Human Development and Family Science, PhD
Doctorate in Human Development and Family Science
Curriculum
The HDFS Ph.D. program is a 72-hour doctoral program that can be done straight from a bachelor’s degree or after completing a master’s degree. The first 30 hours of the doctoral program confers an in-flight Master’s Degree in Developmental and Family Science. Students can pick either a Developmental Science or Family Science Option for advanced study.
Doctoral coursework includes:
- 6 hours of core Lifespan Development and Family Theory
- Thesis or thesis equivalent project
- 6 hours of research methods
- 9-11 hours of Statistics and Analysis
- 30 hours of committee approved elective courses
- 15 hours of dissertation research
We prepare students for academic careers
Research and Faculty
Our nationally known faculty are engaged in a cross section of collaborative research focused on risk and resilience. The department is home to the Center for Family Resilience, a community resource that translates faculty research about families. Faculty are successful in earning external grants and contracts that often fund graduate research assistantships.
Article: "Family Resilience: Moving into the third wave"
Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Admissions
Applications are accepted twice a year with the following deadlines:
Fall Priority: December 1
Fall Final: December 15
Spring: October 15
To apply to the PhD in Human Development and Family Science please submit the following: 
- Graduate College application
- Due to COVID-19, the Department of Human Development and Family Science is waiving the GRE test score requirement as part of the application process for spring and fall 2022 admission.
- Official academic transcripts (3.0 minimum GPA required)
- Letters of recommendation
- Statement of professional goals
- Resume or CV
Cost & Assistance
Students may be eligible for tuition waivers or graduate assistantships from the department. Currently enrolled students are also eligible for scholarships offered through the College of Education and Human Sciences.