Human Development and Family Sciences (MS)

Human Development and Family Sciences

Students are prepared for research-focused and applied careers that address the needs of diverse families and individuals across the lifespan.

The Human Development and Family Sciences program offers a flexible model of graduate training that allows students to develop individualized degree plans catered to career goals, provides opportunities to conduct research, supports cross-disciplinary education, and emphasizes mentorship and professional opportunities to support students' development and career placement.

Course Work

The 37-credit hour program currently offers a thesis and non-thesis track in Human Development and Family Sciences as well as a Child Life Specialist concentration.

The Human Development and Family Sciences major will provide advanced educational experiences in the content areas of human and family development, cultural diversity, program administration and evaluation, research methodology, statistics, theories, and current issues impacting families and children.

The Child Life concentration, offered with thesis and non-thesis option, will also provide advanced educational experiences in theses content areas, as well as knowledge and expertise to become a Certified Child Life Specialist.

Students are accepted to top Ph.D. programs and receive various employment opportunities. Child life students have notable success securing internships and employment as Certified Child Life Specialists.

Program Mission

The goals of the Human Development and Family Sciences program are to provide students with exceptional classroom and research experiences, support students through practicum and internship experiences, and prepare students to work with diverse populations.

As the first graduate-level child life academic program in Texas, the program also strives to continue to offer its exceptional training from Certified Child Life Specialists that combined have nearly 50 years of clinical experience.

Career Options

Students will find a variety of career options available after graduation, including:

• Child Life Specialists in hospitals and community-based nonprofit organizations
• leadership roles in nonprofit agencies and early childhood education programs
• research and project coordinators in governmental agencies
• faculty members at community colleges

Students are also prepared to continue their studies in doctoral programs.

Program Faculty

Faculty have established research programs in social and cultural processes; family relationships; infant, child, adolescent and young adult development; gender; and teacher-child relationships. Faculty members' research has been published in top-tier journals including Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Family Process and Journal of Family Psychology. Faculty research has been supported by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Greater Texas Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.