Program Mission and Objectives

Our mission is to be nationally and internationally recognized for advancing the understanding of the well-being of individuals across the lifespan and the family systems of which they are a part. We aspire to teaching, research and practices that are socially and scientifically significant. A cornerstone idea for our HDFS graduate programs is development in context, or the perspective that human development is best understood in terms of interconnections among families, neighborhoods, schools, communities, cultures, and international environments. 

Doctoral students focus on: 

• understanding how individuals develop and families function in their community context
• research and scientific inquiry, preparing professionals to design and evaluate state-of-the-science scholarship, intervention, and prevention programs 
• optimal development and holistic well-being across the lifespan AND
• engagement in productive research culminating in a doctoral dissertation. 

The degree prepares professionals for careers and leadership roles in education, research, government, and nonprofit agencies.

Learn about careers in HDFS

Degree Requirements and Courses

Our doctoral program consists of 72 hours of graduate credits, 24 of which are devoted to dissertation. Graduate courses focus primarily on family dynamics, theory and research in HDFS, and systemic context. Students in the doctoral program pursue in-depth studies of theory, advanced methods, and empirical knowledge about human development and social relationships.

Graduate Faculty Members

Megan Haselschwerdt
Associate Professor

Elizabeth I. Johnson
Professor

Spencer Olmstead
Professor, Associate Head, and HDFS Graduate Program Director

Amy Rauer
Professor

Heidi Stolz
Professor and Undergraduate Programs Director

Julia Yan
Assistant Professor

MS to PhD Option

Typically, applicants to the doctoral program have earned a Master’s degree or are working on their Master’s degree when they apply to the doctoral program. However, applicants with undergraduate degrees may also be considered for direct admission to the PhD program if they have significant undergraduate research experience relevant to human development and family science, focused research interests, and a strong academic record.

Students admitted without a Master’s degree will complete requirements for the thesis-based Master’s degree as part of their program of study. If in good standing after completing the Master’s program requirements and under the recommendation of their graduate committee, these students will proceed directly into the PhD program. Applicants without a Master’s degree can select the “MS–PhD” option on their application. Applicants with a Master’s degree should select the “PhD” option on their application.

Frequently Asked Questions