About

Human Ecology is about changing lives.

This multidisciplinary field explores relationships between people and the environments they interact with most closely. Both dynamic and applied, Human Ecology provides graduates with the necessary tools to understand and enhance everyday life.

Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture Major

Students study the material culture and science behind textile and apparel production and consumption from creative, technical, historical, socio-cultural, economic, and other theoretical perspectives.

Family Science Major

There is no other environment that affects people as profoundly as the family. We aim to study families across the life course and how they are affected by communities, cultures, and government policies.

Practical and experiential learning

Undergrads take part in a 200-hour practicum in a professional environment that is specifically chosen to align with their career aspirations. It is a great way to build your professional network and apply some of the theoretical concepts from your studies. Advanced practicums are also arranged as a component of certain graduate programs.

Cutting-edge research that impacts our world

The Department of Human Ecology supports a rigorous, multidisciplinary research program. The Department offers the only PhD degree in Human Ecology in Canada. Graduate programs focus on four main research areas: aging; children, youth and families; material culture, and; textile and apparel science.