Admissions Process

We are delighted that you are preparing to pursue graduate opportunities in HDFS! We admit students to begin our program in the fall semester only. For priority consideration, the next round of applications is due December 1 to begin in August the following year. You can begin the process by submitting an online application to the Office of Graduate Admissions. International applicants should also follow instructions in the Admissions Guide for Graduate International Students.  

Admissions Requirements

Our written application includes materials beyond those that are required in the general graduate school application. We will review your application once we have received both the general graduate school application and the HDFS requirements. Our customized application components include:

• No GRE required – The HDFS Graduate Program does NOT require applicants to submit a GRE score to be considered for admission.
• Transcripts – You may simplify your admissions process by providing an electronic or unofficial version of your original transcript at the time of application. If you are admitted to the program, you have official copies of your transcripts sent directly to UT Graduate Admissions. For help with this process check out the Graduate School page on Transcripts or call Graduate Admissions at 865-974-3251. The graduate school requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.7. However, our students generally have GPAs above 3.0.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) – We created this template CV for you to consider using if you have not created a CV before. The CV is like a resume but is more detailed to include your achievements, awards and honors, publications and presentations, along with research, leadership, work, and other professional experiences.
• Statement of intent. Statements of intent are typically 3-4 double spaced pages. A high-quality letter of intent will discuss (1) how your current career plans align with graduate study in HDFS, (2) how your education and other experiences (e.g., research, clinical, employment, volunteering) have prepared you for graduate study in HDFS, and (3) how your current research interests (essential for MS to PhD and PhD program applicants) and/or professional goals align with our research and engagements. Identify and name one or two HDFS graduate faculty members with whom you would want to work, explaining how their work fits with your interests. We encourage applicants to contact Dr. Spencer Olmstead the HDFS Graduate Program Coordinator or any faculty member you are interested in working with ahead of submitting your application to discuss the program and your interests. We recommend that applicants receive feedback on their letter of intent (and CV) from academic references prior to submitting.
• Three completed references – Ideally all three (but at minimum two of the three) rating sheets or letters of recommendation should be academic references (e.g., professors, research lab managers) who speak to your academic performance and ability to be successful in a graduate program.
• Type of admission – In the section of the graduate application form labeled “Type of Admission,” you will be asked to identify a major and the degree you seek. Enter “Human Development and Family Science” as the major and either “MS” or “MS-PhD” as the degree.