Diversity, Youth, and Family Development (DYAD) | Human Development and Family Studies

Students walking on campus Join a nationally known, diverse community of scholars exploring child/adolescent development, culture, gender, sexuality and families.
Students in our doctoral program are immersed in a highly diverse, dynamic and influential intellectual community around research that has important practical implications. Our faculty has expertise in areas such as immigrant families and communities, culture, racial/ethnic socialization, child/adolescent and lifespan development, sexuality and gender-based violence. Our PhD and MA programs leverage the extraordinary interdisciplinary strengths of our department and prepare students for both cutting edge research and academic careers as well as careers in government and social policy.

PhD Degree in HDFS with a Diversity, Youth, and Family Development (DYAD) Focus

Students complete a rigorous, focused program that prepares them for cutting-edge research in a university or a public/private research organization. Students may enter the Doctoral program with or without a master’s degree. Those entering without a master’s degree will complete all required coursework for the Master’s program, including a Master’s thesis, prior to additional required coursework for the PhD program.

Master’s Degree in HDFS with a Diversity, Youth, and Family Development (DYAD) Focus, Plan A, Thesis

Students complete a 30 credit Master’s degree in preparation for continued study in a doctoral program. Plan A is a research emphasis program that includes the completion of a thesis.

Master’s Degree in HDFS with a Diversity, Youth, and Family Development (DYAD) Focus, Plan B-Professional, Non-Thesis

Students complete a 30 credit Master’s degree with a focus on applied practice or policy development, including work in government, business or foundations.

DYAD was formerly known as Lifespan Human Development and Family Studies (LHDFD); if you are applying for graduate study with the DYAD concentration, select the LHDFD concentration in the application system.