Sexualities, Relationships, and Families

Sexualities, Relationships, and Families (SRF) - formerly Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies (SMF) – is an interdisciplinary field of study that offers students opportunities to critically explore the research and theory about human sexuality and relationships from a wide range of disciplines across the humanities and social sciences.

Many courses in SRF promote interdisciplinary scholarship and adopt a social justice perspective that challenges students to think critically and self-reflectively about often overlooked subjects, such as: human interactions within relational, sexual, and societal contexts; basic anatomical knowledge and sexual health; the formation and maintenance of relationships; parenting skills; the impact of culture on sexual- and family-related values, ideas, and attitudes; the impact of media on our understanding of gender, sexuality, and relationships; sexuality education; gender and sexual diversity; the effects of pornography on societal attitudes and relationships; family conflict and its escalation to violence; sexual problems or difficulties; and relational counselling approaches including couple, family, and sex therapy.

SRF courses provide an excellent foundation for historical, theoretical, and ethical discussions around many exciting topics, such as the role of major discourses (e.g., media, law, medicine, religion) in shaping our perspectives on sexualities and relationships, the ways that our identities are formed and how these shape our interactions in the world, and the role of education around sexualities and relationships in Canada and the broader global context. Central to SRF is a focus on the application of research and theory to people’s lived experiences and relationships across the lifespan.

The department of Sexualities, Relationships, and Families offers the following programs and academic plans, including Four-Year General Sexualities, Relationships, and Families; Honours Sexualities, Relationships, and Families; Counselling Specialization; Human Services Practicum Specialization; Intensive Research Specialization; Sexualities, Relationships, and Families Minor; and Diploma in Sexualities, Relationships, and Families.

The courses offered by the St. Jerome's University SRF department are listed below.

For information on academic plans please visit Sexualities, Relationships, and Families on the Programs and Plans section of the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The following student was the recipient of the Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies departmental awards:

Departmental Award for Highest Average in the Major

Shannon Milligan