Graduate Program Overview

Graduate students within this department have the opportunity to learn and specialize in the areas of:

• Adolescence and Youth
• Adult Development and Aging
• Infancy and Childhood
• Marriage and Family Relationships
• Marriage and Family Therapy

In addition to the core courses required for each of the emphases or specializations, students have the opportunity to pursue their educational and occupational goals with a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities, including elective graduate courses in the department as well as designated courses in related graduate programs at USU.

We Provide Advanced Training

Graduate study in the HDFS Department provides advanced training for individuals wishing to study human development, family relations, marriage and family therapy, and the interplay between individual and family development with other social institutions. Our graduate programs provide a challenging and stimulating environment for graduate study leading to rewarding careers in academia or in applied settings that serve individuals and families across the life span.

We Provide a Strong Research and Theoretical Base

Graduate students receive a strong research and theoretical base in family relationships and human development. In addition to the core courses required for each of the specializations, students have the opportunity to pursue their educational and occupational goals with a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities including elective graduate courses in the HDFS department, as well as designated courses in related graduate programs at USU. Graduate students may also engage in independent study, practicum, and other specialized professional experiences that help them to acquire specific skills.

We Provide Professional Competency

The department provides advanced graduate education and training for students to: (1) develop the professional competencies necessary for employment in research, teaching, marriage and family therapy, extension, and administration; (2) develop the skills necessary for agency administration in the field of family and child care services; (3) provide clinical services in marriage and family therapy; and (4) develop the skills for supervisory responsibilities in child development laboratories, child care facilities, and adolescent, and aging programs.