Welcome to FRAN

*Course selection questions? Visit COURSE SELECTION & WAIVERS

The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, known around the University as 'FRAN', is an interdisciplinary unit focusing on human health and development in diverse communities. The Department has existed under a variety of names since 1903 and is one of the founding departments of the University of Guelph. Since its inception, the Department has been interdisciplinary in pursuit of its mandate to respond to the evolution of contemporary issues affecting families in their social contexts. To learn more about the history of FRAN and the Macdonald Institute, visit the Then and Now page.

There are many exciting projects and opportunities within FRAN, including the Bachelor of Applied Science for undergraduate students, with majors in Applied Human Nutrition, Child Studies, and Family Studies & Human Development. At the graduate level, we offer a PhD program with fields in Applied Human Nutrition and Family Relations & Human Development, an MSc program with fields in Applied Human Nutrition, Critical Family & Kinship Studies, and Family Relations & Human Development, as well as an MSc Couple and Family Therapy field accredited by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and provisionally accredted by the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. For those students wishing to become Registered Dietitians, we offer the Master of Applied Nutrition, an internship-based program fully accredited by Dietitians of Canada. 

The department's research is equally wide-ranging, encompassing both theoretical and applied research. Faculty and graduate student research impacts professional practice, social and health policy, and the design of interventions and preventative strategies. We are delighted to have two Canada Research Chairs in the department: (1) Dr. Carla Rice - Care, Gender & Relationships; and (2) Dr. Kim Anderson - Indigenous Relationships. 

If you would like any additional information about FRAN and our activities, please contact us.