Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies

Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies (SMF) provides students with opportunities to explore the research and theory about human sexuality and relationships from a wide range of disciplines and across the humanities and social sciences.

Many courses in SMF promote interdisciplinary scholarship, and adopt a social justice perspective that challenges students to think critically about often overlooked subjects: 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; attitudes toward sexualities; the effects of pornography on societal attitudes; family conflict and its escalation to violence; sexual problems or difficulties; and couple, family, and sex therapy.

This provides 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 sexuality and relationships, the ways that our identities are formed and how these shape our interactions in the world, and the role of education around sexuality and relationships in Canada and the broader global context.

Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies undergraduate studies

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

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

For information on academic plans please visit Sexuality Marriage, and Family Studies on the Programs and Plans section of the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.

SMF advising and student support

Sexual Attitude Reassessment program

Certified Family Life Educator credential

The Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies undergraduate program at St. Jerome’s University has been reviewed by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). It has been recognized as an NCFR CFLE-approved program for offering coursework covering the content required for the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation. Graduates of NCFR CFLE-approved programs qualify to apply for the CFLE designation via the CFLE-approved program process.

More information for SMF students wishing to qualify for the CFLE designation can be found on our Certified Family Life Educator Credential page

SRF Practicum Application

Please read and review carefully!

This form and the information you submit will be used to further assess your eligibility for practicum in Fall 2025 AND help us determine placements for the 2025 practicum cohort. The information will be reviewed by the SRF Practicum Coordinator, SRF Chair, and SRF Advisor. Completing this form does not guarantee your enrollment in practicum or any specific placement.

Practicum Courses:

SRF 490 (.75 units)

SRF 491 (.75 units)

(** please note that both practicum courses have an increased unit weight and together are equivalent to 3 x .50 academic unit courses)

Students can apply to complete practicum as stand-alone courses (SRF 490 and SRF 491), or as part of the Human Services Practicum Specialization (SRF 490, SRF 491 + additional SRF course requirements).

Practicum information will be communicated over several platforms:

  • SRF LEARN group
  • SRF Facebook group
  • UW email

Please ensure regular and consistent engagement on these platforms re: practicum communication during the spring and summer months.

Please direct any questions re: Practicum to the SRF Advisor, John Arnou: jarnou@uwaterloo.ca 

Thanks!

SRF practicum application form

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Student information

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Experience summary

Please upload your current resume or CV, which must be in either a PDF or Word document format. A resume or CV is required for your submission to be reviewed.
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Faculty

Carm De Santis, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream (Definite Term)

Carl Rodrigue, Assistant Professor

Siobhan Sutherland, Assistant Professor

Denise Whitehead, Associate Professor, Chair (on leave)

Rhea Ashley Hoskin, Adjunct Assistant Professor

James Kim, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Courses

The following courses are offered at St. Jerome's University in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Spring 2025

Course Course title Campus Instructor
SMF 101 Introduction to Relationships and Families ONLNJ TBA

Fall 2024

Course Course title Campus Instructor
SMF 101 Introduction to Relationships and Families BLNDJ Whitehead
SMF 204 Inrtoduction to Human Sexuality STJ Rodrigue
SMF 208 Introduction to Systemic Therapies and Anti-Oppressive Practices STJ Neufeld
SMF 220 Research Methods STJ Rodrigue
SMF 241/HHUM 241 Caregiving, Illness, and Relationships STJ Whitehead
SMF 301 Communication and Counselling Skills STJ Serafini
SMF 305 Social Issues and Controversies in Human Sexuality STJ Underhill
SMF 306 Intimate Relationships STJ Sutherland
SMF 490 Practicum and Professional Ethics STJ Jacobs

Winter 2025

Course Course title Campus Instructor
SMF 101 Introduction to Relationships and Families ONLNJ Falconer
SMF 111/ITALST 111 Sex, Marriage, and Family Traditions in Italy ONLNJ Cauchi-Santoro
SMF 200/GSJ 271 Special Topics in Gender and Social Justice: Sexual Violence and Citizenship UW Jacobs
SMF 204/PSYCH 236 Introduction to Human Sexuality STJ Rodrigue
SMF 207 Parent, Children, and Family Relations STJ Shokirova
SMF 211 Dynamics of Dating STJ Serafini
SMF 230 Introduction to Statistics in Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies STJ Rodrigue
SMF 250/LS 250 Family Policy and the Law STJ Whitehead
SMF 306/PSYCH 354 Intimate Relationships STJ Rempel
SMF 307 Conflict in Close Relationships STJ Whitehead
SMF 308 Relational Therapy STJ Sutherland
SMF 310 Sexual and Relational Ethics STJ Rodrigue
SMF 400 Capstone Seminar STJ Serafini
SMF 491 Practicum and Applied Theory STJ De Santis
SMF 496 Seminar in Family Studies: Decolonizing Family STJ Skinner

View the complete listing of SMF courses in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar