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Department of Family Science

Our Department's Mission

Families are the foundation of society and the public’s health. The vision of the Department of Family Science is to promote the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of all families in order to eliminate the burden of disease and health disparities, and to foster resilience and social justice.

We aim to be a recognized leader in family health, defined as  the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of all families. Our faculty members are committed to high impact scholarship on family health which can inform public policy and human services delivery. Our students are the next generation of investigators, practitioners, and policy leaders who can tackle the complex health challenges facing families. 

First established at the University of Maryland, College Park in 1968 (previously called the Department of Family Studies), we are proud to be one of the only departments of family science in a school of public health in the US. We bring the synergies of our multiple disciplines from family science, couple and family therapy, maternal and child health, psychology, epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and economics among others to enhance family health and well-being.

Our Degree Programs

Father and mother smiling and holding their baby

BS, Family Science

Staff therapist participating in a counseling session of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland

MS, Couple and Family Therapy

Family of three laughing

PhD, Family Science

Mother smiling holding her child's hand.

PhD, Maternal and Child Health

Connect With Us

Get in Touch With Our Program Directors

Anna Lacy 
Program Manager  
alacy1@umd.edu
(301) 405-4003

Dr. Mia Smith Bynum
Director, Family Science Honors Program 
msbynum@umd.edu 
301-405-0299

Colton (Tanner) Kilpatrick, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Family Science
tkilpat@umd.edu
(301) 405-3500

Colton (Tanner) Kilpatrick, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Family Science
tkilpat@umd.edu
(301) 405-3500

Recent FMSC News

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Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative Announces Newest Cohort of Fellows
View Article Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative Announces Newest Cohort of Fellows
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View Article Feeling Stressed This Season? Family Science Expert Shares How Stress Impacts Health, Ways to Cope

FMSC News in Maryland Today

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Public Health Researcher Joins New Push for Abortion Study Retractions

International Group Cites Flawed Findings in Journal Articles Used as Evidence to Overturn Roe, Ban Abortion Drugs
View Article Public Health Researcher Joins New Push for Abortion Study Retractions
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Making “Progress” on Gun Violence

New Initiative Will Offer Research, Actionable Solutions to National Crisis
View Article Making “Progress” on Gun Violence
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Creating a “Healing, Engaging Conversation”

Partnership Between UMD Researchers and Nonprofit Group Addresses Latino Community's Mental Health Needs
View Article Creating a “Healing, Engaging Conversation”

Family science offers you this very deep lens into who somebody is and helps you understand them in a way that no other fields of study can really help you do.

Gabrielle Frohlich, student of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland