Doctor of Philosophy in Family Science and Human Development

Family Science and Human Development is a multidisciplinary field, drawing on a range of social science disciplines including sociology, social work, education, gerontology, and community and developmental psychology. The PhD in Family Science and Human Development program considers family life within larger socio-cultural contexts and explores how issues of power, privilege and social justice interact to differentially impact family configurations. Due to the multi and interdisciplinary nature of the program, our students come from a variety of fields, including family studies, human development, education, social work, human services, psychology, disability and rehabilitation services, gerontology, and sociology. Family Science and Human Development professionals focus on the strengths and challenges of the family unit, examining a diverse range of family issues and seeking solutions to family problems. The applied, multidisciplinary focus of the discipline makes PhD graduates very attractive to employers in higher education, government, and nonprofit and private sectors. Graduates of the program will be prepared to pursue a wide range of professional opportunities as faculty members in colleges and universities, as program administrators, researchers and evaluators, and policymakers, and in positions in organizations focusing on children, youth, adults, older adults and families.

Admissions criteria to be considered for the doctoral program include a master's degree in a related field and a strong record in previous academic work.
Transcript: One from each college attended.
Letters of Recommendation: Three at least two from former professors and/or those with a doctoral degree.
A minimum TOEFL score of at least 83 on the internet-based test (iBT) or 62 on the paper-based test (pBT).
For IELTS test takers, the minimum required score is 6.5.