling $2.9 million.

Our Center for Healthy Families provides couple and family therapy to more than 500 families every year.

Our Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program is ranked among the top 3 programs of its kind in the nation; it is accredited by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Our faculty's research regularly appears in national publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Time, Newsday, Ladies Home Journal, and Redbook.

Family Science was named the Outstanding Academic Unit by the University of Maryland President's Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues in 2004, 1997, and 1992.

In recent years, Family Science doctoral students have received awards for their research, teaching, and internship work from the National Council on Family Relations.

The Department's 3 Cooperative Extension faculty members annually provide education and consultation on childcare, financial planning, and food/nutrition to more than 20,000 Maryland families.

The Department has 3 National Council on Family Relations Fellows: Dr. Elaine Anderson, Dr. Leigh Leslie, and Dr. Roger Rubin. Dr. Norman Epstein is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, in the divisions of Family Psychology and Psychotherapy, as well as a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy.