Human ecology is the study of the complex relationships between human beings and their environments. The School of Human Ecology has a strong tradition of outreach and counts several faculty members with budgeted extension appointments among its ranks. The school offers a doctorate of philosophy within four named options/specializations:
- Civil Society and Community Research (CSCR)
- Consumer Behavior and Family Economics (CBFE)
- Design Studies (DS)
- Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)