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Michigan State University
Michigan State University

College of Social Sciences

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Degrees & Programs

Department of Human Development and Family Studies > Academics > Graduate >

Degrees and Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies

Human Development and Family Studies is the interdisciplinary study of individuals and relationships across the lifespan in diverse contexts of families, communities, and cultures. Ph.D. candidates are prepared to transform the human experience through applied research rooted in social justice.

Doctoral students collaborate with faculty mentors in experiences related to applied research, developing a focal area of scholarship. Each student completes rigorous course work, including research methodology, comprehensive exams, and the dissertation. Student achievements are documented in a professional portfolio throughout the doctoral program.

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Human Development and Family Studies offers three concentrations from which students may choose. They include:

The child development concentration focuses on behavioral, psychological, biological, educational, and contextual processes that promote positive developmental outcomes in infants and young children.

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The Diversity, Youth, and Family Development concentration focuses focus on developmental processes across life course periods from middle childhood to emerging adulthood within the context of family, community, schools and other environments within a sociocultural context. Particular contexts include attention to immigration, poverty, ethnic/racial socialization and identity, and sexual/gender socialization and identity. Study may focus on one life stage (i.e., middle childhood, adolescence, emerging adulthood) or examine an issue (e.g., attachment, chronic illness, discrimination) across multiple periods within the life course. Completing a selection of courses on development in middle childhood, adolescence, emerging adulthood, cultures, identities, families, parenting or policy,agreed upon by the student and committee members will satisfy the concentration.

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The Couple and Family Therapy concentration focuses on the application of research and theory to individual, group, couple and family therapy. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).

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Master's Degrees

We offer both both research (Plan A) and professional (Plan B) master’s degrees. Research degrees are designed for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D., and professional degrees are for students who plan to seek a professional position following the completion of their degree. HDFS offers two online master’s degrees through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) Consortium.

The program focuses on the behavioral, psychological, biological and contextual processes that promote positive developmental outcomes in infants and young children. Key contexts of development emphasized in the program include family, early childhood educational settings, and culture. Courses are available in areas such as development across cultures, infant development, language and literacy research and practices, social-emotional development, observational methods for home or the classroom, approaches to early education, intervention and prevention programs, and parenting. Laboratory experiences in early childhood education are available in the Child Development Laboratories, and research experiences are available through work with faculty mentors.

We offer both research (Plan A) and professional (Plan B) master’s degrees.

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The Master of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies is designed to help students gain an understanding of increasingly diverse family units as well as individual family members as they develop across the life course. Depending upon student interest and career goals, focus may be on human development (adolescence, aging), leadership, policy or diversity. Students are prepared to work with and advocate for families, children, youth and adults in a broad range of settings, including extension offices, community agencies, and policy-making contexts.

We offer both research (Plan A) and professional (Plan B) master’s degrees.

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The Master of Arts in Youth Development, is a collaborative, multiinstitutional program offered totally online. This degree is designed to promote an understanding of communities and families and to prepare students to have an impact on the development of youth in their homes, neighborhoods, and society. American youth born since the early 1980s are projected to be the largest, most ethnically diverse generation of adolescents in the history of the United States, and this program is designed to address that demographic shift.

The curriculum is focused on the promotion of positive development of all young people. It is designed for individuals who wish to work in a variety of youth-related professions, including youth-serving organizations and programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, community recreation specialties, youth programs sponsored by faith-based institutions, correctional professions, or within U.S. Extension Programs.

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The Master of Arts in Family Community Services, is a collaborative, multi-institutional program offered totally online. This degree is designed to provide a research-based perspective to understand individual, family, interpersonal and community dynamics across the lifespan. Students will acquire knowledge and skills related to the design, implementation, sustainability, and leadership and management of family and community services programs.

The College of Social Science, in collaboration with The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA), offers this program with all course work delivered via the Internet/World Wide Web by faculty from multiple land-grant universities: Michigan State University, Kansas State University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Oklahoma State University, and South Dakota State University.

Students will earn this degree from their home institution while also enrolling for courses at other participating institutions.

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Online Certificates

Through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) Consortium, our department offers the following online certificates: 

The Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate is designed to assist youth professionals to train individuals in the second decade of life with the skills necessary for a successful transition into adulthood. The program addresses the need for advanced education in youth issues and does so through a strengths-based curriculum.

The online format and course schedule of the certificate program allows flexibility to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals.

The Youth Agency Management and Administration Graduate Certificate is designed to assist youth professionals to develop and apply resources for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations. The program addresses the need for advanced education based on research and policy for optimal youth outcomes through a strengths-based curriculum.

The online format and course schedule of the certificate program allow flexibility to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals.

Choosing a faculty member

Choosing a faculty member to work with during your scholarly career is one of the most important decisions you will make.

Master’s Degree Advisor

When you are admitted to a master's degree program, an intake advisor is assigned to you. Before completing 12 credit hours, you should select a permanent advisor (major professor) and committee member(s) who will assist you in planning your program. Your intake advisor may serve in the permanent role, or you may choose another faculty member.

Master’s Degree Committee

Your committee should consist of a minimum of three faculty members for Plan A and two faculty members for Plan B, including your academic advisor. The committee assists you in planning your program of study by providing guidance for course selection. A program planning meeting is required and is considered an important session during which the committee members work with you to formulate a program to meet your goals. After planning your program of study, you should submit it to the committee members and department chairperson or graduate program director for final approval.

Doctoral Degree Advisor

An intake advisor is designated to counsel you during the first semester. You should select a permanent academic advisor before the completion of two semesters of study. The faculty member who guides the dissertation may be either the academic advisor or another member of the committee. The intake advisor often becomes the permanent advisor, but you have the option to select an alternative.

Doctoral Degree Committee

A Ph.D. program of study is planned by you and a committee composed of at least four Michigan State University regular faculty members, one of whom is designated as a major professor. The Ph.D. committee is appointed to direct your work and its membership must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. For additional details on related University policy, see the Academic Programs Catalog. 

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