Family Relations Minor — Chico State Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Family Relations Minor

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  • Program Type

    Undergraduate Minor

  • Delivery Type

    On Campus

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The family relations minor offers a deep dive into the complexities of family life, gender dynamics, and child development. This interdisciplinary program—the only one of its kind in California—equips you with the knowledge to understand family structures, relationships, and challenges.

You’ll gain insights on newborns to centenarians and everyone in between. Whether you're aiming for a career in social work, psychology, or child advocacy, this minor provides foundational skills to support individuals and strengthen families in today’s world.

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Understand Families in a Modern World

With a foundation in family relations, you’ll explore key topics such as child development, aging, personality, gender and sexuality, and marriage and family. The curriculum covers courses in sociology, psychology, and human development, preparing you to address family-related issues in diverse settings.

Your Pathway to Supporting Families

This minor helps you build the skills necessary for a wide range of careers in social services, counseling, teaching, and family advocacy.

Skills you will gain include:

  • Conflict resolution and communication
  • Counseling and support strategies
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving 
  • Gender and relationship awareness
  • Knowledge of social policies and interpersonal relationships
  • Research and data analysis
  • Understanding family dynamics and roles

Enhance Your Studies with a Focus on Families

The family relations minor pairs well with a variety of majors, enriching your understanding of family systems and human behavior in professional contexts.

Majors to consider:

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Family Takes Many Forms

With a rich cross-disciplinary approach, family relations minors have countless ways to get involved. Intern at the Associated Students child development laboratory, join the Psychology Club, and volunteer with organizations like Girls on the Run and the Ability First Sports camp.

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